Hilton at a glance
Residential Property Market
The outlying districts of more popular areas are often overlooked. A transformation process is happening in Hilton, and it should be on your list of areas to consider. With over 12 gated estates in the area, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Hilton offers a delightfully cool, misty climate and is within easy commuting distance of Pietermaritzburg.
With property prices ranging from approximately R800 000 to R10 million, there’s something for everyone. Hilton has over 3 000 happy inhabitants who have chosen to occupy the peace and tranquillity of the many gracious homes with which the area abounds.
History
Hilton owes its name to Jane Henderson, wife of farming pioneer and financier Joseph Henderson. It’s been said that she was nostalgically thinking of Hilton Park in her native Staffordshire when they first named their farm Hilton in 1860. Their farm adjoined Philip Zietsman's Voortrekker farm, named 'Groenekloof' and was used as access to the early wagon routes.
The Zulu name for Hilton is Nyazake, which means 'His Feet' and is derived from old Zulu war trails connecting the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg region with Kranskop, approximately where Hilton farm is today.
The 'village' of Hilton began when prominent residents of Pietermaritzburg purchased property to build cottages as a retreat from the summer heat and dust of the town.
The small scenic town is located less than 15 km north of Pietermaritzburg. Hilton has a wonderful yet somewhat "fresh" climate all year round – around 4°C cooler than neighbouring Pietermaritzburg – and the flora is simply spectacular.
Consisting of a number of leafy undulating suburbs, including Sweetwaters and Winterskloof, Hilton lies within close proximity to popular beauty spots such as Worlds View, Howick Falls and Karkloof.
Attractions
The Midlands Meander is an 80km network of sightseeing routes winding through the green belly of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. As a gateway to the famous Midlands Meander tourism route, craft outlets, comfortable lodgings and gourmet cuisine are plentiful in Hilton.
If you’re looking to add a bit of culture to your calendar, the Hilton Arts Festival hosted every September is a must visit! Established in 1993, the Festival is the largest theatrical event of its kind in KwaZulu-Natal. Here, you’ll find art exhibitions, quality craft, food and drink, and live music. It offers the opportunity to showcase the best of South African theatre and to support South African writing.
Folks hoping to partake in activities of a more energetic nature can make their way to the nearby Midmar Dam, which provides good opportunities for angling, power boating, yachting and canoeing. It’s here that you can participate in the world's largest open water swimming event – The Midmar Mile.
If you’re more of a land dweller, then the nearby Victoria Country Club in Pietermaritzburg ensures golfing enthusiasts are well catered for. The club is located less than 10 minutes from Howick in the scenic parklands adjoining the Queen Elizabeth Nature Reserve. The reserve is home to a magnificent variety of wildlife which includes Crowned Eagles, African Goshawks, Black Sparrowhawks, nesting Thick-billed weavers, Duiker and Impala, all of which enhance the club's magnificent views.
If you’re an avid nature lover, then add the Doreen Clark Nature Reserve to your bucket list. The reserve is situated in the mist belt area between Hilton and Winterskloof. The small seven-hectare reserve consists largely of an area of mixed podocarpus forest with some grassland running along its edges. The small reserve has a number of picnic spots and hiking trails which are rated as easy in difficulty, and suitable for all ages.
Looking for something to do indoors? Marvel at the vintage steam trains at the Natal Railway Museum located at the historic Hilton Station next to what used to be the main railway line between Durban and Johannesburg. This line is over 125 years old and unfortunately hasn’t been used for over a decade but the museum is hoping to change all that with plans to run trips from the station through the beautiful Natal Midlands countryside to Howick Falls. The museum itself has displays of various railway memorabilia and antiques, including silverware from the famous Blue Train, an old steam locomotive lamp and the train token system that was used in days gone by.
Amenities
Hilton is home to no fewer than five schools, including the boarding schools Hilton College and St Anne’s. Hilton College is one of South Africa's most well-known and prestigious private boys’ schools. The school is well known for its extremely competitive sports teams and as a result of this many of South Africa's national rugby and cricket stars were schooled here.
Another one of Hilton’s top schools is St Anne's Diocesan College, an independent girls' boarding school. Founded in 1877, St Anne's has a long tradition of providing quality education for girls. About 85% of the enrolment are boarders from all over South Africa, neighbouring countries, and other parts of the world.
Grace College, a co-educational school is the newest private school in the Midlands area. Founded in 1999 they have become an increasingly popular choice of school. Their purpose is to build a school that "transforms young adults through innovative educational excellence”.
The Hilton Quarry Centre is a beautiful shopping centre set in the grounds of the old Hilton Road Quarry. It provides a unique shopping experience which surpasses all expectations.
The Hilton Village Centre offers local residents a choice of shopping experiences – from food to antiques, the centre has it all.
If you’re looking for a spot that provides fresh, homemade food, then take a drive to the Hilton Farm Stall found at the Hilton Rotunda. You’ll be able to find all sorts of cheese, dairy and meat products. Also for sale are trout, nougat, freshly baked goods, and an interesting selection of jams, honey and mustard.
Not feeling well? With a focus on sustainability and much-needed service offerings like oncology and nephrology, Life Hilton Private Hospital is a state-of-the-art hospital with heart and healing at its core. This hospital offers residents unrivalled medical care with an emphasis on quality, clinical excellence and a healthcare approach that places the needs of the patient and visitors first.
Conclusion
If you dream of a place to call home in a town that offers unsurpassed natural beauty and some of the finest schools the country has to offer, then Hilton is for you. Contact us now and let’s make your dream a reality
Feel free to give one of our developers a call today.
Tom Eastwick - The Gates, Hilton and Garlington, Hilton | 072 297 2699 | tom@devdirect.co.za
Janet Channing - Waterford Residential Estate, Howick | 082 570 5834 | janet@devdirect.co.za
