An excellent selection pf property, green spaces, entertainment options and a central location make this one of the most popular suburbs in Durban.
Many of Durban’s vintage homes can be found in Morningside. They have been lovingly preserved and protected by the provincial heritage conservation agency Amafa aKwaZulu-Natali (also known as Amafa). From Victorian to Edwardian, with tin roofs and wide verandas, including the State President’s residence, the Morningside landscape encompasses everything from broekie lace cottages to vast colonial homes on huge plots.
There’s a great deal of history here, but also lovely green spaces and sensational views. Mitchell Park and Jameson Park are at the heart of this suburb and, aside from their long history, they’re highly popular weekday spots for teas and lunches, favourite weekend picnic sites and great playgrounds for children. Jameson Park is the more sedate of the two; once a pineapple plantation, it’s long been the rose centre of Durban, displaying 600 rose bushes of 200 species. At 5pm, it becomes a play area for dogs.
Morningside is strongly residential, with a little retail strip on the corner of Florida and Innes roads, where you’ll find stylish clothing at Colleen Eitzen and Gorgeous, furniture and accessories at Egg Designs, light meals at Charlie’s Bistro and Cafe, and co¬ffee and jewellery at Mark Gold.
Florida Road falls into the Morningside area. Although its best known for its nightlife, it’s also a commercial and retail centre. Old homes have been refurbished to accommodate businesses, little garages have been transformed into co¬ffee shops and there are small communal o¬ffice arrangements for entrepreneurs and lively monthly events where doors are open late for art and music performances.
The suburb is uno¬fficially divided into Upper and Lower Morningside. Upper Morningside is high on the slope of the hill, a beautifully lush greenbelt, where properties are vast and plot sizes are generous, with views of the sea, harbour and the lights of Durban. Roads are lined with trees and there’s a general sense of grandeur and establishment. In Lower Morningside, there are more young families, schools, shops and a cosmopolitan energy.
Morningside has excellent schools nearby and this is undoubtedly one of the area’s main drawcards. A number of schools have been in the area for many years and have retained their superb academic and sporting reputations. Morningside appeals to a wide variety of people, whether they like renovating, enjoy life in a spacious home in a grand old apartment block with views or have always lived in the area and would never consider living anywhere else.
"We’ve lived here for three years and turned our old Victorian cottage into a really gorgeous contemporary house. Even though our children are now at university in Cape Town, we’re happy to stay just here! We both work from a cottage on the grounds, dogs at our feet, and we love it" says resident, Caroline Stubbs.
We’ve lived here for three years and turned our old Victorian cottage into a really gorgeous contemporary house. Even though our children are now at university in Cape Town, we’re happy to stay just here! We both work from a cottage on the grounds, dogs at our feet, and we love it.
-Caroline Stubbs, resident.
Schools in Morningside, Durban
- Tree Tops School
- Montpelier Pre Primary School
- Joyce Broadhead Pre-Primary
- Livingstone Primary School
- Morningside Primary School
- Clifton School
- Durban Girls’ College
- Maris Stella School
- Durban Preparatory High School
- Curro Embury College
- Gordon Road Girls’ School
Things to do in Morningside, Durban:
- Enjoy art, music and great company on Florida Road on First Thursdays.
- Experience the walk-through aviary at Mitchell Park Zoo.
- Play bowls at Morningside Sports Club.
- Enjoy a game of tennis at Mitchell Park Tennis Club.
- Take the family out a fun-filled day at Jameson Park.
Where to eat in Morningside, Durban
- Malis Indian Restaurant: for authentic and delicious Indian food
- Casablanca: for great seafood
- The St James on Venice: for excellent food in a tranquil setting
- Bus Stop Bar and Grill: for mouth-watering pizza and tasty cocktails
- Butcher Boys Morningside: for succulent steaks
- Ninth Avenue Bistro: for superb food
- Cappello: for great food made with passion
This article originally appeared in Neighbourhood, Sunday Times.
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