Chatsworth Area Profile

Chatsworth at a glance

Chatsworth, as a result of its history, is still predominantly Indian today, although there is a healthy mix of African, Indian, white and coloured residents. It boasts a rich flavour of mixed Indian cultures that has given rise to the Temple of Understanding, undoubtedly South Africa's most spectacular Hare Krishna temple with a multicultural and multi religious community. Chatsworth is said to be the heart of the Indian community.
Chatsworth's business community crosses the division from tiny corner spaza shops to large corporate companies, alongside a large manufacturing industry and one of the busiest shopping malls in the country Chatsworth centre were - over 1.2 million people a month shop here in the heart of Chatsworth, this huge centre nestled around small community shops and malls makes it all a one stop shopping experience.

Planned in 1960, Chatsworth was officially opened in 1964, consisting of eleven neighbourhood units containing 7 000 sub-economic and 14 000 economic houses.

According to research Chatsworth was named after a civil parish in Derbyshire, England.
"It was bought in the 16th century by William Cavendish, the Duke of Devonshire. Originally, Indians in the area settled in a place called Cavendish that was named after him.
"Thereafter, in 1848, Samuel Bennington, an immigrant who also owned farms in the area, named it Chatsworth after an area near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England."

He said Higginson Highway was named after councilor Jim Higginson, who was in charge of the Durban City Co-operation Housing Committee.
"At the time, Higginson said that Chatsworth would become a model modern township with amenities and facilities from established (Indian) areas.
"Higginson was a religious man and something of an actor, a producer and member of the Catholic Players Guild. His wife Betty was one of the first yoga teachers in Manor Gardens."

He said Higginson died in 1995 and his wife in 2014.
Vedan said Higginson Highway could be compared to the River Thames in London or the Yangtze River in China.
"It moves freely through all the units and one could reach every unit as there are off-ramps to each unit."
He said the names for the different areas in the township were agreed upon by councilors and officials in the old Durban City Council.
"They had strong links to Great Britain and they used British terms relating to land and features to name these areas."

Unit 1 (Havenside): It faces the Durban harbour and haven means a small harbour in old English.
Unit 2 (Bayview): It offers a view of the Durban bay.
Unit 3 (Westcliff): Refers to the direction and it is situated on a slope or a cliff. Westcliff is in the western part of Chatsworth, west of Durban.
Unit 4 (Mobeni): This is an isiZulu word. It means "to the sugar cane", as the area was once used for growing sugar cane.
Unit 5 (Croftdene): It describes an enclosed piece of arable land within a deep, narrow wooded valley.
Unit 6 (Arena Park): It means a level area or place, or a scene of activity, debate or conflict. However, the correct definition seems to be that it was originally a level, park-like place.
Unit 7 (Montford): The word is derived from French and it refers to a hill that is strong.
Unit 9 (Moorton): This means a village situated in an open, uncultivated upland.
Unit 10 (Woodhurst): Refers to a wooded hill.
Unit 11 (Crossmoor): It refers to crossing a tract of uncultivated, hilly land, typically covered with heather. Cross referred to places where horses and carts crossed, thus churning up mud caused by tramping feet and churning wheels.
Silverglen is named after the Silver Oak tree that grows there, and a glen is a narrow valley.
Kharwastan is named after Mr Kharwa and "stan" means country in Persian, so this name means the country of the Kharwas.
Umhlatuzana is a reference to a river, and the name means shrubs in isiZulu.
Research is still being conducted into why there is no Unit 8.

Shallcros became an extension of chatsworth from the elapsing unit 11. According to Jerald Vedan a local reporter, who lives in nearby Shallcross an old wives tale, said: "The myth was that the first settlers arrived at a river and someone said 'we shall cross', and that's how the area got the name Shallcross.
"but In fact, Shallcross is named after Annie Shallcross. She was married to a man named George North. They were a family of colonialists and Mr North owned the land upon which Shallcross is situated. And hence, the area is named after her."

He said North, one of the earliest importers of agricultural machinery to southern Africa, also had land in Northdene, an area that was named after him.
According to Vedan, North and other members of his family are buried at North Park, Northdene, adjoining Shallcross.
 

For those who've lived in Chatsworth for generations - and many have - they've seen remarkable changes to the retail, sporting and other aspects of the landscape. But what hasn't changed is the strong sense of community. It's always been there, accentuated by the smaller properties and close proximity of neighbours. Residents in Chatsworth - whether first time homeowners or children who've taken over their parents or grandparents homes - live close enough to the neighbours to foster that great sense of care for each other and community. 

It's that which always draws South Africans to this well-established suburb, so perfectly positioned near the north-south arterial routes for those who work in the industrial or motor industry areas of southern Durban, or indeed, in Chatsworth itself, as entrepreneurs in a range of fields.   

Today's Chatsworth still has little spaza shops, but equally, a number of modern shopping centres, medical facilities such as the RK Khan Hospital and Chatsmed Garden Hospital, superb sporting stadium - from football to cricket - and a wide range of places of worship of all religions. It's home to the

Temple of Understanding, acknowledged as one of South Africa's finest Hare Krishna temples, also called Sri Sri Radhanath Temple. There's little reason to leave the suburb, because everything is right there on the door step.

The Chatsworth property market offers something for everyone, from first-time homeowner apartments through to large palatial homes. Many sales are to those whose financial situation has improved, and they move up and up the ladder within Chatsworth. That's the advantage of a suburb like Chatsworth - you establish ties, and by remaining in the community, never let them go. Speak to long-time residents about Chatsworth, and they'll talk about the weekend sporting and social activities they're been going to for decades. 

Our property consultants are members of the community, so they know Chatsworth, its people, the lifestyle, and how much the residents value elements such as good schooling, leisure facilities and the sense of security in a tight-knit community. Chatsworth the heart of the community, and we at Chas Everitt Chatsworth are here to go that extra mile to a community that has come a long way.