Address: 3162 Balfour Avenue
Built: 1912
1912 householder: Robert Wilkie, building contractor
Photo credit: Vickie Jackson

This California Craftsman style house was built in 1912 by Robert Wilkie, a building contractor and property developer. It is one of the most striking residences in the neighbourhood. The two storey, front-gable house has a prominent gabled entry porch; half timbering in the gables; and tall fretwork course in the front gable. The porch gable is supported and framed by heavy piers; front steps to the porch lead from the right (east) side of the house. Other features include open eaves, with decorative supporting brackets, and wide board siding around the main floor.

Regrettably, we do not have much information on Robert Wilkie. He is not on the 1911 census of Victoria. In 1912 he built the house that stands at 3172 Balfour Avenue. In the 1913 Victoria City Directory, he is listed as Robert Wilkie, builder, h. 3162 Emma. [Balfour Avenue was called Emma Street before 1917.] In the 1915 Victoria City Directory there is an entry for Robert Wilkie, carpenter, on Burnside Road. This is likely the same person, because Wilkie built a new house, just around the corner from Emma Street/Balfour Avenue, at 319 Burnside Road in 1914.^*

The 1917 Directory lists Robert Wilkie, conductor, BC Electric Railway, at 319 Burnside Road. It would seem that the former building contractor and property developer of 1912 became a wage worker on the Victoria street car system after the real estate market collapsed.

In 1917, 3162 Balfour Avenue was occupied by John O'Neill, principal of Tolmie School. The elementary school at 555 Boleskine Road in nearby Saanich was built in 1912. It is a designated heritage building and now accommodates the administrative offices of the Greater Victoria Board (School District 61).

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^*The residence at 319 Burnside Road was completed in 1914. It was not as grand as the house at 3162 Balfour Avenue, but it was a handsome looking place and built to high standards. Unfortunately, it was being demolished on 8 September 1912, while we were celebrating the history of the neighbourhood at the Burnside Gorge Community Centre! Community volunteers photographed the building while it was being demolished, so we have a partial record of it.