The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Durban in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.
19th century
1824 - British settlement of Port Natal established on land "acquired...through treaties with the Zulu king Shaka." 1835 - Settlement renamed "D'Urban" after British colonial administrator Benjamin D'Urban. 1839 A small British military force was stationed at the port. On its withdrawal Dutch emigrants from the Cape took possession and proclaimed the Natalia Republic. 1841 - Printing press in operation (approximate date). 1842 A British military force reoccupied Durban. Treaty signed by the Dutch recognizing British sovereignty. 1846 - "Native reserves" created. 1851 - Natal Times newspaper begins publication. 1852 - Mercury newspaper begins publication. 1854 "First Town Council, consisting of 8 members representing four wards" created. George Cato becomes mayor. Natal Bank in business. D'Urban Club formed. 1860 26 June: Natal Railway (Market Square-Customs Point) begins operating in Durban. Indian workers begin to arrive in Durban. 1863 - Population: approximately 5,000 (3,390 white, 1,380 black and 230 Asian). 1865 - Sites for Albert Park and Victoria Park established. 1866 - Durban High School was founded. 1870 - Durban Fire Department founded. 1880 - Magazine Barracks built. 1882 - Durban High School for Girls was founded. 1885 - Town Hall built. 1887 - Durban Girls' College was founded. 1888 - Lord's cricket ground established. 1889 - Natal cricket team formed. 1896 - Population: 31,877. 1899 - Maris Stella School was founded.
20th century
1900s-1950s
1902 - Electric tram begins operating. 1903 Utrecht and Vryheid become part of city. Indian Opinion newspaper begins publication. 1904 Zulu Ilanga lase Natal newspaper begins publication. Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi establishes settlement at Phoenix. Population: 67,842. 1908 - Union Whaling Station begins operating. 1910 Durban becomes part of newly formed Union of South Africa. Glenwood High School was founded. 1911 - Population: 69,187 (31,783 white, 17,784 black, 19,620 Asian). 1914 - newspaper begins publication. 1921 Clairwood Shree Siva Soobramoniar Temple built. Comrades Marathon (Pietermaritzburg-Durban) begins. 1923 - Kingsmead Cricket Ground in use. 1924 - Clifton School was founded. 1926 - Memorial Cenotaph unveiled in Farewell Square. 1929 - St. Henry's Marist College was founded. 1931 - Natal University College Durban campus established. 1935 - Durban officially gained its city status. 1946 - Population: 338,817 city. 1949 Anti-Indian riot. Electric tram stops operating. 1950 - Parliamentary Group Areas Act leads to urban apartheid. 1951 - November: World premiere of feature film Cry, the Beloved Country. 1953 - Northlands High School for Girls was founded. 1958 - Kings Park Stadium opens.
1960s-1990s
1960
Ukhozi FM radio begins broadcasting. African Art Centre established. Population: 560,010 city; 681,492 metro. 1961 University College for Indians established on Salisbury Island. Durban becomes part of the new Republic of South Africa. 1965 - Cinerama Theatre opens. 1966 - Brettonwood High School was founded. 1968 - Durban Heights water reservoir begins operating. 1970 - Population: 736,853 city; 850,946 metro. 1972 - University of Durban-Westville opens. 1973 - 1973 Durban strikes 1977 - Durban Container Terminal begins operating at the Port of Durban. 1978 - 8 January: Academic Rick Turner assassinated. 1985 Anti-Indian unrest. 23 December: Amanzimtoti bombing occurs near Durban. Population: 634,301 city; 982,075 metro. 1986 - 14 June: Durban beach-front bombing occurs. 1990 "Separate Amenities Act was repealed, thus opening up Durban’s facilities to all races." Northwood School was founded. 1991 - Population: 715,669 city; 1,137,378 metro. 1993 June: 1993 African Championships in Athletics held in Durban. Pavilion shopping centre in business in Westville. 1995 - Sharks (rugby union) formed. 1996 Part of 1996 Africa Cup of Nations football contest played in Durban. Obed Mlaba becomes mayor. City website Durban.gov.za launched (approximate date). Population: 669,242. 1997 - International Convention Centre opens. 1998 - September: International summit of the Non-Aligned Movement held in city. 1999 - November: Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 1999 held in city. 2000 July: XIII International AIDS Conference, 2000 held in city. 5 December: South African municipal elections, 2000 held. Durban becomes seat of newly created eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.