Greenside borders on the suburbs Emmarentia, Parkview, Parkhurst and Victory Park.

[2] Louw Geldenhuys died in 1929 and his wife Emmarentia would begin to sell parts of the farm that became the surrounding suburbs, one of which became Greenside on 4 February 1931 and was surveyed by the Rand Mines Group.

[2][3] Greenside's name is considered to be Scottish in origin, and refers to the adjacent Parkview Golf Club [nl].

[3] The golf course has its origins much earlier than the suburb, established in 1916 and modified again in 1930.

[5][6] Pirates Club was based in the suburb from 1952 on land donated to the City of Johannesburg by the Sir Lionel Phillips Trust based inside the Sir Lionel Phillips Park, though the club originated elsewhere in 1888.