Newlands East as a community began after the group areas act was passed in the the late 70's and was put in production then. It was originally forecast to house 35000 to 40000 residents, it currently houses approximatley within that quoter. The original forefathers of Newlands came from areas like Mayville, Clairwood and Wentworth into the area known as 'Old Section' today. 53% of the land purchased by the city council was unsuitable for housing because of ecca-shale which increased building cost. Newlands was biult as a low cost housing solution for low income workers around Durban. It was also a coloured township built with basic housing requirements at the tail end of a line of similiar areas namely: Sydenham , Newlands West and Greenwood Park. Newlands East has grown from this township status to a suburb and keeps growing towards a middle class society.