Umhlali – What’s in a name?

Tucked away among the lush rolling hills of the North Coast cane farms was once a small hall that opened its doors to only 14 school pupils on 11 February 1918.

One hundred years and a lifetime of memories later, you’ll find yourself at Umhlali Preparatory School, home to over 1000 pupils all driven by the traditional values and standards set during its humble beginnings an entire century ago.

Take a trip down memory lane and immerse yourself in the rich history of Umhlali Prep as you flip through the pages of the recently published Centenary book, “Here As The Wind Blows The Cane”.

Read about the founding families, long serving staff members, iconic changes and milestone celebrations. But when you flip to page 24 you’ll find a story that takes you back to where it all began in the little village of Umhlali.

The quaint village which lies inland from Salt Rock, was established by British and Scottish Byrne settlers in 1850.

They originally called it Fort William as it was the site of a fort.

Later it was named Umhlali – the Zulu name for the Monkey Orange tree, which grew abundantly along the banks of the Umhlali River.

It also means “the place of waiting” because settlers and locals would have to wait on the banks before crossing the river on a northward journey.

Also read: Umhlali Preparatory launches Centenary book

While Ballito consisted of a few beach shacks, Umhlali was the hub of the farming community with the heart of the village being the bustling main road sporting a bank, post office, supermarket, hairdresser, car dealership, farmers’ co-op and of course the Lali Hotel.

One of the lasting legacies of the village is Umhlali Prep, which has since emerged from the humble beginnings of 14 pupils enjoying lessons in a ‘wood and iron’ classroom.

To find out more about Umhlali Prep or the largely bypassed town of Umhlali, grab a copy of the Centenary book from the school reception for only R220.

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