Gastown and Vancouver's Oldest Streetscape
Street view in Gastown, Vancouver. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Gastown is the part of Vancouver where the city effectively began, on the south shore of the harbour near the original townsite. Its narrow blocks and brick frontages predate most of the downtown grid, and the district has kept a recognisable late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century character that is rare on the west coast.
A district rebuilt after fire
The settlement that grew around an early waterfront tavern was largely destroyed by fire in the 1880s. What stands today mostly dates from the rebuilding that followed, when timber was replaced by brick and stone. That is why so much of Gastown shares a consistent material palette and a similar building height.
The buildings are commercial in origin: warehouses, hotels and storefronts serving the port and the railway. Many have cast-iron or stone ground-floor fronts with brick above, and decorative cornices that mark the building lines along the street.
The steam-powered clock at the corner of Water and Cambie streets is often assumed to be a Victorian original. It is in fact a later installation built to draw attention to the restored district, and is a useful reminder to check the date of what looks old.
From decline to protection
By the mid-twentieth century the area had declined, and at one stage a major road scheme threatened to cut through the older parts of the city. Public opposition to that plan was part of a wider shift toward conserving rather than clearing historic districts, and Gastown was eventually recognised for its heritage value.
- The street pattern and building line were retained rather than redeveloped at a larger scale.
- Brick frontages and cornices were repaired rather than replaced.
- The district is now a designated heritage area within the city.
Walking the district
| Where | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Water Street | The main spine, with the most continuous heritage frontages. |
| Maple Tree Square | The original meeting point of several early roads. |
| Side lanes | Service alleys reveal the rear structure and brickwork of the blocks. |
Practical notes
- The cobbled and brick paving is uneven; flat, comfortable footwear helps.
- The district is small and easily combined with the adjacent waterfront on foot.
- Early in the day is the quietest time to photograph the building frontages without crowds.
For background from a public heritage source, the Government of British Columbia and the city's heritage register describe Gastown's designation and significance.