Sixty years since it was built, and the Oyster Box Hotel remains Umhlanga’s landmark 5-star hotel, with its neighbour, the Umhlanga lighthouse the symbol of this tourist mecca.
In 1863, Umhlanga’s first beach cottage known as the Oyster Lodge was built on a rocky site overlooking the sea. With its reflective roof, the cottage was originally used as a beacon by passing ships’ captains to navigate safely around Umhlanga’s rocky headland.
In 1952, the cottage and overgrown grounds were sold to Ken O’Connor and Kay O’Connor (Hill), his sister, who started a tea garden, which changed to a restaurant, and then in March 1954 opened as the Oyster Box Hotel, located on the site next to the lighthouse.
The building of the lighthouse itself was completed in 1954 to replace the original Durban Bluff lighthouse which was commissioned in 1869, but had to be abandoned due to its rapid rate of deterioration.
The relationship between the Oyster Box and the lighthouse is more than just physical, in that the hotel is the official warden of the lighthouse, operating its lights and negating the need for its own lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse controls are located in the hotel office where staff monitor the controls, and report to Portnet Lighthouse Service. Portnet Lighthouse Service receives status reports of this nautical guardian from the control office located at the hotel.
Icon, instigator of change, symbol of elegance, maritime guardian – as both Oyster Box Hotel and the Umhlanga lighthouse turn 60, we wish the Grande Dames a happy birthday. *