Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal
Encyclopedia
Hillcrest is a settlement within eThekwini
in KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
and forms a part of the Upper Highway Area
.
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 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.
One of the other early families to set up in the area was the Acutts who had already established the well known in Durban estate agents firm of that name. In 1903 the first school in the village was established in a wood and iron cottage in Hospital Road leased to a Mrs McMillian, the principal of the first Highbury School, by Horace Acutt.
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. 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 Hillcrest Waste Water Treatment Plant was finally established in the 1990s, then serving only the central commercial area of the village with phased extensions planned in time, with other areas continuing on septic tanks.
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 the many developers which has caused a strain on the road network, not enough places in the local schools amoung others.
and Hillcrest Primary School http://www.hcps.co.za/, with Winston Park Primary School in nearby Winston Park
.
Private schools include Highbury Preparatory School
and Hillcrest Christian Academy
with Kearsney College
and the Roseway Waldorf School
in nearby Botha's Hill
and Alverstone
respectively.
Ethekwini
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
in KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and forms a part of the Upper Highway Area
Upper Highway Area
The Upper Highway area is a region west of the city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.It includes the main suburbs of Kloof and Hillcrest, as well as the smaller areas of Assagay, Botha's Hill, Forest Hills, Gillitts, Waterfall and Winston Park....
.
History
Hillcrest was formerly a sleepy village, governed by its own Town Board on the outskirts of DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
that has now become a booming suburb incorporated into the eThekwini
Ethekwini
eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality is a metropolitan municipality created in 2000 that includes the city of Durban, South Africa and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 districts of KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The majority of its 3,090,126 people speak Zulu...
Metropolitan Municipality
Metropolitan municipality (South Africa)
In South Africa, a metropolitan municipality or Category A municipality is a municipality which executes all the functions of local government for a city or conurbation...
. 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 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.
One of the other early families to set up in the area was the Acutts who had already established the well known in Durban estate agents firm of that name. In 1903 the first school in the village was established in a wood and iron cottage in Hospital Road leased to a Mrs McMillian, the principal of the first Highbury School, by Horace Acutt.
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. 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 Hillcrest Waste Water Treatment Plant was finally established in the 1990s, then serving only the central commercial area of the village with phased extensions planned in time, with other areas continuing on septic tanks.
The town celebrated its centenary in 1995 and has since then seen an incredible increase in inhabitants migrating from more central areas in Durban
Hillcrest Today
Hillcrest lost its independent Town Board status in 1996 and was made subject to administration by the Outer West Local Council - a substructure council of the then Durban Unicity. In 2000, the Outer West Local Council, along with other local councils, was disestablished and were replaced by the single eThekwini Municipality encompasing the entire Durban metropolitan area.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 the many developers which has caused a strain on the road network, not enough places in the local schools amoung others.
Schools
A public school system is provided in Hillcrest including Hillcrest High SchoolHillcrest High School (South Africa)
Hillcrest High School is a public co-educational high school in Hillcrest, near Durban, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Hillcrest High School is a large co-educational high school situated 2,5 km from the centre of Hillcrest and 35 km from Durban...
and Hillcrest Primary School http://www.hcps.co.za/, with Winston Park Primary School in nearby Winston Park
Winston Park
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...
.
Private schools include Highbury Preparatory School
Highbury Preparatory School
Highbury Preparatory School is a private school for boys located in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.-History:Highbury was founded in 1903 by Sibella Douglas McMillan. It was named after Highbury House School in England, which was established by Sibella McMillan's father, the Rev Charles...
and Hillcrest Christian Academy
Hillcrest Christian Academy
Hillcrest Christian Academy is a co-educational independent Primary School in Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 30 km from Durban. The headteacher is Mr M Temlett.- History of HCA:...
with Kearsney College
Kearsney College
Kearsney College is a private boarding school for boys in Botha's Hill, a small town that lies between the provincial capital of Pietermaritzburg and Durban, the largest city of KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa.- History :...
and the Roseway Waldorf School
Roseway Waldorf School
Roseway Waldorf School is a coeducational privately-funded school in Alverstone, near Botha's Hill, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in February 1985. The school now has programs from preschool through high school...
in nearby Botha's Hill
Botha's Hill
Botha's Hill is a small town outside Hillcrest in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the gateway to the Valley of a Thousand Hills. Kearsney College moved to Botha's Hill in 1939....
and Alverstone
Alverstone
Alverstone is a village 3 kilometres from the east coast of the Isle of Wight, near Sandown. When Richard Webster became Chief Justice of England in 1900, he chose the title Lord Alverstone because it was the title he was permitted to choose which was "closest" to Sandown, one of his favourite...
respectively.
Famous residents
- Dale BenkensteinDale Benkenstein-External links:****...
, Nashua DolphinsDolphins cricket teamThe Sunfoil Dolphins is the name used by the KwaZulu Natal cricket team when it plays in the South African SuperSport Series first class competition; also in the MTN Domestic Championship and Standard Bank Twenty20 limited over competitions...
cricket player - Wayne Fyvie, former SharksSharks (rugby franchise)The Sharks are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super Rugby competition...
and SA national rugby player - Ian McIntoshIan McIntoshIan McIntosh is a Zimbabwean-South African rugby union coach. He served as head coach for the Springboks during the early 1990s.McIntosh grew up near Bulawayo....
, former Rhodesian, SharksSharks (rugby franchise)The Sharks are a South African rugby union team competing in the Super Rugby competition...
and SA national rugby coach - Shaun PollockShaun PollockShaun Maclean Pollock is a retired South African cricketer who is considered a bowling all-rounder. From 2000 to 2003 he was the captain of the South African cricket team, and also played for Africa XI, World XI, Dolphins and Warwickshire. He was also chosen as the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in...
, former Dolphins and SA national cricket player and captain - Terence ParkinTerence ParkinTerence Parkin is a deaf swimmer from South Africa, who won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in the 200 metres breaststroke...
, Olympic medalist - Megan ColemanMegan Kate ColemanMegan Kate Coleman is a beauty queen who represented South Africa in Miss Universe 2007 in Mexico and Miss World 2007 in China, but she didn't place in any of the pageants. She was Miss South Africa for 2006. She has a Bachelor of Social Science degree , and is presently a TV presenter.-References:...
, Miss South Africa 2007
Sources
- The Highway Mail, 1 June 2011.
- The Hilltop, 2 June 2011.
- Independent Electoral Commission (South Africa), 9 June 2011.