Nostalgia & Transformation: The Story of The Wheel (Gillespie St / Point Road Precinct)
Opened in 1989, The Wheel Shopping Centre was once the crown jewel of Durban’s beachside entertainment district. Spanning between Gillespie Street and Point Road (now Mahatma Gandhi Road), it wasn’t just a place to shop—it was an iconic Durban landmark.
1. The Golden Era (Late 1980s – 1990s)
- The Giant Ferris Wheel: True to its name, the front façade featured a working, full-scale Ferris wheel built right into the building’s exterior, lighting up the night skyline.
- Southern Hemisphere’s Largest Cinema: At launch, it boasted an extraordinary 11-screen Ster-Kinekor complex with roughly 7,000 seats, making it the premier movie-going destination in KZN.
- Entertainment Hub: Packed with bustling fast-food outlets, ice cream parlors, a massive video arcade, and specialty boutiques, it was the ultimate holiday and weekend hangout spot for locals and tourists alike.
2. Shifting Tides along Point Road
- As suburban shopping malls like Gateway and Pavilion expanded during the late ’90s and early 2000s, shopper footfall around the lower Point precinct began to shift.
- Urban decay, changing crime dynamics, and shifting tenant mixes across the surrounding Point/Gillespie area led to the eventual closure of the original high-end retail stores and movie theaters.
3. What It Is Today: China Mall & Wholesale Hub
- Reinvented Space: The landmark building was repurposed and now operates primarily as a bustling China Mall / Wholesale Centre.
- Budget Shopping: Today, the multi-level complex houses dozens of independent traders selling electronics, textiles, clothing, homeware, and craft supplies (including the popular bead shops on the upper levels).
Location & Contact
- Address: 55 Gillespie Street (corner of Point / Mahatma Gandhi Rd precinct), Durban Central
- Current Trading Focus: Bargain retail, electronics, textiles, and wholesale items.
