Lonehill (also spelled Lone Hill) is a geographical feature and suburb located in Gauteng, South Africa, north of Johannesburg.
Lonehill Koppie
The Lonehill Koppie is a prominent hill (koppie) situated approximately 28 km north of Johannesburg's city centre. It is notable for a large boulder perched precariously atop several other boulders, forming a distinctive landmark. The hill is composed of large, ancient tor rocks, with trees and indigenous shrubs covering much of the formation except for the uppermost boulders.
Legends
Two local legends surround the topmost boulder of the Lonehill Koppie:
- Anglo-Boer War legend: A tale from the Anglo-Boer War period held that if the Boers dislodged the top rock, the British would lose the war and leave South Africa.
- Apartheid-era legend: A latter-day version states that if the top boulder were dislodged, all white people in the country would leave.
A more recent account describes how the Lonehill Nature Reserve was established: a rumour spread that a foreign individual was attempting to buy the area around the koppie with the intent to remove the topmost rock. Local residents organised and successfully had the area declared a nature reserve to protect the landmark.
Archaeological Features
The veld surrounding the koppie contains three Stone Age furnaces, excavated in the 1960s by Professor Revil Mason (formerly head of archaeology at the University of the Witwatersrand). Mason estimated the furnaces date to around 1600 AD, contemporaneous with the Melville Koppies furnace. Slag remnants and grinding stones were found nearby. There is also evidence of pottery manufacturing and remnants of stone walls that would have served as a kraal and living areas.
Lonehill Loch
Approximately 200 metres north of the koppie lies a small dam called Lonehill Loch, a popular walking area for local residents. The koppie itself sits on a plot of around 20 acres, rising approximately 80 metres high, and is open to hikers and picnickers on weekends.
Lone Hill (Suburb)
Lone Hill is an upmarket residential suburb in Sandton, within the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng province, South Africa. It is named after the Lonehill Koppie.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 26°00′43″S 28°01′37″E |
| Area | 5.09 km² (1.97 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | 11,145 |
| Density | 2,190/km² |
| Majority first language | English (72.6%) |
| Majority racial group | White (68.3%) |
Amenities
- Lonehill Shopping Centre
- Leaping Frog Shopping Centre
- Lone Hill Fire Department
- Lone Hill Park
- Lone Hill Municipal Nature Reserve
- Lonehill Academy (a Cambridge-system international school)
