Starting in 1987 with the planning of Gateway Theatre of Shopping and continuing through the next 30 years, we took to the skies in helicopters to record the landscape before our development schemes were initiated – and continued during the construction process.
Now, with the advent of drones, the final chapter can be written, and the development of everything we see around us can be shown over the passage of time.
Retired civil engineer and Mount Edgecombe resident Brian Downie shares with us his drone footage to bring back memories and remind us of how the landscape of the uMhlanga area has developed over the years.
From the “Crown of Thorns” evolving on uMhlanga Rocks Drive, to looking north from Seaview Interchange, the transformation of the four quadrants around Mount Edgecombe Interchange, to looking back at the city and the stadium from the North Coast, these short videos will bring back many happy memories.
The Crown of Thorns is shown evolving from the days when the Glasshouse was the only building on uMhlanga Rocks Drive to the shaded tunnel under the fever trees
Looking north from Seaview Interchange with its own crown of palm trees we see the evolution of a busier landscape as we wend our way along uMhlanga Rocks Drive and down to the village, that alas is no more a village – uMhlanga Rocks
As Gateway sprang out of the ground, so the abrupt end of Durban North at Addison Drive now started to link with uMhlanga Ridge through a series of developments – one of which was Ilala Ridge.
One of Durban’s greatest assets is its coastline. Looking back at the City and the stadium from the north coast on a pristine sunny day is priceless. As development began to escalate in La Lucia Ridge, Umhlanga Rocks Drive had to smarten itself up. The chicane that was known locally as the “S Bend” had a dubious record as a bit of fun for sports cars and a place for everyone else to avoid. The elimination of this accident black spot was first on the agenda and took place shortly after the pre-development photograph was taken in 1997. Ilala Ridge was in a prime position to enjoy those coastal views, and in 2004 construction began for the roads and services.
Across the N2, Mount Edgecombe Country Club also added to the attractions that have transformed the four quadrants around Mount Edgecombe Interchange with Pani Dam the central feature on Estate 2 (The Lakes Course)
The original course (now known as The Woods) was originally Huletts Country Club, designed by Sid Brews in 1936 and modennised in 1992 by Hugh Baiocchi and is one of the few courses in the country to meet the USGA specifications.