Killarney Through the Years - From Farmland to Flatlands

The JHF is holding our famous Big Book Sale at Holy Family Convent on Saturday 17th May, so why not make a day of it by adding in a walking tour through lovely Killarney either before or after you browse?

As one of the few upper-income flatlands in the metropolis, Killarney is among Joburg’s most interesting suburbs. Since its establishment, this relatively small parcel of land has been transformed from a quaint farm to its current status as a "mini-Manhattan" that houses a wonderfully diverse population of residents.

Along the way, it has been home to one of the first Hollywood-style film studios in South Africa, which was later replaced by the Killarney Mall - one of the city’s first suburban shopping centres. Meanwhile, an eclectic collection of high-rise apartment buildings was developed, encompassing a variety of architectural styles that includes some of Johannesburg's finest Art Deco facades, along with excellent examples of mid-century Italian and Brazilian modernism.

This delightful walking tour, led by Kgao Mashego and Adam Golding, celebrates all aspects of the Killarney story and even includes a walk through The Wilds - a lovely green haven that harks back to the area’s bucolic past.

Come and discover some of the best-kept secrets and hidden treasures of this too-often overlooked suburb.

The tour starts at Holy Family College, where parking is available. Don’t forget to bring along drinking water and wear a hat and good walking shoes. The tour distance will be about 5km and will include some steep stone pathways. Allow an additional 30 minutes to walk back to Holy Family from Killarney.