Located at the foot of Douglas Street, Beacon Hill Park in
is the grand showpiece of Victoria British Columbia,
a city with a long and proud tradition of gardening.
Set aside in 1858 by James Douglas, governor of Vancouver Island,
the 75-hectare (200 acre) plot of land was officially established
as a park in 1882.
Beacon Hill Park was named after a pair of masts strategically placed
on a hill to act as a beacon and navigational aid to mariners
approaching Victoria’s inner harbour.
Prior to the arrival of settlers, of course, the area was the
traditional territory of the Salish people, who had lived here for
thousands of years.
A tangled web of events since then has displaced the original
dwellers, but their history is evident in the petroglyphs that
adorn the shoreline and in the middens of seashells mounded
up beside the beaches on Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The first of the Indian people arrived in the region shortly after
the ice of the last glacial age had begun to retreat some 14,000 years ago.
Whilst the park boasts considerable areas of natural land in a native
habitat, most of the park is beautifully landscaped and manicured
with bridges, lakes and ponds, and an alpine and rock garden.
Wondrous displays of exotic and native trees, including Garry Oak,
Arbutus, Douglas-fir, Western Red Cedar, birch, willow and maples
grace the park – to name just a few of the many.
Amongst the pond lilies of Goodacre and Fountain Lakes, a variety
of waterfowl go about their business, thrilling visitors of all ages.
In a copse of Douglas-fir trees an active heronry raucously sounds
its presence whilst a pair of Bald Eagles nests nearby.
A delightful quiet envelops this sunny spot in Victoria, where walking
trails link with neighbourhood streets that lead down into the busy
hum of commercial activity.
Our Farm is located within beautiful Beacon Hill Park in Victoria, B.C.
We take pride in being able to bring the farm animal experience
into the city where some children may never see such animals
up close in real life.
Our hands on approach teaches respect for living creatures is memorable
Attractions in the park include the Beacon Hill Children’s Farm.
The children’s petting zoo at historic Beacon Hill Park gives hands-on
experience, which is enjoyed by young and old.
Spring Hours:
March 15 – April 30 / 10:00 – 4:00
Summer Hours:
May 1 – Labour Day / 10:00 – 5:00
Fall Hours: Labour Day – Thanksgiving / 11:00 – 4:00
This is Henry
Other attractions include sports fields and playgrounds, a bandshell
and the world’s tallest free-standing totem pole.
The 38.8-metre (128-foot) masterpiece was created by renowned
Kwakwaka’wakw artist Mungo Martin in 1956, and lovingly
restored to its original splendour 46 years later.
This is a goat birth at the farm
Beacon Hill Park is located south of downtown Victoria, between
the downtown core and the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and has easy
access on Douglas Street, Dallas Road, and Cook Street.
Main entrances to the park are located east of Douglas Street between
Southgate Street and Dallas Road. The Park is within easy walking
distance of attractions and hotels around the Inner Harbour in Victoria
Victoria and the Saanich Peninsula is full of remarkable things to do and
here is one way that you can get to see some of the sights you might mis
CHERYL C YOUNG, REALTOR
SAANICH PENINSULA REALTY
SIDNEY BC. www.cherylyoung.ca
