Freshwater Playground to Regional Park

by Carole Pearson

“Elk lake is approached over a lawn-like slope covered with scattered oak, forming one of the most beautiful parks imaginable,” wrote a columnist identified only as “The Traveler” in the 1858 Victoria Gazette.

In 1850, the Hudson’s Bay Company appointed Joseph Despard Pemberton to survey Vancouver Island. Work was begun in November that year to survey the area north of Mount Douglas. Beaver and Elk Lakes first appear on an HBC map in 1855, according to Sea-Lake author Anne Pearson.

From 1875 to 1920, Victoria’s water supply came from Beaver Lake. Construction of a dam began in 1873, and, to improve the water quality, filter beds were added in 1896. As the population of Victoria increased, the Beaver Lake supply became inadequate. The Sooke Reservoir was built and came into use in 1920 and the lake returned to recreational use, the old concrete reservoir becoming a favourite swimming spot.

Olive McHattie, a Central Saanich resident who grew up close to the lake, remembers the roller rink at the west side of Elk Lake. She estimates it was about 60 by 100 feet with strings of lights to permit evening skating. Young people from the Peninsula showed up later in the day, after farm chores were completed. People who came out from Victoria tended to be better skaters since they had paved roads to practice upon at home, says McHattie.

 At the southeast side of Elk Lake, the Black Swan store and concession stand sold candy, ice cream, drinks and groceries. It was located at Eagle Beach but the spot was more commonly known as Black Swan Beach. The store was a convenient stop for beach-goers and summer cottage folks.

George Maynard’s Elk Lake Automobile Camp consisted of 12 summer cottages, conveniently located across the road from the lake, and Algernon Henry Pease’s famous Hamsterly Lakeside.

 The Hamsterley Lakeside, located at “Mile 9 on the Sidney Highway,” opened in 1925 and featured a dance pavilion that could accommodate 150 couples. During the summer, cars would be lined up “for miles” along East Saanich road every Wednesday and Saturday night. Dances began at 9:15 with music provided by a five-piece orchestra: the Hamsterly Lakeside Serenaders. Also part of Hamsterly Lakeside was the Toby Jug tea room. The Toby Jug was famous for its “English Countryside Teas” that consisted of scones served with fresh strawberries (grown on the Pease property) and Devonshire cream.

Another successful business at Elk Lake was George A. Robinson’s nurseries and greenhouses on Brookleigh Road. Started shortly after the First World War, Robinson and his two sons operated a seed propagation and cultivation business. By the 1930s, Robinson’s seed nursery had earned widespread recognition and orders were received from around the world through the company’s seed catalogue. Two varieties created here were the Kirkwell Aster and the Cupid Dwarf Marigold.

In 1923, Chartres and Agnes Cunningham opened their Log Cabin Garage and Auto Court at Sayward and (now) the Pat Bay Highway. They started out selling Imperial Oil but switched to Shell Oil in 1928 and the property remains a Shell station to this day although the original log cabin was replaced long ago.

At Beaver Lake was Alfred Petterson’s Wooded Wonderland. Opened in 1962, this commercial attraction featured scenes from familiar nursery rhymes and bedtime stories like the Three Bears and Little Boy Blue. A Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall at the entrance, visible from the highway. Postcards of the attractions were sold to visitors but a dispute over lease arrangements with the municipality saw this business shut down in 1970.

The notion of creating a park at Elk and Beaver lakes first arose in the 1920s but it wasn’t until 1966 that Elk Beaver Lake Regional Park came into existence, ensuring the natural surroundings and recreational facilities are preserved for everyone.

Elk Lake, 1966. Saanich Archives 1980-015-256.