Lyttelton Manor, Centurion

Lyttelton is widely known as a well-established, tranquil middle-class suburb characterised by leafy trees and wide pavements, a memento of days gone by when land was cheap and plentiful. Although it may no longer be the hub of the Centurion area, the legacy remains, and Lyttelton boasts no fewer than five public schools within its boundaries, a multitude of churches representing almost every denomination, and one of the few public libraries in the greater Tshwane area. Add to this the large erven and sprawling houses, and you'll understand why Lyttelton Manor is highly sought after by those seeking a more conventional and traditional setting in which to raise their families.

Lyttelton is situated in the eastern sector of modern-day Centurion, roughly bounded by Clifton Avenue and the suburb of Die Hoewes to the west, and Limpopo Avenue and Doringkloof to the south. To the east, Lyttelton butts up against the Air Force Base Waterkloof, host to numerous air units including VIP transport, and the venue for the Africa Aerospace and Defence Air Show and Defence Exhibition in September 2020. The tiny suburb of Kloofsig lies to the north-east, a quaint village sandwiched between Lyttelton and the Groenkloof Nature Reserve; the south-eastern corner of Lyttelton is a small semi-industrial area, home to several light industries as well as the Centurion SPCA.

Originally marked out from the farm Droogegrond in 1904, the township of Lyttelton underwent a series of changes over the years, with Lyttelton Manor Extension 1 being established in 1942. In 1962, Lyttelton was redefined when the areas of Doringkloof, Irene and Lyttelton Township were grouped together and granted City Council status under the collective name of Lyttelton. The City of Lyttelton subsequently underwent massive expansion, which included relocating the CBD to the Centurion Mall area in the eighties, and two name-changes (firstly to Verwoerdburg in 1967, and then to Centurion in 1995); Lyttelton became but a suburb once more, one of more than 30 that make up Centurion today. In 2000 Centurion became part of the Tshwane metro, and lost its City Council status. 

Consequently, some ambiguity surrounds the name of Lyttelton, and the area that it encompasses: in modern day usage, "Lyttelton" is synonymous with "Lyttelton Manor" and we use the two interchangeably. Lyttelton Manor is only one part of the original Lyttelton; the area formerly known as Lyttelton Agricultural Holdings has since been renamed as Die Hoewes ("The Plots"), and today it is a suburb in its own right.

Census 2011 estimated the population of Lyttelton to be some 12,372 persons in 4,099 households, occupying an area of approximately 8 km2. According to the Lightstone suburb report, the living standard in the area is rated LSM 9 High, and property ownership is stable, with nearly 55% of current owners having purchased more than 11 years ago.

As one of the oldest suburbs in Centurion, the vast majority of residential properties are full title, with a limited number of sectional title apartments and duet homes available. At time of writing, the median price for a full title property is around R1.6 million, with sectional title coming in at around R700,000. Lyttelton homes are well-known for the size of their stands, and although only a handful of the original 4,000m

2 plots still exist, most properties weigh in at a respectable 1,500m2 to 2,000m2. Smaller stands are also available as many homeowners over the years have elected to further sub-divide their properties. Lyttelton houses are a mixed bag: although many of the older homes have been beautifully renovated and upgraded, there are always fixer-uppers available at good prices for those prospective buyers who are equal to the challenge!

Lyttelton is centrally situated between the N1, N14 and R21 highways which, together with the Botha Avenue and Solomon Mahlangu Drive arterials, offer easy access to most of Gauteng, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Krugersdorp, Lanseria Airport, Kempton Park and OR Tambo International. Lyttelton also has its own Metrorail station, connecting Pretoria, Johannesburg and the East Rand. For a more relaxed daily commute, the Gautrain offers a convenient alternative to reach both Johannesburg and Pretoria, with the Centurion station situated mere minutes away. If you're travelling further afield, the Gautrain service to OR Tambo airport places South Africa and the entire globe at your doorstep! In short, if your job involves a lot of travel, be it local, regional, national or international, you could do worse than to base yourself in Lyttelton!

Lyttelton has a handful of convenience centres, most notably the Lyttelton Centre on the corner of Botha Avenue and Cantonments Road, in the former hub and CBD of Lyttelton. Across the road you will also find the Lyttelton Community Library and the Centurion Art Gallery. However, there is a wealth of shopping and entertainment venues within a 5km radius, and shopping enthusiasts are spoilt for choice. These include the Centurion Mall, Jean Crossing and Jean Village Centres, as well as the ever-popular Highlands Centre.

The suburb of Lyttelton Manor has a great deal to offer for young families, with no fewer than three primary schools (Lyttelton Primary, Laerskool Louis Leipoldt and Fleur) and two high schools (Lyttelton Manor High and Hoërskool Centurion) situated within its boundaries, all of which fall under the jurisdiction of the Gauteng Department of Education; the privately-run Village Montessori is also close by. Nursery schools are plentiful, as are after-school care centres and complementary educational institutions. If access to a public school is a factor in deciding where to buy, you would be well-advised to consult the GDE website for information regarding feeder areas for the various schools.

Unitas Hospital, South Africa's largest private facility, is situated on the Clifton Avenue border of Lyttelton. A comprehensive array of medical disciplines is represented here, and specialized facilities include a 24-hour emergency department with level 2 trauma unit, cardiac ICU, and oncology centre. Centurion Eye Hospital is situated next door to Unitas, and Centurion Day Hospital is situated in nearby Glover Avenue. The Lyttelton Clinic, run by Tshwane municipality, provides primary healthcare services for those unable to afford private medical care.

In conclusion, Lyttelton is a family-oriented suburb with much to offer for young and old alike. If space and traditional values are important to you, then Lyttelton is well worth a second look!

Author: Rob Olckers