Gillitts, KwaZulu-Natal
| Gillitts | |
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 Gillitts
Gillitts
Gillitts
Gillitts shown within KwaZulu-Natal
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Location within Durban
Gillitts
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| Coordinates: 29°47′50″S 30°47′40″E / 29.79722°S 30.79444°ECoordinates: 29°47′50″S 30°47′40″E / 29.79722°S 30.79444°E | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Province | KwaZulu-Natal |
| Municipality | eThekwini |
| Government | |
| • Ward Councillor | Rick Crouch (Democratic Alliance) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.54 km2 (4.46 sq mi) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 8,661 |
| • Density | 750/km2 (1,900/sq mi) |
| Racial makeup (2011) | |
| • Black African | 11.4% |
| • Coloured | 0.8% |
| • Indian/Asian | 2.4% |
| • White | 85.1% |
| • Other | 0.3% |
| First languages (2011) | |
| • English | 84.2% |
| • Afrikaans | 7.1% |
| • Zulu | 5.6% |
| • Other | 3.1% |
| Postal code (street) | 3610 |
| PO box | 3603 |
Gillitts is a suburb on the western boundary of Durban, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.
It is about 22 miles (35 km) inland from the city centre at an elevation of 1800 feet (600 m ASL). Although Durban is semi-tropical and very humid, Gillitts is above the humidity and is not humid, except when it is in the clouds, which generally occurs in summer. It is in the mist belt area, so this area gets a fair amount of mist which many of the residents complain about.
It is positioned near the currently burgeoning Hillcrest and Kloof. The whole area is known as the Upper Highway Area as the M13 highway intersects it.
While some residents do seem to complain about the mist, it does usually come as a welcome relief to the intense humidity of the area.
Gillitts has remained fairly stable while Kloof and Hillcrest in the surrounding areas are growing quite rapidly. This can be attributable to the fact that there is very little area for Gillitts to grow.
Gillitts originated as an extensive farm that extended over the whole of the Upper Highway area, but over time, the farm was sold off and now only the 100-year-old farmhouse remains inside the Gillitts Driving Range and 9-hole, mashie golf course. This golf course is one of the best designed courses of its size in KZN.
The area of Gillitts extends along either side of the M13 highway which stretches from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. The M13 replaced the Old Main Road between the two cities, and a section of Old Main Road is now the major road through the south side of Gillitts.
Off of Stockville Road – one of the other main roads in Gillitts suburb – a large ethnic Indian population lives, and over the traditional Indian festivals, fireworks are very prominent as part of their celebrations, especially over Dipvali and New Years.
On the northern side of the M13, known as Gillitts Park, the old train line from Durban to Pietermaritzburg winds through the residential areas. This train line is no longer in regular use, and is only used by the Umgeni Steam Railway, who runs a tourist service of carriages through from Kloof Train Station to Cato Ridge on the last Sunday of every month. This train is pulled by 'Maureen', a restored Class 3BR No. 1486 steam engine built in 1912 and the sound of the train whistle echoing through the neighbourhood on a Sunday morning is a reminder of a quieter time of life.
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Wikipedia