Visiting the Durban City Hall
The Durban City Hall is today home to a Public Library, the Natural Science Museum and the Durban Art Gallery. The entrance along Dr Pixley Kaseme Street takes you to municipal offices and meeting rooms.
Construction of this historical landmark finished in 1910. In 1903 architects were invited to submit designs when it was found that the original town hall – now the Durban Post Office – was no longer large enough. The exterior has sculptures representing the Arts, Music, Literature, Commerce and Industry.
Just outside the Durban City Hall, you’ll find statues of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Sir John Robinson – the first Prime Minister of Natal, Harry Escombe, Jan Christian Smuts and a commemorative statue of volunteers who died in the war from 1899 to 1902. A monument has been erected in the memory of local soldiers who passed away during World Wars I and II.
You’ll find the Durban City Hall in the centre of Dr Pixley Kaseme, Samora Machel, Anton Lembede and Dorothy Nyembe Streets. The switchboard for the eThekwini Municipality is +27 31 311 1111.
The Durban city centre surrounding the Durban City Hall is scattered with historical landmarks; nearby you’ll find The Playhouse, the Durban Post Office (the original City Hall), the old Durban Railway Station, Medwood Gardens and St Paul’s Church.