The leafy and well-established suburb of Winston Park on the outskirts of Kloof in the greater Durban region offers everything that the discerning homeowners in this upmarket part of town demand.
The area is centrally situated and flanked by other well-known suburbs such as Gillitts and Hillcrest and offers residents a quieter, more laid-back lifestyle than the bustling pace associated with big-city living. The entire region, thanks to its location escapes the high levels of humidity that plague the Durban area and although the winter months are a little chilly, the slightly lower temperatures recorded in summer have proven to be a draw card for those wishing to escape the oppressive heat of other nearby coastal areas.
The area has grown in popularity in recent years and although a great deal of development has taken place, the hamlet has not lost any of its charm. A village atmosphere prevails and with its famous Plane tree-lined avenues and magnificent homes it is easy to understand the appeal.
Winston Park forms part of the route for the well-known highly-acclaimed Comrades Marathon, which draws some of the world’s top international marathon runners to KwaZulu-Natal on an annual basis. Residents who aren’t quite up to this gruelling race have a wealth of sporting activities available, including the Gillitts Sports Club with squash courts and bowling greens as well as a designated community sports and recreational field.
The entire Upper Highway, as the region is collectively known, is also home to some of the finest schools in KwaZulu-Natal. Thomas More College, the largest independent school in the province, Highbury Preparatory founded in 1903 and Kearsney College that takes its name from a small village in Kent in the UK are all highly-regarded independent schools. Winston Park Primary, a government school first opened its doors in 1975, housing 88 pupils, today the school educates approximately 600 learners.
With such exceptional educational establishments virtually on its doorstep, it is not surprising that property prices in Winston Park have not succumbed to market factors that have ravaged other suburbs in the country.
Statistics released by Lightstone reveal that 56% of recent purchasers in the area are between the ages of 36-49 years and that there have been a total of 42 residential property transfers in the area in the last 12 months. Price averages for the suburb came in at R1 838 000-million for freehold property and R1 276 000-million for sectional title property. Price averages have remained buoyant since 2006 and the statistics reflect that the average household income hovers between R51 000 to R67 000 per month.
The entire Upper Highway region has boomed in recent years and where once its residents were forced to travel to Durban to seek out the bright lights, numerous shopping centres, medical facilities and restaurants now dot the area. For those who still crave the shopping facilities of the bigger centres, the Pavillion Shopping Centre is a 15-minute drive away on the N3 and Durban itself is a mere 20-minute car journey
