History is a great educator and coming to know the history of a community and its historical nuances fosters an individual’s sense of belonging and community pride. Even more importantly, a strong community makes for a strong town.
Every town and community have a unique tale to tell and Local Real Estate’s Principal Tim Johnson, who has always been passionate about history and was born and bred in Umhlali, expounds on Umhlali’s past, and why he feels going forward it will be an integral and important part of the expanding residential areas around it.
Originally called Fort William, as it was a fort established by British and Scottish Settlers in 1850, it was later renamed Umhlali – the Zulu name for the Monkey Orange tree, which grew abundantly along the banks of the Umhlali river. Later its name also came to mean “the place of waiting” as settlers and locals would have to wait on the banks before crossing the river on a northward journey. “This area also became a very important trade route once the agricultural side became viable” says Tim.” Umhlali was then the hub of the farming community with the heart of the village being the bustling main road which held a bank, post office, supermarket, farmers’ co-op, and the Lali Hotel. Before the new retail developments were constructed in Ballito, Umhlali was where the farmers and residents went to buy groceries, collect post, go to the bank, fill up with petrol and go to school.
“I went to Umhlali Prep” says Tim “and remember going to Cindy’s and Spar after school, my grandfather collecting post at The Post Office and going to the farmers Co-op. All this was a big part of our growing up here.” “Of course, Umhlali has gone through an evolution over the past number of years and at one time there was concern over its relevance with the development having gone on in the Ballito area, but it is now going through a noticeable resurgence.”
After over 150 years in the making, even though Umhlali does shows signs of age, local residents, newer businesses and innovative developers are assisting in its rejuvenation. “The old Spar building has been repurposed to become a boxing gym; the old railway station is now “Second Chance” and the Lali Hotel has been turned into a church and Thompsons tasty meats is now Loret’s Kitchen,” continues Tim.
“There have been significant changes in this area including the new padel courts at the centre of Sugar Village, the new Total garage on the R 102 where new residential developments, in time, will be built adjacent to this garage, and, of course the exciting North Point commercial development which is a fabulous mixed-use precinct.”
Umhlali is a shining example of how a community can rejuvenate an ageing town and create vibrant, quality spaces that give purpose to where people live, thereby creating a sense of continuity and enabling this town to remain an important and integral part of the surrounding developing environment going forward.