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108-year-old Oak Bay home granted heritage designation

The designation will ensure the building remains in its current form
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The heritage home at 1566 Hampshire Rd. is now on the official Oak Bay registry.

On Oct. 28, Oak Bay council unanimously agreed to add a 108-year-old home to its list of 28 heritage properties.

Located near the Oak Bay Marina at 1566 Hampshire Rd., the 1916, Tudor Revival-style home was originally owned by prominent Victorian Walter Luney.

In addition to co-owning construction company Luney Bros., "Luney ... was an active member of the community serving on many boards and was a founding member of the Victoria Building Industries Exchange – now the Vancouver Island Construction Association," said the home's heritage designation report. "He also served as alderman for the City of Victoria from 1933 to 1937."

The home changed hands several times after Luney sold it in 1945. Henry Larsen, a sailor on the SS St. Roch – the first ship to sail the Northwest Passage both ways – was among the subsequent owners.

The home was eventually converted into an apartment building in the 1960s, and it remained that way until it was restored to its original form in 1986.

"The effect of heritage designation is to preserve the key features of a building and/or land that give it a distinctive heritage character," said Oak Bay on its website. "A formally designated municipal heritage site will remain a legacy to be appreciated by present and future generations."

From now on, all owners of the home will not be able to: "Alter the exterior facade of a building or structure, roof structure or roofing; make a structural change to a building or structure; alter, excavate, or build on land anywhere on the property; or move a building or structure."

To explore other Oak Bay heritage properties online, visit: oakbay.ca/our-community/heritage/heritage-sites.



About the Author: Liam Razzell

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