Durban North

---

title: "Durban North" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["suburbs-of-durban", "2000-establishments-in-south-africa"] topic_path: "geography/south-africa" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durban_North" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

Field	Value
name	Durban North
settlement_type	Suburb
image_skyline	Umgeni Park, b, Durban-Noord, Durban.jpg
image_caption	Umgeni Park on the north bank of the Umgeni River's Blue Lagoon
pushpin_map	South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa
coordinates
subdivision_type	Country
subdivision_name	South Africa
subdivision_type1	Province
subdivision_name1	KwaZulu-Natal
subdivision_type2	District
subdivision_type3	Municipality
subdivision_name3	eThekwini
subdivision_type4	Main Place
subdivision_name4	Durban
established_title	Established
leader_party	DA
leader_title	Councillor
leader_name	Heinz De Boer
population_density_km2	auto
demographics1_title1	Black African
demographics1_title2	Coloured
demographics1_title3	Indian/Asian
demographics1_title4	White
demographics1_title5	Other
timezone1	SAST
utc_offset1	+2
postal_code_type	Postal code (street)
postal_code	4051
postal2_code_type	PO box
postal2_code	4016
area_code_type	Area code
::

| name = Durban North | settlement_type = Suburb | image_skyline = Umgeni Park, b, Durban-Noord, Durban.jpg | image_caption = Umgeni Park on the north bank of the Umgeni River's Blue Lagoon | pushpin_map = South Africa KwaZulu-Natal#South Africa | coordinates = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = South Africa | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = KwaZulu-Natal | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_type3 = Municipality | subdivision_name3 = eThekwini | subdivision_type4 = Main Place | subdivision_name4 = Durban | established_title = Established | leader_party = DA | leader_title = Councillor | leader_name = Heinz De Boer | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = | population_total = | population_density_km2 = auto | demographics_type1 = | demographics1_title1 = Black African | demographics1_info1 = | demographics1_title2 = Coloured | demographics1_info2 = | demographics1_title3 = Indian/Asian | demographics1_info3 = | demographics1_title4 = White | demographics1_info4 = | demographics1_title5 = Other | demographics1_info5 = | timezone1 = SAST | utc_offset1 = +2 | postal_code_type = Postal code (street) | postal_code = 4051 | postal2_code_type = PO box | postal2_code = 4016 | area_code_type = Area code ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/12/Blue_Lagoon,_b,_Umgenirivier,_Durban.jpg" caption="Tower blocks of Prospect Hall north of the Blue Lagoon"] ::

Durban North is an area to the north of Durban in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Durban North lies between the N2 freeway and the eastern seashore, with the Umgeni River forming its southern boundary. It has residential suburbs that are some of Durban's most affluent and is flanked by La Lucia in the north.

History

In 1927 the Durban North Estates Company, a property development company, bought a large tract of land north of the Umgeni River known as the Prospect Hall Sugar Estate. Plans were laid out for the development of the land into a residential suburb, and roads were built, beginning with Northway, to be the main arterial through the new suburb. At the time, access to the land across the Umgeni was limited to the Connaught Bridge further upstream. In November 1927, the company completed the iron girder Athlone Bridge across the Umgeni River to link the new suburb at Northway to the established area of Stamford Hill in the South. Following the completion of the bridge and enhanced access to the city, Durban North rapidly developed, followed by Virginia in the 1950s, and Glenashley in the 1970s.

Location and suburbs

Durban North begins on the northern bank of the Umgeni River with the suburbs of Umgeni Park, Prospect Hall and Athlone. Along the eastern coastline northwards towards La Lucia are the suburbs of Beachwood, Virginia and Glenashley. Central Durban North is now officially known as Broadway, and is the commercial and educational hub of the area. To the west at the boundary with Avoca and are the suburbs of Parkhill, Red Hill, Glen Anil, Glen Hills, Greenwood Park, Kenville and the industrial area, Briardene.

Roads and airport

The M12 Kenneth Kaunda Road links the western suburbs of Durban North to uMhlanga Ridge in the north and Stamford Hill in the south. The Ruth First/Leo Boyd Highway (M4) connects Durban North to the city in the south and uMhlanga Rocks along the coast in the north. Virginia Airport is situated along the northern shoreline.

Recreation facilities, beaches and nature reserves

The Beachwood Mangroves Nature Reserve conserves the mangrove swamps of Beachwood on the northern bank of the Blue Lagoon. Rocket Hut Beach is adjacent to the reserve and is known for its fishing and was the scene of a shark attack in 1947 and 1954.

Beachwood Country Club abuts the mangrove swamp, with a non-swimming beach known as Beachwood. The golf course at Beachwood was redesigned by Gary Player in 1994. Virginia Beach is just north of Beachwood, alongside the Virginia Airport. Glenashley Beach is popular with locals, although it is officially a non-swimming beach.

The Umgeni River Bird Park is located on the banks of the Umgeni River in Umgeni Park. Virginia Bush Nature Reserve is located in the suburb of Virginia, while Seaton Park Nature Reserve is found in Park Hill. Durban North has a municipal swimming pool and a number of parks serviced by the eThekwini Municipality, including the Durban North Japanese Gardens.

Sports clubs

Northwood Crusaders, established in 1964, is a sportsground catering to the community and old boys of Northwood School. Crusaders, as it is popularly known, has extensive sporting facilities for cricket, rugby, soccer, and athletics. At the site of the old Glenwood Old Boys' Club is Riverside Sports, which offers rugby and soccer fields along with two artificial turfs for hockey. Durban North is home to the Regent Harriers, an informal running club that has been meeting since 1960.

Education

There are a number of independent and government schools in the area. Independent higher education provider Varsity College has a campus in Durban North.

Government Schools

• Chelsea Preparatory School
• Danville Park Girls' High School
• Durban North College
• Glenashley Preparatory
• Northcrest Primary School
• Northlands Primary School
• Northlands Girls' High School
• Northwood School
• Rose Hill Primary School
• Virginia Preparatory School
• Greenwood Park Primary School
• Parkhill Secondary School
• Effingham Primary School
• Effingham Secondary School
• Columbia Primary School

Private schools

• Oakridge College
• Our Lady of Fatima Convent School
• Hamptons High School
• St Barnabas Independent School

Safety

Durban North is divided over two SAPS precincts. The section east of uMhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda Road is covered by Durban North SAPS (located in Broadway) and the section west of uMhlanga Rocks Drive and Kenneth Kaunda Road is covered by Greenwood Park SAPS.

References

References

1. "SA’S BEST SUBURBS: Leafy and gated".
2. City of Durban Report on the planning of Durban North - C.G. Hands City Engineer, Durban, March 1975
3. "Athlone Bridge, July 1929. The opening of the Athlone Bridge across...".
4. "What happened in Durban 50 years ago 1966 – Facts About Durban".
5. "eThekwini Municipality Corporate GIS Map Viewer".
6. "shark attack in Rocket Hut Beach Durban in 1954".
7. "shark attack in Rocket Hut Beach Durban in 1947".
8. "History of Beachwood".
9. "Virginia Beach".
10. "Virginia Bush Nature Reserve".
11. "Durban North Swimming Pool on Kznkids".
12. "Sport & Sports Clubs".
13. "Riverside Sports {{!}} A World Class, Modern Sports Facility".
14. "Regents Harriers - What's On".
15. "history - regentsharriers".
16. "Varsity College Durban North campus".
17. "Services {{!}} SAPS (South African Police Service)".
18. "Services {{!}} SAPS (South African Police Service)".
19. "Crime Statisticts by Police Precinct in South Africa".

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