The IOS Then & Now feature stays in the Durban Botanic Gardens this week.
The old picture of the Visitors Centre comes from a postcard posted by Mark Finnigan on the Durban and Surrounds Facebook page.
The postcard, by GB &Company, was sent to a Mrs Lange in New Jersey, US, on September 19, 1911. The writer, whose identity is not revealed on the Facebook post, says: “Uncle and I went through these gardens yesterday, they are very beautiful. Durban is a very fine town, very beautiful buildings.”
The writer tells her friend the Baptist minister had invited her to go “yachting this afternoon” and “Our next port is East London on the 21st”.
The old visitors centre is a rather intimidating structure, a far cry from the modern version, which is fronted by tranquil water falls and a welcoming atmosphere.
The centre is the heart of the oldest surviving gardens in Africa ‒ established in 1819 ‒ providing visitors with all the information they need to make the most of the beautiful gardens. It is also host to many activities and events promoting its key strategic roles: biodiversity, education, culture, heritage, horticulture, research and people and places.