Pinetown is situated just inland from Durban central, and is a well-known suburban hub that families and businesses alike call home.
Named after Sir Benjamin Pine, lieutenant-governor of the Natal colony in the mid-1800s, has often been considered more of a light-industry town. But thanks to its excellent location, it is drawing the interest of property investors and homebuyers.
Home to South Africa’s second-oldest cricket club, and what is said to be the oldest in the province, Pinetown is dotted with quaint touches of history that can be seen as you drive through its busy streets. Pop in at the Pinetown Cricket Club to see who’s practising on the pitch and take a look at the historical photographs on display.
It is not just the cricket club that specialises in hosting school and other recreational sports events: there are many clubs at the nearby Lahee Park: the Pinetown Gymnastics Club, Lahee Park Bowling Club and the BMX Club are just some of the sports and fun-focused organisations that can be found on the premises. Lahee Park is also a popular destination for many school outings. And locals regularly pop in for a refreshing dip in the public swimming pool.
Thanks to its central, albeit inland, location, Pinetown makes it easy for residents and visitors to get where they need to go. A short hop across the freeway takes people towards the Berea or the city centre, while a quick zoom up Field’s Hill has visitors travelling to Kloof and the picturesque Valley of 1,000 with ease. Every year tourists and fans of the Comrades Marathon pack into Pinetown, as the race route takes runners through the suburb.
Briget Young, a lifestyle blogger and Pinetown resident, wrote: “The suburb I live in is extremely quiet. Everyone keeps to themselves mostly and no street parties or drag racing… In fact most of the time it seems the dogs are louder in their social ways than anything else… Not many people know this, but the Pinetown Library has a very interesting little museum that showcases local history.”
Pinecrest Centre, formerly the Sanlam Centre, is a bustling shopping mall that houses a number of key retailers, franchise shops and smaller stores. Just off Old Main Road, you’ll find St John’s Centre, a smaller but popular shopping centre that’s also home to some larger retailers.
And of course, where there’s a family-oriented suburb coming into its own, there’s bound to be an abundance of schools. Pinetown has well-regarded primary and high schools, including Gelofte, Benjamin Pine Primary, St Benedict and Pinetown Boys’ and Girls’ high schools.
But it’s not just schools, shops and suburban homes in Pinetown, for the area is also surrounded by nature, with the New Germany Nature Reserve close by. This 110ha expanse of land overlooks both New Germany and Pinetown and is a haven for birdwatchers. Keep your eyes peeled on a nature walk for blue duiker and impala and enjoy the walk-in aviary during a day trip.
For a quiet suburban lifestyle that leaves you not too far from the action, and which doesn’t require that you travel far for fun, Pinetown could be your best next place to live.
Top five things to do in Pinetown
- Giba Gorge is not far from Pinetown, so pop up for a fun family day out.
- Enjoy an exercise class at the New Germany Civic Centre.
- Explore and learn something new at the Pinetown Museum.
- Spend a great day out at the nearby Krantzkloof Nature Reserve.
- Check out what the Highway Hurricanes are up to at the Action Sports Arena.
Property prices in Pinetown
- A typical property for sale in Pinetown is a three-bedroom house at an average asking price of R1,925m
- 64% of properties for sale are houses
- 16% of properties for sale are in a complex, at an average asking price of R820,000
- 20% of properties for sale are flats, at an average asking price of R560 000
- Average monthly rental for a four-bedroom house: R17,450
Demand
Properties for sale in Pinetown make up
- 6% of the total sales listings
- 2% of the total rental listings
in the Durban region and receive 7% of the interest in properties in the region.
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
