Completed in 1910, the Durban city hall displays a fine example of Edwardian Neo-baroque architecture. The current city hall is actually the second building in Durban made for this purpose, as the first city hall was taken over by the post office. During the late 1880's Durban started expanding at a rapid rate, and it was decided that the city needed a much larger town hall. In 1903 the town council announced that they would be accepting new design submissions for city hall. The chosen design came from architect Stanley G. Hudson, who was inspired by the city hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Construction was completed in 1910 and it was considered a 'very bold and progressive design' for its time.

The exterior features a dome, and a number of statues representing the Arts, music, literature, and commerce and industry. Inside the hall polished wooden floors, intricate stained glass, wrought-iron balustrades, marble pillars and ornate arches are displayed. There are three blocks located behind the facade, and are used as locations for the municipal chambers, the art gallery and library and the auditorium.

On the second floor of the building is the Durban Art Gallery, where an impressive collection of both international and South African art can be viewed. The Natural Science Museum is also housed in the building, and displays a unique variety of stuffed animals, birds, reptiles and insects, as well as a dodo skeleton and South Africa's only ancient Egyptian mummy.