Building of the area (with the exception of neighbouring area Colinton Mains) initially started in 1953 with the construction with a mixture of houses, flats and bedsits (and later on with the addition of maisonettes and high rise flats in the early 1960s), all of which were built by the city council. In the 1950s and 60s Oxgangs was still very much cut off from the city as it was so far out but over the years there have been many more housing developments nearby such as Hunter's Tryst and Swanston which have made it much less rural. Also, there are lots of local amenities such as two large supermarkets and a public library.