Chatsworth

A growing and vibrant area, Chatsworth is a large township situated in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa under the eThekwini municipality. The suburb offers its residents an array of old and new architecture in the form of various property types including freestanding homes, complexes and apartments. 

The cosmopolitan area is home to over 450 000 people and extends over 64 different suburbs including Bayview, Shallcross, Silverglen and Westcliff. Every suburb is an approximate five to 10-minute drive towards the busy city centre and an approximate 20-minute drive to the beach. 

An interesting fact about the area is that the movie 'Keeping up with the Kandasamys' was filmed in parts of Chatsworth, including at the Bangladesh Market in 2016. With a strong sense of community, Chatsworth is a safe, calm, and lively neighbourhood full of diversity and several great schools, making it a wonderful place to raise a family. 

A brief history of the area

The area known as 'Chazzies' by the locals, was once a piece of farming land that formed part of Witteklip. The area was acquired in 1848 by Samuel Bennington who named the area after Chatsworth near Chesterfield in Derbyshire, England. 

Historically an Indian township, Chatsworth initially consisted mainly of poor, working-class Indian people, whose culture is central to Durban's identity, and a direct result of the Group Areas Act. The land had been expropriated from 600 Indian farmers and acquired its real identity as an Indian group area through the 1960s and early 1970s.

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

Distance from key points

Residents of Chatsworth are able to reach King Shaka International Airport via the N2 within approximately 44 minutes (54,5 km). Durban Beach is 32,3 km (34 minutes) away via the N2 and Durban central is 29 km (30 minutes) via the N2 as well. The Pavilion is a mere 25-minute drive (24,7 km) via the M1 and N2.

Climate

Chatsworth has a Mediterranean climate where the summers are hot and dry, and the temperature is mild in the winter. The highest average temperature in Chatsworth is 29 °C in January and the lowest average temperature is 16 °C in June. The area sees about 382 mm of rain in a year with June being the wettest month, receiving approximately 98 mm of rainfall.

Schools in the area

One of the reasons families flock to Chatsworth is the great schools on offer in the area. Some of the top pre-primary and primary schools include Little People's Academy, Havenside Pre Primary School, Crestview Primary School, Ays Memorial Primary School, Belvedere Primary School, Astra Primary School, Sunbeam Primary School and Lotus Primary School.

The best high schools are Crossmoor Secondary School, Arena Park Secondary School, Southlands Secondary School, Brindhavan Secondary School, Asoka Secondary School, Newhaven Secondary School and Chatsworth Secondary School.

Sathya Sai School is a combination school in the area that offers an excellent education to pupils from Grade R right through to Matric.

Healthcare in the area

When it comes to healthcare, you can have peace of mind knowing that there is a great hospital, Life Chatsmed Garden Hospital located within the area. Other nearby hospitals such as RK Khan Hospital and Clairwood Hospital are also options for you and your loved ones.

If it's just a check-up you require, you can always visit Starmed Medical Centre, Havenside Medical Centre or NFT Health & X-Ray Centre.

Chatsworth Animal Clinic, Silverglen Veterinary Clinic and Shallcross Veterinary Clinic are wonderful veterinarians in the area that you'll be able to take your pets to when medical assistance is required.

Shopping centres

Chatsworth presents a buzzing economy so diverse that it ranges from spaza shops to big brand stores. Whether it's jewellery, clothing, home decor, electronics or even just some groceries you're after, you'll be sure to find everything you're looking for at one of the many, well-maintained shopping malls within the area.

Some of the top shopping centres you'll want to visit include Chatsworth Centre, Moorton Shopping Centre and The Ridge Shopping Centre.

The Chatsworth Centre is one of the busiest shopping malls and sees over 1.3 million shoppers a month.

Restaurants

Chatsworth is home to many wonderfully operated restaurants that are ready to tantalise your tastebuds. Whether you are looking for a family-friendly establishment, a romantic setting or a vibey place to kick back with friends, Chatsworth will have you covered. Here are some of the best restaurants worth checking out: Timber Lake Spur Steak Ranch, Swaadisht Foods, Govinda's Durban, Pelican Lounge and Restaurant, Spice Girls Curry Cafe, Copper Chimney, and LeoNardos.

Special attractions

When it comes to special attractions in the area, Chatsworth is home to a few you'll want to add to your to-do list. Here are some of the places worth a visit. 

The Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple, which is a Hindu temple located within Chatsworth, is not only a magnificent sight to behold, but a wonderful place to spend the day with the whole family enjoying delicious cuisine and the events it hosts throughout the year.

Silverglen Nature Reserve is a nature reserve that offers picnic spots, guided hiking and walking trails and an abundance of beautiful fauna, flora and wildlife to see.

On Fridays and Saturdays, you will be able to visit the acclaimed Bangladesh Market which offers its guests a colourful array of wares and fresh produce that mainly stem from the eastern traditions that characterise this community.

When the weather is not the greatest, you could always take the 25-minute trip to The Pavilion where you can shop to your heart's content, catch a movie at Nu Metro, go bowling, jam some games in the arcade, participate in Galaxy Bingo, grab some delicious food and more!

Make Chatsworth your home. Let it be your story.

Chatsworth is a great place to live whether you are part of a family, a couple looking to purchase their first home or you are retiring. The area offers some amazing schools and healthcare facilities to its residents and is growing more and more popular by the year. The strong sense of community and vibrant economic status of the area are highly attractive aspects to anyone of any age. If you are considering Chatsworth as your new home, don't delay the process any longer as the value of properties will continue to climb. Whether it's a townhouse, flat or freestanding home you're after, Seeff has a wide variety of properties for you to choose from, so contact one of our property practitioners today.