Timeline of Durban

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Durban in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

19th century

• 1824 - British settlement of Port Natal established on land "acquired...through treaties with the Zulu king Shaka."^{[dubious – discuss][1][need quotation to verify][2]}
• 1835 - Settlement renamed "D'Urban" after British colonial administrator Benjamin D'Urban.^[1][2]
• 1839
  • A small British military force was stationed at the port.^[2]
  • On its withdrawal Dutch emigrants from the Cape took possession and proclaimed the Natalia Republic.^[2]
• 1841 - Printing press in operation (approximate date).^[3]
• 1842
  • A British military force reoccupied Durban.^[2]
  • Treaty signed by the Dutch recognizing British sovereignty.^[2]
• 1846 - "Native reserves" created.^[4]
• 1851 - Natal Times newspaper begins publication.^[5]
• 1852 - Mercury newspaper begins publication.^[5]
• 1854
  • "First Town Council, consisting of 8 members representing four wards" created.^[6]
  • George Cato becomes mayor.
  • Natal Bank in business.^[6]
  • D'Urban Club formed.
• 1860
  • 26 June: Natal Railway (Market Square-Customs Point) begins operating in Durban.
  • Indian workers begin to arrive in Durban.^[4]
• 1863 - Population: approximately 5,000 (3,390 white, 1,380 black and 230 Asian).^[6]
• 1865 - Sites for Albert Park and Victoria Park established.^[7]
• 1866 - Durban High School was founded.
• 1870 - Durban Fire Department founded.^[6]
• 1880 - Magazine Barracks built.
• 1882 - Durban High School for Girls was founded.
• 1885 - Town Hall built.^[6]
• 1887 - Durban Girls' College was founded.
• 1888 - Lord's cricket ground established.
• 1889 - Natal cricket team formed.
• 1896 - Population: 31,877.^[7]
• 1899 - Maris Stella School was founded.

20th century

1900s-1950s

• 1902 - Electric tram begins operating.^[6]
• 1903
  • Utrecht and Vryheid become part of city.^[6]
  • Indian Opinion newspaper begins publication.^[6]
• 1904
  • Zulu Ilanga lase Natal newspaper begins publication.^[8]
  • Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi establishes settlement at Phoenix.^[6]
  • Population: 67,842.^[2]
• 1908 - Union Whaling Station begins operating.^[6]
• 1910
  • Durban becomes part of newly formed Union of South Africa.^[6]
  • Glenwood High School was founded.
• 1911 - Population: 69,187 (31,783 white, 17,784 black, 19,620 Asian).^[9]
• 1914 - Indian Views [de] newspaper begins publication.^[10]
• 1921
  • Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramoniar Temple built.
  • Comrades Marathon (Pietermaritzburg-Durban) begins.^[6]
• 1923 - Kingsmead Cricket Ground in use.^{[chronology citation needed]}
• 1924 - Clifton School was founded.
• 1926 - Memorial Cenotaph unveiled in Farewell Square.
• 1929 - St. Henry's Marist College was founded.
• 1931 - Natal University College Durban campus established.^{[chronology citation needed]}
• 1935 - Durban officially gained its city status.
• 1946 - Population: 338,817 city.^[11]
• 1949
  • Anti-Indian riot.
  • Electric tram stops operating.^[6]
• 1950 - Parliamentary Group Areas Act leads to urban apartheid.^[4]
• 1951 - November: World premiere of feature film Cry, the Beloved Country.^[12]
• 1953 - Northlands High School for Girls was founded.
• 1958 - Kings Park Stadium opens.

1960s-1990s

• 1960
  • Ukhozi FM radio begins broadcasting.
  • African Art Centre established.^[13]
  • Population: 560,010 city; 681,492 metro.^[14]
• 1961
  • University College for Indians established on Salisbury Island.
  • Durban becomes part of the new Republic of South Africa.^[6]
• 1965 - Cinerama Theatre opens.^[15]
• 1966 - Brettonwood High School was founded.
• 1968 - Durban Heights water reservoir begins operating.^[6]
• 1970 - Population: 736,853 city; 850,946 metro.^[16]
• 1972 - University of Durban-Westville opens.
• 1973 - 1973 Durban strikes^[4]
• 1977 - Durban Container Terminal begins operating at the Port of Durban.
• 1978 - 8 January: Academic Rick Turner assassinated.^[17]
• 1985
  • Anti-Indian unrest.
  • 23 December: Amanzimtoti bombing occurs near Durban.
  • Population: 634,301 city; 982,075 metro.^[18]
• 1986 - 14 June: Durban beach-front bombing occurs.
• 1990
  • "Separate Amenities Act was repealed, thus opening up Durban’s facilities to all races."^[6]
  • Northwood School was founded.
• 1991 - Population: 715,669 city; 1,137,378 metro.^[19]
• 1993
  • June: 1993 African Championships in Athletics held in Durban.
  • Pavilion shopping centre in business in Westville.
• 1995 - Sharks (rugby union) formed.
• 1996
  • Part of 1996 Africa Cup of Nations football contest played in Durban.
  • Obed Mlaba becomes mayor.
  • City website Durban.gov.za launched (approximate date).^[20]
  • Population: 669,242.^[21]
• 1997 - International Convention Centre opens.
• 1998 - September: International summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in city.
• 1999 - November: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999 held in city.
• 2000
  • July: XIII International AIDS Conference, 2000 held in city.^[1]
  • 5 December: South African municipal elections, 2000 held.
  • Durban becomes seat of newly created eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.

21st century

• 2001
  • UN World Conference against Racism 2001 held in city.^[22]
  • Population: 536,644 city.
  • Gateway shopping centre in business in nearby Umhlanga.
• 2002
  • 6 February: 2002 Charlotte's Dale train collision occurs in vicinity of Durban.
  • 9 July: African Union launched in Durban.
• 2003
  • Dolphins cricket team formed.
  • Part of 2003 Cricket World Cup played in Durban.
• 2004
  • University of KwaZulu-Natal established.
  • uShaka Marine World theme park in business.
• 2005 - 19 March: Demonstration at Kennedy Road shack settlement.
• 2006
  • February: Strike at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
  • 1 March: South African municipal elections, 2006 held.
• 2007 - Eden College was founded.
• 2008 - Ulwazi Programme for local history launched.^[23]
• 2009
  • 24 September: Airplane crash occurs.
  • 26 September: Ethnic attack on Kennedy Road shack settlement.
  • Moses Mabhida Stadium opens in Stamford Hill.
• 2010
  • King Shaka International Airport opens.
  • Part of 2010 FIFA World Cup football contest played in Durban.
  • Field Band Academy founded.^[24]
• 2011
  • 18 May: South African municipal elections, 2011 held.
  • November–December: 2011 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in city.
  • James Nxumalo becomes mayor.^[25]
  • Population: 595,061 city;^[26] 3,442,361 metro.
• 2013
  • March: International 5th BRICS summit held in city.
  • Part of 2013 Africa Cup of Nations football contest played in Durban.
• 2016
  • 3 August: South African municipal elections, 2016 held.
  • 2016 African Championships in Athletics held in city.
  • Zandile Gumede becomes mayor.
• 2017 - March: Durban bid for the 2022 Commonwealth Games rejected.

See also

• Durban history (fr)
• List of mayors of Durban
• Timelines of other cities in South Africa: Cape Town, Gqeberha, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg, Pretoria