Historic Oak Bay Heritage Home Transforms from Farmland to Coveted Neighborhood
In 1912, oceanfront property in Oak Bay, Victoria, was surprisingly accessible even on a schoolteacher's salary. Following the municipality's incorporation in 1906, expanded streetcar service made commuting to downtown Victoria faster and more convenient. The pre-First World War building boom was rapidly converting fields and farmland into what would become an upscale, highly sought-after residential area.
A Calculated Investment in Waterfront Property
Eager to participate in this development, Edward Hamilton-Smith, a high school teacher originally from Scotland via Pennsylvania, took a calculated risk. He purchased six waterfront lots spanning an acre and a half in the Willows Beach area of Oak Bay for $6,900. Hamilton-Smith then commissioned architect L.W. Hargreaves to design a distinctive one-and-a-half storey, wood-framed Craftsman-style residence on what was then called Beachway Avenue.
Hargreaves, known for designing several notable Victoria buildings including the Scott Building on Johnson Street, the Yen Wo Society Building on Government Street, and what is now the Hotel Rialto on Douglas Street, created a 4,163 square-foot home that would stand the test of time.
Architectural Details and Construction
For an additional $4,000, N. Benneck & Sons were contracted to construct the home with distinctive features including a side-gabled roof with smaller gabled extensions and a front dormer with a balcony positioned above a substantial front porch that wraps around the ocean side of the structure.
The property has since been subdivided, and the home, now officially known as the Edward Hamilton-Smith House (or Manor), has lost much of its original ocean view, though glimpses can still be caught from the upper deck and primary bedroom. Despite this change, the residence has been meticulously preserved and cared for over the decades.
It remains one of only two houses on what is now called Cavendish Avenue that have retained their original finishes and exterior detailing, including:
- Cladding of narrow siding on the main floor with shingle cladding on the second floor and basement levels
- Wide trim boards and heavy brackets supporting bargeboards
- Upper balcony above the front door featuring beams, brackets, and porch railings
- Wraparound porch on the north and east facades with Classical columns and four shingle and clad columns
Interior Preservation and Modern Updates
The interior of this designated heritage home maintains many original finishes, fireplaces, and the fundamental floor plan, with the exception of the kitchen and bathrooms. The current owners undertook significant upgrades in 2010, including modernizing the ductwork, heating, and electrical systems.
"They hired John Graham, an architect and member of the Oak Bay Heritage Foundation, who sourced original, reclaimed materials for the bathroom fixtures," explains listing agent Lee Chambers of Victoria-based Pemberton Holmes Ltd. "They also renovated the entire basement in 2014, when they added the back deck."
Three wood-burning fireplaces, including a substantial brick- and fir-framed one in the dining area adjacent to the kitchen, were converted to gas during the 2010 renovation. Original fir flooring spans both the main and upper storeys, while the kitchen features stone and ceramic tile flooring.
The freshly painted kitchen boasts numerous windows, an oversized six-burner Viking gas range, a Sub-Zero refrigerator, an additional beverage fridge in an island with extra storage drawers, and double-thick granite countertops.
From the entryway, French doors open into a formal living room with a brick-encased fireplace. A separate office, den, bedroom, and full bathroom complete the main floor layout. Remarkably, period windows and lighting fixtures, along with some authentic brass doorknobs and push-button light switches, remain intact from over a century ago.
Now on the market for $3,475,000, this six-bedroom, three-bathroom heritage property represents both a piece of Oak Bay's history and a testament to careful preservation amid neighborhood transformation.
