“A gold mine in Bellair? Really?” someone once asked. As we stand here in Bellair, let me tell you about this fascinating Durban suburb. Bellair is more than just a place. It is a suburb within the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. Its postal code is 4006.
Bellair is known as a family-friendly area. It has lush, leafy streets. You will find freestanding homes, apartments, and complexes here. Bellair is well-situated. It offers easy access to highways and main roads.
Durban was founded in 1835. It was named for Sir Benjamin D’Urban. He was the governor of the Cape Colony. Durban became a town in 1854. It was declared a city in 1935. Bellair is part of this history.
Bellair is conveniently located. King Shaka International Airport is about 29 minutes away via the N2. Durban CBD is a 15-minute drive. Durban Beach can be reached in about 20 minutes via the N3.
Bellair has warm, oppressive, and wet summers. The winters are long and comfortable. The coldest month is July. The average temperature is 17.4 °C. February is the warmest month. The average temperature then is 25.5 °C. February is also the wettest month. It sees about 130 mm of rainfall.
If you are thinking about schools, Bellair has many. Some top schools in the area include Bellair Primary School and Sea View Pre-Primary School. There is also Hillary Primary School and Queensburgh Christian Academy.
Healthcare is readily available. City Hospital and Inkosi Albert Luthuli Central Hospital are nearby. You can also find Ahmed Al-Kadi Private Hospital in the area. For check-ups, Primed Health Care Centre is an option. Even your furry friends are taken care of at Queensburgh Animal Clinic.
Shopping is easy with Southway Mall and Queensmead Mall nearby. The Pavilion, with over 250 stores, is just a 13-minute drive. Restaurants abound in Bellair. Cedar Falls Spur Steak Ranch and Players Cafe are popular.
For recreation, the Bellair Municipality Swimming Pool is great for family fun. uShaka Sea World is a 19-minute trip away. Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve offers walking trails and picnic spots.
Bellair Railway Station was built at the turn of the 19th century. Robert Brusse, a heritage architect, called it exquisite. He noted it was possibly the most significant Victorian station between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. In the 1970s and 80s, it won a national Railways Garden competition several times. Today, its neglect is considered a criminal offense by some.
And what about that gold mine? As children, some people recall hearing of a gold mine near Blairmont Avenue in Bellair. It supposedly produced a few ounces of gold. A cat even fell into the hole and was rescued. The mine’s exact location remains a bit of a mystery. Bellair is a place with layers of stories. From its family-friendly streets to its hidden gold mine tales, it is a suburb with a rich history and vibrant community.