Durban’s history began with indigenous peoples and then Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama naming the area Rio de Natal in 1497.
The area’s development into Port Natal in the 1820s was shaped by Zulu King Shaka’s granting of land to British settlers, with the settlement officially named Durban in 1835 after Cape Governor Sir Benjamin D’Urban. Following a period of conflict with Boer settlers, the British annexed the region, and the city grew into a major port and industrial hub, especially known for its sugar industry and large Indian community.
A classic black-and-white photograph from 1962 showing a double-decker Sunbeam trolley bus
turning from Pine Street into Albert Street in Durban, South Africa. The bus prominently advertises “CHARMS” sweets (“South Africa’s Favourite Candy”) on its side.
Historical Context
- Trolleybuses in Durban: The city operated an extensive trolleybus network from 1935 to 1966, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere at its peak. Sunbeam models like this one were common, with overhead electric wires powering the vehicles.
- Location: Pine Street (now Joe Slovo Street) and Albert Street (now Albert Luthuli Street) were central commercial areas in downtown Durban. The surrounding architecture and parked cars reflect mid-20th-century urban life.
- End of an Era: By 1966, Durban phased out trolleybuses in favor of diesel buses due to maintenance costs and urban expansion.