Durban: This week’s pictures of old and new Durban features an enduring landmark on North Beach - the Pavilion Hotel.
The image was taken from a postcard sent to a Mrs Graham in Germiston on April 12, 1951.
On the postcard, the writer, Mr Teague Mona (we think that is his name, but can’t be sure of the handwriting) wrote, “the weather is fine and the hotel excellent”.
Built in 1913 and extensively refurbished in 2009, the three-star hotel today has 111 en-suite rooms, a restaurant, bar and conferencing facilities, and secure parking.
Long-time Sunday Tribune reporter Myrtle Ryan lived in the hotel. It then belonged to the Jacobson family, and the hotel incorporated the neighbouring block of flats as a residential component. Helen Suzman had a flat in the block, Ryan recalled.
Ryan remembered the hotel as grand, with gleaming, polished floors.
“At Christmas it was a feast, with waiters doing silver service and wearing white gloves."
She said that afterwards, coffee, in fine china from silver tureens, was served in the lounge. The garages were later turned into an RJs, which burnt down twice, she recalled.