Melville is one of the older suburbs of Johannesburg and is situated just a few kilometers to the northeast of the city centre. This is a suburb of old houses on narrow streets and dates back to the 1920s. Melville is next door to the Rand Afrikaans University, and houses many of the students from there. Melville is also close to the Emmarentia Dam and sailing club, and is only a few blocks from Wits University Campus.

Just to the North of Melville lies the 80 hectare Melville Koppies Nature Reserve. This nature reserve, unfenced in some parts, carries some 80% of flora species recorded in the Witwatersrand. Of these 30 species are edible, 112 used medicinally, 34 are used in ritual magic, 2 are sought-after perfumes and 8 are poisons. The nature reserve has an archaeological site dating back 100000 years. More than 150 species of birds have been identified here.