These suburbs remain popular due to their proximity to Durban’s CBD, beaches, the airport and shops.
Durban North and Virginia were always considered stable, slightly old-fashioned suburbs, with the newer, shinier La Lucia featuring contemporary facilities and a good touch of glitz. But this southern belt of the North Coast has risen dramatically in popularity because it offers, among other advantages, proximity to Durban Central, the beaches, the airport and the suburbs further north.
La Lucia has grown substantially in the past decade. As swathes of what was previously sugarcane land became available for residential development, numerous gated estates and large and glamorous homes straddling several stands, covered the landscape. Property in La Lucia is at the more expensive end of the spectrum, with few townhouses – other than the older, long-established ones around La Lucia Mall – being under R3m. La Lucia, much like Durban North, is on a slope, so many of the properties have sea views up and down the coast.
Kendall Snyman, a La Lucia resident, recently moved out of her townhouse, with views of the sea and the city, to a freestanding home. “With two young children, it was time to find a home with room to play. We didn’t want to leave La Lucia. Everything is five minutes away, and we found the perfect child-friendly home. We love it!”
Some properties on the seaward side of the M4 freeway – primarily in Virginia and La Lucia – are large homes close to the beach. At Virginia, the prime land of the Beachwood Golf Course (previously part of the Durban Country Club) has been sold to private developers, and prospective and existing homeowners are waiting with bated breath to see what will become of that superb strip. Being hedged between suburbs on either side, the M4 in the front and Umhlanga Rocks Drive at the top, there’s seldom new land for development, so this piece has generated as many rumours as it has expectations.
In addition, nudging the golf course land, on municipal land, Virginia Airport caters for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft – mostly charter flights. Properties in Durban North and Virginia have always been predominantly freestanding homes, often on large plots, with old trees and established gardens. Durban North is a family suburb with reputable schools and a strong sense of community.
Resident, Carol Hayward-Fell, has lived in her 1947 Oregon home in Durban North for 20 years. “I work from my home studio as an artist and art teacher for adults. With three cats and two dogs, a kiln and a studio, this home, which has been revamped and extended, is the perfect space for me.”
Durban North and Virginia now have a number of excellent, smaller shopping centres that cater for everything from eating out, to full-service supermarkets and so much more. In Durban North, the primary roads around Swapo Road and Adelaide Tambo Drive are lined with many stores and restaurants catering to every need. Virginia residents can easily access Mackeurtan Avenue, which has a variety of retail options.
The La Lucia Mall was always the go-to retail destination for all these suburbs, and it hasn’t lost any of its charm. The mall has been expanded and updated several times and remains one of the most popular smaller malls along the North Coast.
Houses in these suburbs are mostly spacious, so residents often entertain at home because there’s ample room to play. Within these suburbs there are pockets of grandeur, and you can also find some middle-class homes. The older homes are in great demand, particularly from young families who have the luxury of time to create their dream home.
I’ve lived in La Lucia since I was at Northwood School in Durban North. Today, 15 years later, my architectural practice is on La Lucia Ridge, the children’s school is five minutes from our townhouse, and we love the area. It’s home.
-Torbjorn Hanssen, resident.
Schools in Durban North:
- Glenashley Preparatory
- Chelsea Preparatory School
- Virginia Preparatory School
- Northlands Primary School
- Northwood School
- Northlands Girls’ High School
- Our Lady of Fatima Dominican Convent School
- Danville Park Girls’ High School
- Reddam House Umhlanga
- Crawford College
- Victory Christian Academy
Things to do in Durban North:
- Play on the beautiful beaches in Virginia, La Lucia, Glenashley and Umhlanga.
- Indulge in some retail therapy at La Lucia Mall.
- Watch a movie at Gateway Theatre of Shopping.
- Explore the Beachwood Mangroves using the elevated boardwalk.
- Enjoy birdwatching at the Virginia Bush Nature Reserve
Eating out in Durban North:
- Al Firenze in La Lucia: for Italian classics in a comfortable setting
- Refresh Cafe in La Lucia Mall: for great coffee and light meals
- Porter’s Sports Bar in Glenashley: for half-priced pizza and pasta every Wednesday
- The Lookout in Glenashley: for delicious food and great sea views
- Jack Salmon Fish House: for fresh seafood and world-class meats
- Indian Summer in Glenashley: for an authentic dining experience
- Plan B Dessertery: for sweet treats
- Four15: for delicious Mexican food
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
