The Municipality of South Vancouver 1892 – 1929

South Vancouver General Statistics

Once upon a time, South Vancouver was an independent municipality, established in 1892. Following the succession of the Municipality of Point Grey from South Vancouver in 1908, the two municipalities were divided along a proposed extension of Cambie Street through the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) lands. In 1929 both municipalities joined the present-day City of Vancouver. Vancouver’s present City Hall was built at the conjunction of the former three municipalities.

Map of Point Grey, South Vancouver and Vancouver

The original South Vancouver stretched from Cambie Street to Boundary Road, and from the Fraser River to 16th Avenue, with the exception of the indentations made by the district boundaries of the  Hastings Townsite (Boundary Road to Nanaimo Street; 29th Avenue to Burrard Inlet) and District Lot 301 (Main Street to Knight Road; 16th Avenue to 25th/ King Edward Avenue). South Vancouver, also known as South Hill, historically included the current neighbourhoods of Cedar Cottage, Collingwood, Killarney, Riley Park-Little Mountain, Sunset, and Victoria-Fraserview. These areas, apart from Sunset and Riley Park are now considered as East Vancouver.

South Vancouver was built up in response to boomtown Vancouver’s population explosion and huge demand for more affordable housing. As such, it attracted the blue-collar working class to its neighbourhood. South Van’s main development was in the South Hill area, around Fraser Street and East 41st Avenue.

South Vancouver Populating Density May 1929South Vancouver Populating Density—May 1929

South Vancouver Municipal Hall 1911SOUTH VANCOUVER MUNICIPAL HALL – was in the South Hill area at East 41st Avenue (previously Wilson Road) and Fraser Street. On the SW corner of Fraser (North Arm Rd) at East 41 Ave—where John Oliver School now sits.

South Vancouver Mayor and CouncilSOUTH VANCOUVER MAYOR & COUNCIL – this is the last Mayor and Council of the Municipality of South Vancouver in 1928. Mayor Reeve Cornett is the third from the right.

 

LAST PHOTO OF SOUTH VANCOUVER CITY HALL STAFF - 1929LAST PHOTO OF SOUTH VANCOUVER CITY HALL STAFF – 1929

This is a vintage photo of the South Vancouver City Hall staff in front of South Vancouver Municipal Hall on amalgamation day- January 1, 1929. This is when South Vancouver was an independent city with its own mayor, council, city hall, and police department.

On this day, the City of South Vancouver and the City of Point Grey joined the City of Vancouver.

Photos courtesy of the City of Vancouver Archives.

R Johan