Pinetown, KwaZulu Natal

Pinetown at a glance

Pinetown is a middle to upper class suburb situated between Westville and Kloof. It was originally established around the Wayside Hotel in 1850 as this was a stop-off point along the main wagon route between Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It was named after the Governor of Natal at the time, Sir Benjamin Pine.

The area used to be perceived as a light industrial town but in recent times this has changed and Pinetown has gained a good reputation in the property market because of its affordability. It is now regarded as a fully-fledged residential suburb with everything needed to service families from schools, sports facilities and upmarket shopping complexes. Property in the greater Pinetown area is very affordable and yet still central offering ease of access to all national roads and industrial areas

Pinetown is home to the oldest cricket club in KwaZulu-Natal which is situated at Lahee Park, the hub of sports in the area. The sporting centre offers gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, cricket, rugby, athletics, swimming and more. Virgin Active has a gym located in central Pinetown at the Pine Crest Centre.

As the area is nestled at the foot of Field’s Hill, Pinetown also forms part of the route of the Comrades Marathon which is South Africa’s premier running event which is held annually.

If you are looking for things to do in the area, you can visit the Pinetown Museum which is located in the library complex on corner of Old Main Road and Crompton Street it focuses on local history as well as the early history and cultural diversity of the town. The Mariannhill Monastery located in Mariannhill on the outskirts of Pinetown and is a great place to stop and enjoy a delicious luncheon in the tea garden followed by a walk around the very impressive buildings. The monastery was founded in 1882 by Trappist Monks as a Catholic Mission. The buildings boasts an impressive display of architecture and design. The monks are also well known for producing quality organic produce including milk, cheese and yoghurt.

Pinetown is made up of many suburbs including Ashley, Caversham Glen, Cowies Hill, Farningham Ridge, Fields Hill, Hatton Estates, Highland Hills, Manors, Mariannhill, Mariannheights, Marianhill Park, Moseley, Nagina, New Germany, Padfield Park, Paradise Valley, Pinelands, Pinetown Central, Sarnia, The Wolds, Woodside, and Wyebank.

Pinetown’s main shopping centre is situated in Kings Road in Pine Crest Centre it has served the community for many years. The centre offers retail shopping with 93 stores, including many of the biggest clothing brands in the country. Local business in Pinetown has a reputation as a "motor town" due to the high number of motor dealerships along Old Main Road.  Pinetown has several alternative shopping centres which include Knowles Spar Superstore and St John's Checkers Centre. A number of DIY shops are also located along Old Main Road.