The farm has a rich history. General Jan Christiaan Smuts, arguably one of South Africa's most remarkable sons of the twentieth century, bought the farm in 1908 and lived on it for more than forty years. This is the place where this enigmatic South African leader found peace and spent time with his family. "Smuts Koppie", which the "Oubaas" hiked every day, and where his ashes and those of Ouma Smuts are scattered, can be seen from most of the properties on the Estate.

During the Anglo-Boer War, at the time of the British occupation of Pretoria, over a thousand Mounted Infantry, two companies of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry and 350 Northumberland Fusiliers guarded the section of railway line at Irene. 

Although out of the city, shopping and entertainment is nearby.  Irene Mall is a mere 4.5km from Irene Glen, 12km to Woodlands Boulevard and Southdowns Shopping Centre is 12 km away.  OR Tambo is only 28 km away.

There are a few excellent schools in the area namely Cornwall Hill College, Midstream, Southdown's College and Waterkloof Hoerskool.

Across the road lies Rietvlei Dam. The government bought Rietvlei in 1929 in order to build the Rietvlei dam as part of the Rietvlei water scheme. The dam was built in 1934 on the Six Mile spruit. The dam wall is an earth structure and was built completely by hand. In 1948 the city of Pretoria proclaimed the area a nature reserve.

View our Galleries to get a glimpse of what living in Irene Glen Estate is about.  Pictures here are all contributions from the residents. 

Phrases like "Tucked away under hundreds of trees" and "An African sunset" come to mind. 

The Estate boasts a number of wildlife species including birds of prey, plover, hedgehog, mongoose, genet, scrub hare, bush babies, monkeys, jackal and small antelope such as duiker etc. We are surrounded by big and small heartbeats rustling in the grass or calling in the night as soon as we step into the night. The nightjars, owls and frogs are really something to entertain your city friends with.

IGE is a security estate and the HOA has various processes in place to keep crime numbers low.  The two entrance gates are manned 24/7 by security officials. 

The stands consist of 1ha and 0.5 ha.  A number of the properties have subsequently been sectionalized into two stands each. The proposed development will have to complement the envisaged lifestyle as well as the unique site characteristics and the collective concern for the site and neighbouring property owners.

Infrastructure on the estate is maintained and owned by the IGEHOA - roads, electricity, sewerage (septic tanks), water (from Randwater).  The estate makes use of a private contractor for their Waste removal and has a recycling program.