Behind Durban's paddling ponds

The old picture this week takes in the Durban paddling pools and is taken from the website Facts About Durban.

In it local historian Gerald Butigieg writes: “An interesting picture of the first revamp of Durban’s Paddling Ponds circa 1955/56. If I remember correctly this was a major change of the old paddling ponds which I recall when arriving in Durban in 1948. 

“The paddling ponds are divided into three, the first is the Babies’s pond which was very shallow and mothers could sit on the edge, then the main paddling pond which was not deep and uniform depth throughout. Then came the boat rides in their separate pond with the semi circle tunnel at the end. The two fountains in the paddling pond were made of blue and green marble chips. The two slides were very popular and in high season there was much jostling and pushing to use them. I recall there used to be people who taught children how to swim in the paddling pond; you could identify them as they wore T-shirts advertising this. 

“The two covered seats in the front were an updated version of the old wooden ones which were scattered around the beach front. The old ones were made of stone and wood and had similar cladded roof styles. In the early days there was a tiered descent down to the paddling ponds but this was flattened and the embankment pushed back to Marine Parade. 

“This picture shows the unfinished project. Behind the long shelter appears to be the layout for the Durban Miniature Railway as well the old car replicas that ran there.

"The Noddy’s Milk Bar is also under construction under the flyover walkway. Also in the initial stages is the overhead cable car structure as one can see the pylons in the background going up. The roof of the Kenilworth Amusement Park (formerly the Kenilworth Tearoom) is being demolished if you look closely at the background.

“Also interesting is the row of the old hotels on Marine Parade, many of which have now been demolished. On the extreme left sided by SeaView Street is the old stalwart The Edward, probably in its heyday then as the top hotel on the Beachfront. Then Hotel Majestic, Marine Plaza Flats, High Wycombe Flats bordered by Serridge Square. Then in the distance the Parade Hotel, Yarningdale and the Empress Hotel.

“On the right of the paddling ponds is the Lower Marine Parade which was one way towards West Street. Diagonal parking was allowed facing the rocks which lined the parade. This beach area was never used by beachgoers. The two sided benches can be seen and on Sundays these were packed with many older folk from the area sitting there taking in the sea air and watching the cars, nose to tail slowly in procession as they drove past.”

Today the hotels may have changed and the pools look completely different, but they still form an essential part of the beachfront’s entertainment area for small children.