Forbes Estate: Where Bold Design Meets Boutique Living
Perched on the hillside of Gillitts, a new residential vision is set to make its mark on the Hillcrest property market. Developed by GMR Developments, Forbes Estate is a boutique enclave of just ten homes, created for those who want more than a house. It offers a lifestyle defined by simplicity, sophistication, and lasting value.
Launching on Saturday, 27 September 2025, this highly anticipated unveiling marks the first-ever collaboration between Smiths Property Group and Shelley Residential. Together as sole selling agents, their partnership reflects a shared belief that boutique-scale estates like Forbes represent the future of considered residential development in the Upper Highway area.
A Boutique Estate Designed for Modern Life
In a region where gated communities often sprawl into the hundreds, Forbes Estate feels unusually intimate. With only ten architect-crafted homes, it offers exclusivity without congestion or inflated levies. Each residence is newly built and ready for immediate occupation on transfer, with layouts ranging from spacious three-bedroom duplexes to four-bedroom triplexes, spanning 220 to 264 square metres under roof.
Inside, light-filled spaces flow effortlessly between the kitchen, dining, and lounge areas, anchored by a striking staircase that frames double-volume windows. Kitchens are designed as the heart of the home, complete with quartz countertops, a large island, and premium Elba appliances that speak to both form and function. Step outside, and private patios and gardens extend the living space, creating the perfect setting for entertaining or simply enjoying the surrounding treetop views.
Priced from R3.5 million, and with no transfer duty applicable, these homes offer a rare combination of design, security, and long-term value in the Hillcrest market. This balance of industrial-inspired architecture, contemporary finishes, and functional design makes the estate especially compelling to buyers who place a premium on lifestyle and investment potential.
Launch Day: A Celebration of Lifestyle
The launch of Forbes Estate promises to be more than just a property showcase. It will be a celebration of community and lifestyle, perfectly reflecting what the estate itself represents. From 10 am to 4 pm on Saturday, 27 September 2025, the estate will come alive with entertainment, food, and family fun.
Visitors will have the opportunity to take a walk through the estate, explore the new homes, and experience the Forbes Estate lifestyle for themselves. East Coast Radio’s Top 40, hosted by Jspu, will be broadcast live from the estate, while radio personality Carmen Reddy will be there to welcome guests with her signature warmth and energy. Children will be entertained with a jumping castle, while adults can enjoy burgers and craft beers in a relaxed, festive atmosphere.
The Smiths Property Group and Shelley Residential sales teams will be on hand throughout the day to guide visitors every step of the way.
Meeting Real Needs in the Hillcrest Market
Forbes Estate has been carefully shaped around the needs of today’s buyers. Its central location offers convenience, with top Hillcrest schools, shopping centres, and freeway access just minutes away, all while enjoying the tranquillity of an elevated, tree-lined setting. Security has been prioritised through automated gates, electric fencing, and the option of 24-hour protection, ensuring peace of mind for all residents.
With just ten residences, the estate delivers exclusivity and intimacy, creating a community without crowds or inflated levies. The low-maintenance design avoids the burden of large gardens, pools, or unnecessary communal facilities, instead providing a secure, lock-up-and-go lifestyle. Private gardens, open-plan interiors, and generous bedrooms make these homes ideal for family living, while the financial benefits are amplified by the absence of transfer duty. Buyers stand to save up to R240,000 by purchasing directly from the developer.
A Vision Brought to Life
Forbes Estate is more than a collection of homes. It is a carefully imagined community, designed with intention and restraint. It does not aim to be everything to everyone. Instead, it delivers precisely what its residents need: a home where design is not an afterthought, but the starting point.
As Bayley Holley of Smiths Property Group explains:
“The developer’s vision has always been to create something distinctive for Hillcrest, a boutique estate that feels both modern and timeless, where families can enjoy security, style, and convenience without compromise. Forbes Estate reflects that vision perfectly.”
An Opportunity Not to Be Missed
Opportunities of this kind are few. As Josh Buitendach of Shelley Residential notes:
“With only ten homes available, priced from R3.5 million, this is a unique chance to secure a brand-new, architect-designed residence set in a serene, tree-lined neighbourhood just minutes from Hillcrest Central. Homes that combine immediate value with enduring lifestyle appeal are difficult to find, and demand is expected to be strong. Buyers should act quickly.”
With savings of up to R240,000 thanks to no transfer duty, and the exclusivity of only ten units, hesitation could mean missing out on Hillcrest’s most exciting new address.
Book Your Tour
Booking is essential. Visit www.forbesestate.co.za or call 082 412 4463 to secure your private tour and your place at the launch event. On Saturday, 27 September 2025, the doors will open. Walk through, explore, and experience the lifestyle that awaits you at Forbes Estate.
Bold by design, boutique by nature, Forbes Estate is ready to welcome you home.