Cowies Hill Park - Pinetown's smallest suburb with the biggest heart

Nestled in between the upmarket suburb of Cowies Hill and the hustle and bustle of Pinetown Central, you will discover the small, family-friendly suburb of Cowies Hill Park. Offering a quiet and peaceful lifestyle, this well-established neighbourhood is rapidly growing in popularity and fast becoming an attractive option to many investors, business owners, young families and first-time homeowners. Known for its tree-lined streets and its well-maintained parks and verges, Cowies Hill Park has always offered its residents a central location, value-for-money homes, good schools, convenient shopping and a fine climate for outdoor living and activities. All of this is bolstered by a big-hearted community of caring and vigilant residents who actively participate in keeping the neighbourhood safe and clean.

Well-Priced Homes
With just over 400 homes in the neighbourhood, Cowies Hill Park comprises freestanding houses (80%) and sectional title units (20%). As a stable and well-established suburb, over 60% of homeowners are over the age of 50 and more than half of the residents have lived in the area for eleven years or more. Over the last 12 months, from July 2021 to June 2022, the average selling price of freehold and sectional title homes was R1,819,210 and R1,307,333 respectively. Over the same period, the largest pool of new buyers has been in the 18 - 35 age group - representing over 38% of home sales in the area.

According to Josh Buitendach, Sales Director at Shelley Residential, "Cowies Hill Park is growing in popularity with young families and first-time homeowners, as the homes are well-priced and offer great value for money. We see it as an up-and-coming suburb that hasn't yet reached its full potential and we anticipate that property prices will continue to appreciate as demand grows."

As one of the leading real estate firms in the Westville and Pinetown neighbourhoods, Shelley Residential recently purchased a property and relocated its offices to Cowies Hill Park. "We decided to invest in the suburb as we can see its potential, and we find great value in the properties in the area. Its central location also enables us to service our clients in both the Westville and Pinetown areas," said Buitendach.

Centrality and Convenience
Boasting a central Durban location, Cowies Hill Park offers easy access to arterial routes such as the M13 and N3, conveniently placing you only 8kms away from Kloof and Westville. It's a quick 20min drive to the Durban Beachfront and you're only 30min away from King Shaka International Airport. Josiah Gumede Road (Old Main Road) cuts right through the heart of Cowies Hill Park and provides quick access to the car dealerships, shopping malls, sports clubs, private hospitals and all the other amenities of Pinetown Central. Sandy Centre is found within Cowies Hill Park and is the go-to shopping centre for day-to-day needs, including Alpha Pharm and Spar Main.

Schooling
Cowies Hill Park is zoned for notable Pinetown schools, namely, Pinetown Boys' High, Pinetown Girls' High and Pinetown Senior and Junior Primaries. Other private schools in the vicinity include Cowies Hill Pre-Primary, Deutsche Schule, Highway College, His Church School and John Wesley Primary School. All these schools are a short drive away from Cowies Hill Park, and some are within easy walking distance - allowing you and your kids some extra time to start your day without constantly watching the clock.

Restaurants and Take-Aways
On days when you don't feel like being in the kitchen, an array of fast-food restaurants in the vicinity will leave you spoilt for choice - most of which offer a convenient delivery option for days when you don't even want to leave the house. Treat the family to a casual dinner at Spur Grand Canyon or a spicey curry meal at Orientals Delights in Sandy Centre. For a truly fine dining experience, The LivingRoom at Summerhill Estate in Cowies Hill is a real culinary treat.

Community Patrols and Security
Safety and security remain a top priority for potential buyers during the house-hunting process. Being vigilant and investing in a good alarm system with a reliable security company is recommended wherever you may live. However, Cowies Hill Park is also protected by the Cowies Valley Neighbourhood Watch programme - offering your family an extra layer of safety and security. This community initiative operates under the Westville North Cowies Project (WNCP) banner and consists of a group of residents who are dedicated to ensuring a quick and effective response to criminal activity through community patrols. Working in partnership with Fidelity ADT, the programme uses an effective system of monitoring and reporting suspicious activity as well as power and water outages.

Keeping Pinetown Beautiful
Earlier this year, concerned Cowies Hill and Cowies Hill Park residents got together to launch Keep Pinetown Beautiful - a non-profit organisation that is on a mission to take Pinetown back and make it, once again, a safe, beautiful and prosperous neighbourhood for all. The inaugural cleanup took place in Cowies Hill Park and a team of resident volunteers showed their support and managed to fill over 100 bin bags of rubbish. Keep Pinetown Beautiful is planning regular cleanups to keep on par with the good work being done in neighbouring communities. With plans like implementing mini "Welcome to Pinetown" gardens in key spots, and a significant increase in security awareness and maintenance of public spaces the organisation hopes to uplift home values and inspire a sense of pride in having a clean and safe environment.

The Comrades Marathon
Cowies Hill is probably best known as one of the five major markers in the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. With over twenty-thousand participants racing over ninety kilometres from Pietermaritzburg to Durban or visa versa, the Comrades Marathon is a celebration of endurance, camaraderie, selflessness, dedication, and ubuntu. Come 28 August 2022, the residents of Cowies Hill Park will be found on the verges of Josiah Gumede Road with their beers, skottels, and camping chairs, enjoying their egg and bacon rolls whilst cheering and encouraging the runners as they ascend Cowies Hill.

Cowies Hill Park may be the smallest suburb of Pinetown, but its caring and vigilant community of residents give it a big heart and make it a warm and welcoming place to call home.