Street/Place Names

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Click on any letter, above, to visit specific section of Street/Place Names



OAK BAY AVENUE — 1950
Note the original municipal hall in centre of picture
B.C. Government photo courtesy RBCM (I-26635)

O

Oak Bay Avenue
Named after Oak Bay Beach, a popular destination in the 1880s.
Oak Bay Avenue was built in 1890 by Joseph Despard Pemberton to open his extensive property for development. In 1891 a streetcar line was built and development followed — Mount Baker Hotel (1893), Victoria Golf Club (1893) and Oak Bay Park (1895). The original municipal hall, original high school, and the Oak Bay Grocery (Blethering Place) were built in 1912
The Talk On The Street
. Click here to read the recollections of Richard Goodall
Do you have recollections/photos of Oak Bay Avenue in the early years?

Oak Bay Road
Origin descriptive.
Early name for Bowker Avenue on a 1890 map as it led to John Bowker's "Oak Bay Farm"

Oakdowne Road
Origin uncertain, probably descriptive.
Named by the Hudson's Bay Company

Oakland Road
Origin uncertain, probably descriptive.
Former name of Byng Street until 1921

Ochill Street
Origin unknown, possibly an early settler.
This short, half-block street once extended east from Monterey Avenue into what is now the playing field of Monterey School
Information welcomed

Oliver Street
Named after W.E. Oliver, first reeve of Oak Bay.
When the area was being developed in 1912, Oliver Street was promoted as the "Linden Avenue of Oak Bay." It was originally called St. Andrew Street but renamed in 1921.

Olympia Avenue
Origin unknown.
Original name of Estevan Avenue. Renamed Connaught Avenue in 1913 before renamed Estevan Avenue in 1921

Orchard Avenue
Origin unknown, possibly descriptive.
Information welcomed


PLACE NAMES

Oak Bay Beach
Popular public beach area on Oak Bay adjacent to Turkey Head which included what was later called Rattenbury Beach (just north of today's marina) and also the small beach immediately south of the marina (the site of the original boathouse).
Long before it referred to the land, "Oak Bay" referred only to the water between Turkey Head and Cattle Point
At the request of Council in 1960, the government extended the seaward boundary of Oak Bay to a line drawn from Turkey Head to Cattle Point, thus giving the municipality control of this portion of the waters off the coast.
SONGHEES NAME
Shpwhung ("flying dust" or "fog").
Referring to the location of the present-day Oak Bay Marina


Please click here if you have
street information, recollections or an old street photo to share!




The History of Oak Bay Website
A CENTENNIAL LEGACY PROJECT