Description of Historic Place

The Williams Residence is a one and one-half storey, log clad Rustic style residence located in a residential neighbourhood north of the city centre. The historic place is confined to the building footprint.

Heritage Value

Built around 1938, the Williams Residence is a very good example of rustic vernacular architecture. Inspired by rustic park lodges, this style, with its emphasis on simplicity, use of natural materials and sympathy with the landscape was particularly suitable for a building that was, at the time of construction, built on nine acres of land far from the city centre. Although the area has since become densely populated, the rustic Williams Residence and surrounding mature landscaping testify to the area's earlier remoteness and country character.

The Williams Residence is significant for its association with Nanaimo native Dr. Seriol Williams. Active in the Nanaimo Historical Society, the Boy Scouts organization, the Nanaimo Horticultural Society and the Nanaimo Field Naturalists, Williams is best remembered for helping to establish Beach Estates Park, a municipal wildflower sanctuary built partly on the site of Williams' property.

Source: City of Nanaimo, Development Services Department

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Williams Residence include:
- all the elements of vernacular, rustic architecture as expressed in the long, low form, irregular massing, log cladding, log notched corners, stone chimney, gable roof, projecting multi-paned bay windows, irregular attached carport with log columns.
- the building's location in a suburban area away from the city centre.