Aerial map of Durban's indentured heritage sites - Durban's hidden heritage: An aerial view identifies some of the key sites linked to the city's indentured labour history, including the former Immigration Depot at Addington, the Bamboo Barracks precinct and the historic Cave Rock landing site where the first Indian indentured labourers came ashore in 1860. Researchers hope these places of memory will form part of a future Indentured Labour Route for South Africa - CREDIT: 1860 Heritage Centre
A landmark international heritage initiative is casting a new spotlight on Durban's forgotten indentured labour landmarks, raising hopes that sites linked to the arrival of thousands of Indian immigrants in KwaZulu‑Natal could one day receive the recognition they deserve.
The renewed interest follows a three‑day workshop in Port Louis, Mauritius, where heritage experts, government officials, and representatives from UNESCO, ICOMOS and countries across the Indian Ocean region met to strengthen the preservation and promotion of indentured labour heritage. South Africa was represented by Selvan Naidoo, director of the 1860 Heritage Centre in Durban, alongside Dr Mariagrazia Galimberti, senior specialist of world heritage at the KwaZulu‑Natal Amafa and Research Institute.
