Parktown is a suburb of
Johannesburg,
South Africa, the first suburb north of the inner-city. It is affectionately known as one of the
Parks, others including
Parkview,
Parkwood,
Westcliff,
Parktown North,
Parkhurst and
Forest Town. Parktown is one of Johannesburgs largest suburbs, neighbouring
Hillbrow,
Braamfontein and
Milpark to the South;
Berea and
Houghton to the East;
Killarney and
Forest Town to the North, and
Westcliff,
Melville and Richmond to the West. Originally established by the
Randlords in the 1890s, Parktown is now home to many businesses, hospitals, schools, churches and restaurants, whilst still maintaining quiet residential areas. It is also home to three of the five campuses of the
University of the Witwatersrand including the education campus, medical school and
Wits Business School. Parktown is now divided into Parktown and Parktown West with
Jan Smuts Avenue forming the dividing line. It is located in
Region F of Johannesburg.