Who we are
The LHRA aims to represent, protect and promote the interests of the owners and legitimate occupiers of properties in Lower Houghton, Johannesburg, irrespective of their membership of the Association, which includes, but is not limited to:
- The protection and promotion of the orderly development of Lower Houghton, its environmental integrity, the preservation of areas and buildings of historical and cultural interest
- Engaging in the conservation, rehabilitation and protection of its natural environment.
- The promotion of environmental awareness, greening, and clean-up of Lower Houghton.
- Lobbying, creating awareness, and making representations in support of the objectives above.
- To be non-discriminatory and in particular non-party political, non-racist and non-sexist.
The Suburb
Houghton is in the Northern suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa. One of the most famous residents of Houghton was Nelson Mandela, who lived here until his death in 2013. Besides Nelson Mandela, Houghton is home to many distinguished politicians and public figures.
Houghton contains many homes of historical value to Johannesburg and also boasts plenty of large homes on acre stands. It is a quiet suburb where people enjoy their idyllic surroundings and tree lined streets. Houghton is currently experiencing rapid redevelopment and growth. This redevelopment is sanctioned by the City of Johannesburg's Nodal Review which was adopted in 2020, and it is changing the face of Houghton as we know it.
Houghton is home to two spectacular golf courses (Houghton Golf Course and Killarney Country Club) boasting large, undulating and green hills as well as lush foliage.
It has a very diverse community and has Mosques, Shuls and Churches within its bounds which represent the community who live there.
COMMUNITIES
Houghton is the home of Johannesburg's flagship Orthodox synagogue, the Great Park Synagogue. Great Park was consecrated in Houghton in 2000 after its congregation closed its historic synagogue in Hillbrow in 1994. Houghton is also home to West Street Shul.
There is a Muslim community that has expanded in the northern suburbs. A musallah was established in the east of the suburb, and, in 2011, a mosque, Masjid ul Furqaan was built by the Houghton Muslim Association on the site of the mussalah. Another, larger mosque on West Street, visible from the M1 freeway, was completed in 2013 by the Houghton Muslim Jamaat.
PARKS & GREEN SPACES
Houghton has two golf courses, Houghton Golf Club (1914) and the Killarney Golf Club (1903). There is also a large public park, The Wilds. A large sports club, the Old Edwardian Society (known as Old Eds), which includes a separate Virgin Active gym, is in Houghton.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
There are a number of well known schools in Upper Houghton: King Edward VII School (1909), a public school for boys, also known as KES), along with its associated primary school, King Edward VII Preparatory School, known as KEPS, and St John's College (1907) a private Anglican school historically only for boys, while Roedean School (South Africa), a private girls school, is close by in Parktown. Houghton School (a public primary school) is in Lower Houghton.
