Springs, East Rand
The city of Springs lies on the outskirts and to the east of Johannesburg, considered by many as a 'suburb' of the city of gold - 50 kilometres is nothing when driving across Jo'burg - where it lies nestled in amongst the compatriot areas of Benoni, Boksburg and Brakpan, known collectively as the East Rand.
Much of Springs' allure lies in its history - steeped in gold - and the fact that a number of famous South Africans - Nadine Gordimer, James Phillips and Penny Heyns - were either born or raised in the city.
Springs gets its name, unsurprisingly, from a large number of natural springs (points from where groundwater flows out of the ground) in the area, although these were not the main reason people originally settled here. Springs started out as a farm, shortly after which coal was discovered around here and it took little time before a railway line emerged to carry coal from the coalfields to the gold mines of the Witwatersrand (Afrikaans for the 'ridge of white waters').
Whilst the coal mines soon closed around Springs as coal was discovered in Witbank, the discovery of gold followed fairly rapidly. A village emerged as early as 1904 and by the late 1930s there were eight gold mines in and around the village, making Springs and its surrounds the largest single gold-producing area in the world.
Springs today is known for its manufacturing and engineering industries and is one of the industrial centres of the country, hence its rather drab image - Springs is not known for its devastatingly exciting night life. But those who live here enjoy the suburban, town-type feel to the city and the easy access to, yet distance from, Johannesburg.
In the vicinity
Hotels & other accommodation options
Eastwoods Lodge
Eastwoods Lodge is a comfortable and tranquil African-style Lodge situated in New State Areas, in a quiet suburb of Springs in Johannesburg. The ...
Emerald Guesthouse
This gracious old house is set in deep green gardens with huge trees hosting a wonderful array of bird life. Offering fine accommodation, it is s...
Things to do in the area
Shopping at Carnival City
Everyone loves a bit of retail therapy, even when you're visiting the entertainment capital of Carnival City in Brakpan, Johannesburg. Carnival C...
Noteworthy attractions
Benoni Country Club
Benoni Golf Course and Country Club is located on Johannesburg's East Rand and serves as a wonderful break from the city yet remains within the c...
Benoni Lake Golf Club
One of the four large expanses of water that form a chain through this East Rand municipality is known as Middle Lake, and it is on the shores of...
ERPM Golf Course
The ERPM Golf course has bent grass greens and kikuyu fairways, and has a flat parkland layout. The long-time home of US Senior PGA star John Bla...
Germiston Country Club
18 holes, par-72. Rating 71, 6 523 metres. The course has kikuyu fairway and bent grass greens. The Germiston Lake comes into play on the par-thr...
Glendower Golf Club
Conveniently located within 10 minutes of OR Tambo International Airport, Glendower Golf Course is a well designed 6770m course, situated against...
Glenvista Golf Club
The Glenvista golf course boasts 18 superb bent grass greens built to United States Golf Association standards. Five dams, four of which come int...
Kempton Park Golf Club
The Kempton Park Golf Course is on the corner of Plein and Green Avenue in Spartan, Kempton Park. Ernie Els learnt to play golf at the Kempton Pa...
Modderfontein Golf Club
Modderfontein Golf Course has Kikuyu fairways and bent grass greens. Water comes into play on 11 of the 18 holes. The club has had a top 20 ratin...
Reading Country Club
Reading Country Club boasts a 18-hole golf course in a typical woodlands layout. The course is tree-lined with water featuring on 10 of the 18 ho...
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