Oak Bay Local

Places with a past

A yacht club whose first clubhouse sank three times, a golf club older than Oak Bay and a pub that came back with its own beer mugs. Oldest first.

  1. 1892

    Community & nonprofit Uplands & Willows

    Royal Victoria Yacht Club

    Founded after American boats took the top four places at a Victoria regatta. The first clubhouse sank three times.

  2. 1893

    Community & nonprofit South Oak Bay

    Victoria Golf Club

    Older than Oak Bay itself. The first clubhouse was a refashioned piano crate.

  3. 1911

    Community & nonprofit Uplands & Willows

    Oak Bay Tennis Club

    Started as the streetcar company's tennis club. The members bought it for $9,000 cash.

  4. 1922

    Community & nonprofit Uplands & Willows

    Uplands Golf Club

    Renamed Uplands on June 17, 1922. Two clubhouses have burned since.

  5. 1934

    Shops West Oak Bay Avenue

    Oak Bay Bikes

    Fixing bikes since 1934. The old shop was so cold the toilet froze.

  6. 1934

    Food & drink South Oak Bay

    Windsor Cafe

    The building has been a teahouse, a café and a fine dining room.

  7. 1951

    Health & wellness West Oak Bay Avenue

    Oak Bay Pet Clinic

    There has been a vet on this spot since 1951.

  8. 1951

    Community & nonprofit Cadboro Bay Road

    Oak Bay Lawn Bowling Club

    Five men, one of them the police chief, asked for a bowling green. Members brought kettles from home.

  9. 1954

    Food & drink South Oak Bay

    The Snug

    Victoria's first neighbourhood pub, rebuilt with its old beams, bricks and beer mugs.

  10. 1957

    Community & nonprofit Oak Bay Village

    Oak Bay Municipal Hall

    Still largely original, hexagonal planter and all.

  11. 1962

    Health & wellness Oak Bay Village

    Pharmasave Oak Bay

    The year Roy Tucker bought Newport Pharmacy. His son runs this store now.

  12. 1964

    Community & nonprofit South Oak Bay

    Oak Bay Marina

    Opened in April 1964, on the site of a boathouse from 1893.

  13. 1964

    Shops Oak Bay Village

    Ivy's Bookshop

    Opened May 28, 1964. Atwood, Davies and Mowat all came through.

  14. 1975

    Community & nonprofit Cadboro Bay Road

    Oak Bay Recreation Centre

    Opened October 24, 1975, and marked its 50th with 1975 prices.

  15. 1978

    Shops West Oak Bay Avenue

    House of Savoy

    Opened as Encore. The pink rotary phone from that year is still there.

  16. 1980

    Food & drink Estevan Village

    Willows Galley

    The owners had their first date here, then came back to buy it.

More lists

Every place in Oak Bay
10

New to Oak Bay? Start here

The first week, sorted: the decal, the library card, the pool and the people who will drive your neighbour to the doctor.

8

Raining again

Places to wait it out in the Village and nearby, with or without kids.

4

Take it to Willows Beach

Estevan Village is a block from the sand. Pick something up and eat it there.

5

Bring the dog

Places where the dog is welcome, plus one for after the beach.

7

Free in Oak Bay

Bowling, sculpture, archives and a painting party on a creek path. None of it costs anything.

9

Open by 7

Coffee, groceries, a swim or a physio slot before work. Opening times come from each place's own hours.

12

Still open after 9

For the forgotten dinner-party bottle and the late pad thai. Closing times come from each place's own hours.