About Ward 10

It includes the main suburbs of Kloof and Hillcrest, as well as the smaller areas of Gillitts, and Winston Park

[Ward Map] [Ward Profile]

 

KLOOF

[Wikipedia]
Kloof is a leafy, middle- to upper class suburb and small town, that includes a smaller area called Everton, in the greater Durban area of eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Kloof extends from the top of Field's Hill and borders Winston Park, Gillitts, Forest Hills and Hillcrest. These suburbs are collectively known as the Upper Highway Area or the Outer West region of Durban.

The M13 highway (built in the 1940s) intersects Kloof and on 16 June this forms part of the route of the annualComrades Marathon, an approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) ultra-marathon run between Pietermaritzburg andDurban since 1924.

It is a predominantly white, English-speaking area. Kloof features several upmarket shopping centres and theKloof Country Club, founded in 1927. It is known as a mist-belt with winding roads and tree-surrounded mansions.

HILLCREST

[Wikipedia]
Hillcrest was formerly a sleepy village, governed by its own Town Board on the outskirts of Durban that has now become a booming suburb incorporated into the  eThekwini  Metropolitan Municipality. Hill Crest (as the town's name was variously spelt until 1969) was founded on a rise in the main road from Durban to Pietermaritzburg in 1895 as a farming or "weekend" village, then a good distance from what was the emerging port of Port Natal. The village was laid out as leasehold sites on a portion of the farm Albinia owned by William Gillitt, one of the main pioneer families of the area and after which the nearby suburb of Gillitts is named.

When the first Hillcrest Health Committee was established in 1943, the total all-race population was 1135 persons and only the Main Road was hardened. Nkutu Road was hardened with klinker in 1947 and this was followed in 1951 with the hardening of the first portion of Inanda Road. In 1962 blacktopping of selected roads in the central area began, followed by further roads in 1965. By 1971, when Town Board status was obtained, the total population had grown to 2799 persons.

The town celebrated its centenary in 1995 and has since then seen an incredible increase in inhabitants migrating from more central areas in Durban

The suburb of Hillcrest experienced a building boom in the 1990s and 2000s with the construction of many gated communities and shopping centres. This building boom and the growth of Hillcrest from a sleepy little village to a mini town has not only spoilt the area and left many of the long time residents up in arms but caused a lot of other problems related to the infrastructure. Not enough planning was done prior to permission being given to many developers. This has strained the road network, and has rendered the number of available places in local schools inadequate.

GILLITTS

[Wikipedia]
It is about 22 miles (35 km) inland from the city centre at an elevation of 1800 feet (600 m ASL). Although Durban is semi-tropical and very humid, Gillitts is above the humidity and is not humid, except when it is in the clouds, which generally occurs in summer. It is in the mist belt area, so this area gets a fair amount of mist which many of the residents complain about.

It is positioned near the currently burgeoning Hillcrest and Kloof. The whole area is known as the Upper Highway Area as the M13 highway intersects it.

While some residents do seem to complain about the mist, it does usually come as a welcome relief to the intense humidity of the area.

Gillitts has remained fairly stable while Kloof and Hillcrest in the surrounding areas are growing quite rapidly. This can be attributable to the fact that there is very little area for Gillitts to grow.

Gillitts originated as an extensive farm that extended over the whole of the Upper Highway area, but over time, the farm was sold off and now only the 100-year-old farmhouse remains inside the Gillitts Driving Range and 9-hole, mashie golf course. This golf course is one of the best designed courses of its size in KZN.

The area of Gillitts extends along either side of the M13 highway which stretches from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The M13 replaced the Old Main Road between the two cities, and a section of Old Main Road is now the major road through the south side of Gillitts.

Off of Stockville Road €“ one of the other main roads in Gillitts suburb €“ a large ethnic Indian population lives, and over the traditional Indian festivals, fireworks are very prominent as part of their celebrations, especially over Dipvali and New Years.

On the northern side of the M13, known as Gillitts Park, the old train line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg winds through the residential areas. This train line is no longer in regular use, and is only used by the Umgeni Steam Railway, who runs a tourist service of carriages through from Kloof Train Station to Cato Ridge on the last Sunday of every month. This train is pulled by 'Maureen', a restored Class 3BR No. 1486 steam engine built in 1912 and the sound of the train whistle echoing through the neighbourhood on a Sunday morning is a reminder of a quieter time of life.

The Gillitts Train Station on the line in the middle of Gillitts is derelict and currently not used, but is a beautiful example of 1900-era architecture. Dating back to the Boer War in the first decade of the 20th century, the train station was a stop for British soldiers transiting from Durban through to the Midland battlefields as well as returning wounded soldiers.

WINSTON PARK

[Wikipedia]
Winston Park is a small residential area that lies between Gillitts and Hillcrest in the Upper Highway Area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Properties in the area are relatively expensive and houses range in size from small condominium developments to several mansions.

There is a small school called Winston Park Primary School, situated at the entrance to the renowned Jan Smuts Avenue. Jan Smuts Avenue is the suburb's main street and is lined with approximately 2 km of very large and old Plane Trees. Winston Park hosts the Gillitts Sports Club, consisting of the separately managed Gillitts Squash Club and Gillitts Bowling Club - situated in Vian Road. The field adjacent to the squash courts was once home to the Highway United soccer club, but is now a designated community sports and recreational field for the use of local residents.

Winston Park also forms part of the Comrades Marathon route, and every year the residents flock to the four way stop and Old Main Road to cheer on the runners. In the 2010 race the 14:00 cut off point was based near the Winston Park BP Garage