Durban’s Mini Town (opened January 1969) was already a beloved beachfront gem throughout the entire 1980s.
Located on Snell Parade opposite North Beach, it felt like stepping into a living toy box:
- Scale & Magic: Everything built at 1:24 – knee-high replicas of Durban’s icons (City Hall, harbour, airport, railway station).
- Moving Wonders: Electric trains chugged endlessly around tracks, a draw-bridge lifted every few minutes for tiny ships, and model planes “took off” from the mini airport. Kids (and adults) could press buttons to make things happen.
- Prime 80s Vibe:
- Well-maintained & sparkling – no faded paint or broken bits like today.
- Cheap entry (a few rand), a little kiosk for cooldrinks & ice-lollies.
- Weekends = packed with families, school tours, birthday parties.
- Paired with the old Fitzsimons Snake & Reptile Park next door and curry-pineapple sticks on the promenade.
- “Back in the day” glow: Durban was smaller, so the mini harbour with its 212 000 litres of real water felt gigantic and futuristic. Redditors still sigh: “It was a spectacle because the real city was so compact.”
In short: pure 80s Durban childhood gold – tiny, interactive, spotless, and impossible to leave without a grin