Nestled between Vancouver’s downtown peninsula and Brockton Point in Stanley Park lies Coal Harbour. As you might have guessed, the name ‘Coal Harbour’ originated because coal was actually found in the harbour by Colonel Moody back in 1859. Although the coal was of low quality, and nothing materialized from the discovery, the name still stuck. Some of Vancouver’s earliest European inhabitants settled in the eastern portion of modern-day Coal Harbour. Vancouver was incorporated as a city in April 1886, which coincided with the Canadian Pacific Railway’s decision to make Coal Harbour the western terminus for its transcontinental railroad. The area became a industrial hotbed with multiple warehouses being erected. Shipping piers were later constructed, which proved valuable during World War II as the warehouses were converted to munitions factories. In the 50’s the docks were destroyed and the industries removed in the 60’s, leaving the area ripe for new developments.
Coal Harbour has undergone numerous transformations since those early days. The Westin Bayshore Hotel, what many consider to be the start of the Coal Harbour we know today, was built in 1961. Canada Place, built for Expo 1986, soon followed, as well as a newly planned convention centre. The transformation from industrial area to commercial hub had officially begun. As we entered the 90’s a huge residential explosion occurred, leading Coal Harbour to become one of the premiere neighbourhoods in all of Vancouver.
The photos above were collected from the City of Vancouver Archives. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Vancouver, British Columbia, and across Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
