The farm stretched from Westdene in the west to Houghton in the east and from Newtown in the south to Linden in the north.

[5] In 1902 the area to become Westdene was surveyed for the Johannesburg Consolidated Investment Company after the surrounding suburbs of Auckland Park, Melville and Richmond had been proclaimed and established.

In 1932 the South African Government decided to abandon the gold standard and the country subsequently experienced a sustained period of economic growth.

[8] To meet the growing demand the Wells Brickfield expanded operations which led to the clay quarrying activities in the area creating a number small dams.

The brickfield in the area closed in 1943 and the abandoned land was possibly transferred to the Johannesburg city council.

According to some accounts "there were mixed feelings in Westdene about their Sophiatown neighbours, with most residents wanting to keep their white exclusivity".

[12] Despite the occurrence of so-called "white flight" in the suburbs near the Johannesburg Central Business District after the end of apartheid, and subsequent urban decay, Westdene has remained a suburb with a white majority (as evident from census data).

[13] Also in 2017 the Westdene Dam (and surrounding park) was closed for several months due to construction on the City of Johannesburg’s Corridors of Freedom project.

The general shortage of student accommodation in Johannesburg has led to multiple illegal communes reported in the suburb.

A local community initiative by Westdene residents donating their property walls to graffiti artists for street art and murals.