Greater Victoria Neighbourhoods – Rockland

The name of this historic neighbourhood is apt as buildings and walls almost seem hewn from their craggy surrounding. Located southeast of downtown and northeast of Beacon Hill Park, this urban area roughly flanks Rockland Avenue and is the northern portion of the official city neighbourhood of Fairfield. In the 1860s, Cary Castle was built on the highest point and used as residence by the Governor of Vancouver Island, and then the Lieutenant Governors after BC entered Confederation in 1871. The castle was destroyed by fire in 1903.

Today, Rockland features beautiful Arts and Crafts style heritage houses, stone walls, the iconic Craigdarroch Castle and the Government House, home to the Lieutenant Governor of BC – currently the Honourable Janet Austin.

Built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, Craigdarroch Castle is a National Historic Site in Canada; fully restored to provide a window into the world of 1890s privilege.  https://thecastle.ca. The castle’s four floors of intricate woodwork, stained glass windows, and opulent Victorian-era furnishings are well worth exploring.

The Government House, located on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, is the ceremonial home of all British Columbians. The beautiful, ornate gardens are accessible to all via a wheelchair-accessible path. During their tenure, many Governors have left their indelible mark on the garden’s developing grandeur.

Rockland is largely residential with some commercial zoning along the northern boundary. Many of the mansions have been converted to suites to provide a mix of apartments, townhouses, single-family homes, and care facilities. Throughout its recent developments, the neighbourhood successfully retained its Victorian elegance.