Our Long History

Burgess Florist – Over a Century of History

Story About Burgess Florist told by Geoff Burgess:
“My great aunt Kate Burgess, had a laundry business in Durban in the early 1900s

About Burgess Florist - our history goes back to 1913
Burgess Florist Rich History

 

Burgess Florist in Mercury Lane 1913

Kate Burgess grew herbs in her garden to perfume through laundry before it was collected by her customers.  She would put lavender leaves and wild flowers between the clothing, sheets and other laundry items.  Gradually customers started asking her for plants and she started a small nursery. This became very popular. It soon evolved into floristry. In 1913 she sold the laundry and opened a florist shop in Mercury Lane, a small lane between West and Smith Street in Central Durban.  It was called Miss Burgess Florists. 

Kate’s nephew (my grandfather Frank Burgess) took it over several years later.  He was extremely successful. He changed the name to Burgess Florist and he purchased and developed a number of farms to produce the flowers and foliage. They were in Westville, Richmond and Pietermaritzburg.

The business was taken over by his 2 sons, Roy and Paddy. Burgess Florist was part of the original group that developed Interflora in Southern Africa. The florist shop moved to 89 Broad Street in about 1965, and then to Westville in about 1990.  It then moved into the Pavilion when the Pavilion first opened.  By then it was being run by Paddy’s sons. The Burgess had branched out into various businesses such as Landscaping and Nurseries.

The Florist was eventually sold it to Debi French in 2009. Who continues the Burgess Florist legacy with pride”

Debi and Traci – sisters and best friends.  –

Debi and Traci- sister team of Burgess Florist

 

Debi has owned Burgess Florist in the Pavilion Westville for more than a decade. Her passion for people and flowers grew this little flower shop into a special magical place where people visited and reordered their flowers month after month.

Traci then joined her older sister in this beautiful venture and the business continued to thrive. In 2021 Debi had to make a difficult choice to follow the love of her life to the UK, leaving behind her gem of a flower shop in the hands of her sister Traci. With this very important legacy to uphold, Traci continues to serve the loyal customers from all around the world.