Durban as you’ve never seen it before – then and now

·8 Sep 2016

The Durban government has uploaded a swathe of old photos of the city, showing how one of South Africa’s biggest cities has changed over the years.

Durban, after Joburg and Cape Town is one of South Africa’s most populous areas, and is famous for being the busiest port in the country.

Thanks to its tropical climate, it is also one of the busiest tourist areas in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of travelers to its shores – both local and international.

Modern Durban, as a city, dates back to 1824, when a settlement was established by early European colonists on land given to them by Zulu King Shaka. The settlement was called d’Urban, after Sir Benjamin d’Urban, who was the then governor of the Cape Colony.

Today, Durban is home to around 3 million people, making it the third biggest city in the country. The city has changed significantly over the years – as shown in the photos below – and is currently experiencing a fresh surge in development interest.

Several projects in the pipeline will see billions of rands pumped into developments in Durban which aim to change the skyline of the city – including a proposed tower stretching 370m into the sky, which aims to become the tallest building on the African continent.

Here’s Durban then and now:

Durban city – West Street

Old West Street in Durban is now called Dr Pixley Kaseme Street.

Durban Central Post Office

Durban Beach

Durban’s beaches have always been one of the most popular holiday destinations – in the past and in the present.

Dick King Monument

Richard King was an English trader and colonist at ‘Port Natal’ in the 1800s. Statues and monuments to King are still around Durban, though the scenery has changed.