Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal
Encyclopedia
Umhlanga is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban
on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
. It is part of the eThekwini
Metropolitan Municipality
, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area. Commonly and erroneously pronounced Umshlanga (the correct pronunciation, of "hl" in Umhlanga is similar to the Welsh "ll"), the name means "place of reeds" in isiZulu.
, which reaches the Indian Ocean
three kilometres north of the town.
The Oyster Box
, a luxury hotel since the 1930s, was originally built as a beach cottage in 1869, before the town had even been founded.
In 1895, Sir Marshall Campbell
founded Umhlanga. The town's first hotel was established in 1920, followed by a shop, a lighthouse, the Natal Anti Shark Measures Board (today called the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
) and further hotel developments.
The Borough of Umhlanga was formed in 1972 through the merger of Umhlanga Rocks, a seaside resort town, and the suburb of La Lucia.
In the 1980s, development expanded inland.
Umhlanga, specifically the former sugarcane
fields of Umhlanga Ridge, has become the focus of development in the greater Durban area with many businesses relocating offices from central Durban (similarly to Sandton
forming the new centre of Johannesburg
), a move that has been criticized for "fragmenting the urban fabric" and furthering "economic apartheid" in Durban. In 2010, Durban International Airport
was moved to La Mercy
, near Umhlanga, and reopened as King Shaka International Airport
.
Umhlanga Rocks has many luxury hotels and apartments right on the beach, including the Cabana Beach Hotel, the Beverly Hills Hotel, the Oyster Box Hotel, the Umhlanga Sands Hotel and Pearls of Umhlanga apartments. Many of these have views of the landmark lighthouse.
. It was largely developed on sugarcane
land by property development company, Moreland Estates, owned by the Tongaat-Hulett sugar group. Located on the ridge are Gateway Theatre of Shopping
and other shopping centres, motor dealerships, a private hospital and many offices.
Umhlanga Ridge Town Centre is connected by a series of pedestrian-friendly roads, parks and public spaces. The Town Centre is easily accessed by a network of major roads, including the N2.
The Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre has been under construction for almost a decade. Vela VKE consulted on the structural input for the design of the grade separation bridge and two parking court structures. Civil infrastructure costs amount to R200 million to date.
Other places of interest in Umhlanga are the Umhlanga Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Country Club in nearby Mount Edgecombe
.
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. It is part of the eThekwini
Ethekwini
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
Metropolitan Municipality
Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)
In South Africa, a metropolitan municipality or Category A municipality is a municipality which executes all the functions of local government for a city or conurbation...
, created in 2000, which includes the greater Durban area. Commonly and erroneously pronounced Umshlanga (the correct pronunciation, of "hl" in Umhlanga is similar to the Welsh "ll"), the name means "place of reeds" in isiZulu.
History
Umhlanga is named after the Ohlanga RiverOhlanga River
The Ohlanga River is a river in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which empties into the Indian Ocean just north of Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal, north of Durban. The name comes from the Zulu word for "reed" , and has extensive reed beds at its mouth...
, which reaches the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
three kilometres north of the town.
The Oyster Box
The Oyster Box (South Africa)
The Oyster Box is a luxury five-star hotel in Umhlanga, just north of Durban, South Africa. It was built in 1869 as a beach cottage and retained its name when it was converted into a hotel in the 1930s. In July 2011, Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene of Monaco spent their honeymoon...
, a luxury hotel since the 1930s, was originally built as a beach cottage in 1869, before the town had even been founded.
In 1895, Sir Marshall Campbell
Sir Marshall Campbell
Sir Marshall Campbell was a Natal pioneer of the sugar industry and parliamentarian concerned with Bantu affairs.The Conquering Hero, a brig of 320 tons under Captain Cockburn, sailed from the Clyde with 127 settlers on 29 March 1850. Marshall Campbell landed in Durban on 28 June 1850 with his...
founded Umhlanga. The town's first hotel was established in 1920, followed by a shop, a lighthouse, the Natal Anti Shark Measures Board (today called the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board
thumb|A notice at a beach protected by the BoardThe KwaZulu-Natal Sharks Board, previously the Natal Sharks Board and Natal Anti-Shark Measures Board is an organisation that maintains shark nets and drum lines off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, to protect bathers and surfers...
) and further hotel developments.
The Borough of Umhlanga was formed in 1972 through the merger of Umhlanga Rocks, a seaside resort town, and the suburb of La Lucia.
In the 1980s, development expanded inland.
Umhlanga, specifically the former sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
fields of Umhlanga Ridge, has become the focus of development in the greater Durban area with many businesses relocating offices from central Durban (similarly to Sandton
Sandton, Gauteng
Sandton is a wealthy area situated within the metro of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. The name comes from the combination of two of its suburbs, Sandown and Bryanston...
forming the new centre of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
), a move that has been criticized for "fragmenting the urban fabric" and furthering "economic apartheid" in Durban. In 2010, Durban International Airport
Durban International Airport
Durban International Airport was the international airport of Durban from 1951 until 2010, when it was replaced by King Shaka International Airport, to the north. The airport is co-located with AFB Durban.-History:...
was moved to La Mercy
La Mercy
La Mercy is a town north of Durban, South Africa, and is a part of the eThekwini municipality. It is the location of Durban's King Shaka International Airport....
, near Umhlanga, and reopened as King Shaka International Airport
King Shaka International Airport
King Shaka International Airport, also known as La Mercy Airport and abbreviated as KSIA, is the primary airport serving Durban, South Africa. Located at La Mercy, approximately north of the city centre of Durban, it opened its doors to passengers on May 1, 2010, just over a month before the...
.
Umhlanga Rocks
Umhlanga Ridge
Umhlanga Ridge is a new retail, office and residential node situated on a hill overlooking the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. It was largely developed on sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
land by property development company, Moreland Estates, owned by the Tongaat-Hulett sugar group. Located on the ridge are Gateway Theatre of Shopping
Gateway Theatre of Shopping
Gateway Theatre of Shopping or Gateway has been described as both the largest shopping centre in Africa and the largest in the southern hemisphere, although other shopping centres have also claimed the southern hemisphere title. It is located on Umhlanga Ridge in Umhlanga, north of Durban,...
and other shopping centres, motor dealerships, a private hospital and many offices.
Umhlanga Ridge Town Centre is connected by a series of pedestrian-friendly roads, parks and public spaces. The Town Centre is easily accessed by a network of major roads, including the N2.
The Umhlanga Ridge New Town Centre has been under construction for almost a decade. Vela VKE consulted on the structural input for the design of the grade separation bridge and two parking court structures. Civil infrastructure costs amount to R200 million to date.
Tourism
Together, Umhlanga and Umdloti form the Sugar Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.Other places of interest in Umhlanga are the Umhlanga Country Club and Mount Edgecombe Country Club in nearby Mount Edgecombe
Mount Edgecombe, KwaZulu-Natal
Mount Edgecombe is a sugar-growing town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, situated just north of Durban, which forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan. It is famous for resorts and golf....
.