Words: Betsie Loock-Van der Merwe
Thanks to its unequalled countryside charm and superb location on the south-eastern outskirts of the Jacaranda City, Irene has become one of the most sought-after neighbourhoods to live in. It offers peace and tranquillity and a farm-like ambience, while it’s located close enough to big city conveniences.
Property
Although care is taken to preserve the countryside look and feel of the area, Irene has seen extensive residential development in recent times. The suburb offers a broad variety of property options in the middle- to upper-income segment of the market.
Newer developments all comprise modern-day estates with a focus on comfort, space and style. The Irene Farm Villages, situated on the hills east of central town and with picturesque views over the landscape, is an example and comprises 650 freestanding residences, beautifully manicured parks and natural conservation areas, resulting in the presence of a number of bird species and small animals such as duiker. With top-class security systems in place, asking prices for properties in this exclusive estate start around R3,9m.
The estate also overlooks the comprehensive Irene Village Mall and is situated a few minutes away from the R21 between Pretoria and the OR Tambo International Airport. The N1 freeway between the Jacaranda City and Joburg a few kilometres to the west is just as easy to access.
Schooling
Irene Primary School was established in 1901 during the Anglo Boer War with the purpose of providing education to about 260 children of school-going age who were housed at the Irene Concentration Camp. The school offered dual-medium education for more than 70 years until the nearby Laerskool Doringkloof was opened in 1977. Since then, Irene Primary School has had English as the medium of instruction. Laerskool Doringkloof Primary has had Afrikaans and English instruction since 1997 and is less than 5km away from Irene. Irene Middle School was originally established in 1913 to educate the children of farmworkers in the Centurion area. This public school today attracts pupils from a much wider area.
High school pupils living in Irene traditionally attended either Lyttelton Manor High School or Hoërskool Centurion. In recent years, more choices have become available. Cornwall Hill College is an independent school with boarding facilities in Irene, located next to Cornwall Hill Estate, catering for pupils from Grade 000 to Grade 12. Southdowns College is another independent school adjacent to Irene Farm catering for pupils from the pre-preparatory phase up to Grade 12.
Explore
The country-style living in Irene is enhanced by the many outdoor endeavours, the open space, fresh air and green pastures on offer. The Rietvlei Dam Nature Reserve, to the east of Irene, is about a 15-minute drive from the suburb and comprises 3,800ha of natural environment including open grasslands, indigenous trees, wetlands and the Rietvlei Dam. The reserve offers the ideal opportunity for families to spend some time off together. Open-air activities include freshwater fishing, hiking, horse riding along trails, camping, game viewing, picnicking and bird-watching.
The Irene Dairy Farm forms a central part of the village and residents and visitors are welcome to share in the farm experience. Children are allowed to visit the calves and can play on old tractors and farm implements at the kids’ play area.
In the east, the farm borders the beautiful greens of the Irene Golf Course, while Centurion Golf Estate is on the farm’s western border.
“Irene is the most awesome place to grow up and spend your childhood years”
Gillian Crosbie Breytenbach, resident
Shop:
- Irene Village Mall
- Irene Shopping Centre
- Southdowns Shopping Centre
- Route 21 Business Park
- Doringkloof Mall
Eat:
- A‘la Turka: for Lebanese, Turkish and Greek dishes
- Village Bistro: for Italian cuisine in a cosy space
- The Publican Bar and Grill: for uncomplicated and fresh meals
- Whisk Wine Bar: for wholesome family meals and beverages
- Karoo Cattle & Land: for a taste of the Karoo in Irene
- Olifants Cafe at the Big Red Barn: for breakfast and lunchtime pizzas
Do:
- Catch a live show at Railways Cafe, experience its unique character and order tasty tapas or pizza with your drink.
- Enjoy the latest blockbuster on the big screen at Ster-Kinekor, Irene Village Mall.
- Visit the historic Smuts House Museum and/or The Irene Concentration Camp Cemetery.
- Grab a bite to eat at The Barn Restaurant or The Deck at Irene Farm.
- Check out the Irene Village Market for artisanal food, drinks and local crafts.
- Test your skills with a game of paintball at Cry Wolf at the Smuts House Museum.
