About Us

The Durban Christian Residence first began as the Durban Young Women’s Christian Association in a small Residential Hostel in Aliwal Street in 1898, later moving to Florida Road. In 1906 they began fundraising for the building on The Esplanade, Durban which they moved into in 1912. This was affiliated with the World’s Y.W.C.A whose Headquarters were in Geneva, Switzerland.

“The World’s Young Women’s Christian Association is a world-wide international movement for peace and goodwill among women and girls of all races, united in a Christian fellowship of prayer and service. It is an interdenominational movement uniting women and girls of all the Christian Churches in work for the extension of the Kingdom of God. It is a Christian movement, for its work is based on faith in our Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord and it seeks to commend His Gospel to the world. The Association has a fourfold programme–the promotion of all the ministers to the mental, physical, social and spiritual development of young women. All who join the Durban Y.W.C.A. become members of the World’s Association.”

On 1 September 1976 the Durban YWCA Residential Club moved to the current premises, 311 Musgrave Road, Berea. It offered “sea views, single or double accommodation (some of which includes private bathroom and balcony), swimming pool television, etc” In a special meeting of the Board of Management of the Durban Y.W.C.A. Residential Club on 21st March 1989 it was agreed to disaffiliate ourselves from the World Young Women’s Christian Association and to change the name to Women’s Christian Residential Club.

On 7 September 2000 we registered as a Non Profit. The name change to The Durban Christian Residence was approved at the end of 2005 and men were allowed into the residence.