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Observatory, Johannesburg

Coordinates: 26°10′34″S 28°04′55″E / 26.176°S 28.082°E / -26.176; 28.082
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Observatory
Observatory is located in Gauteng
Observatory
Observatory
Observatory is located in South Africa
Observatory
Observatory
Coordinates: 26°10′34″S 28°04′55″E / 26.176°S 28.082°E / -26.176; 28.082
CountrySouth Africa
ProvinceGauteng
MunicipalityCity of Johannesburg
Main PlaceJohannesburg
Area
 • Total0.66 km2 (0.25 sq mi)
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total490
 • Density740/km2 (1,900/sq mi)
Racial makeup (2011)
 • Black African32.9%
 • Coloured1.8%
 • Indian/Asian4.3%
 • White60.6%
 • Other0.4%
First languages (2011)
 • English71.0%
 • Zulu6.9%
 • Afrikaans3.9%
 • Tswana3.1%
 • Other15.1%
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
Postal code (street)
2198
PO box
2187

Observatory is a suburb in Johannesburg's east and is located in Region E of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality; it borders the suburbs of Houghton Estate, Cyrildene, Linksfield, Bellevue, Bellevue East and Dewetshof.

History

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It is named for the Union Observatory established in early 1903, sited on Observatory Ridge, the city's highest point. The suburb is situated on part of an old Witwatersrand farm called Doornfontein.[2] It was established in 1903.[2]

It is a well-established suburb: Observatory Girls' Primary was founded in 1918, and Observatory Golf Course founded in 1912 is the oldest golf club in Johannesburg still operating from its original ground. The suburb housed the Yeshivah Gedolah of Johannesburg, until its relocation to Glenhazel.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Sub Place Observatory". Census 2011.
  2. ^ a b Raper, Peter E.; Moller, Lucie A.; du Plessis, Theodorus L. (2014). Dictionary of Southern African Place Names. Jonathan Ball Publishers. p. 1412. ISBN 9781868425501.
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