Description of Historic Place

Situated prominently at the junction of Mount Joy Avenue and Runnymede Place in Oak Bay British Columbia, the Blair Gowrie, Harry A Ross House is a grand three storey, wood frame Italian Renaissance revival style.

Heritage Value

This place holds historical value for its association with the renowned Ross and Butchart families. Robert Pim Butchart, a successful entrepreneur in the manufacturing of Portland cement, first opened a limestone quarry at Tod Inlet in 1904. Robert's wife, Jennie, transformed the worked out quarry into a sunken garden that is now world renowned as the Butchart Gardens. In 1917, Jennie Butchart (1885 - 1971), the oldest of the Butcharts' two daughters, married Harry A Ross (1878 - 1930). Ross, who was originally from Ontario, was treasurer of the Vancouver Portland Cement Company Ltd. Architect Samuel Maclure was commissioned to design this house for the newlyweds. While residing at Blair Gowie, Harry and Jennie had a son, Ian, in 1918, who would later inherit Butchart Gardens.

Constructed in 1916, Blair Gowie has significant value for its connection with architect Samuel Maclure (1860 - 1929), who designed the house in 1916, and its subsequent alterations a decade later. Maclure was one of Victoria's most prominent and noted architects, had a profound influence on the development of BC architecture, and was a leader in establishing a sophisticated local variation of Arts and Crafts residential design. Maclure's reputation for designing exceptionally beautiful homes led to his largest commission, Hatley Park, in nearby Colwood - considered at the time perhaps the finest home in Canada. He gained international recognition during his forty year career, with close to 500 commissions. Maclure utilized many stylistic influences and was able to adapt his use of indigenous materials with versatility. Blair Gowie is an example of Maclure's exceptional craftsmanship, complete with a beautiful and functional interior, and is considered an important component of cultural heritage of both Oak Bay and British Columbia.

The house is valued for its unique aesthetics in that it is a departure from Maclure's signature style of Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts designs. It displays an unusual architectural idiom of the Italian Renaissance revival style, illustrated by its grand porte-cochere, low pitched hipped roof with wide overhangs, and prominent Palladian window. This architectural style is uncommon, both in Oak Bay and in Maclure's repertoire, adding to the aesthetic value within the municipality. This residence remains an important component of the Runnymede heritage cluster of architect designed single family dwellings.

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of 2031 Runnymede Avenue include its:

- Location on a corner lot with prominent street frontage terminating at Runnymede Avenue and Mountjoy Avenue, with expansive views across south Oak Bay to Mount Baker.
- Residential form, scale and massing as expressed by its rectangular plan, hipped roof and three storey height, with the lower level partially sunk into the native rock.
- Wood frame construction with concrete foundation.
- Masonry elements such as roughcast stucco cladding, two external and one internal tall stuccoed brick chimneys.
- Italian Renaissance Revival style details such as prominent porte-cochere with balcony and decorative balustrades, elaborate door and window mouldings, double height bay, Palladian window in stairwell, wooden shutters, and low pitched hipped roof with boxed overhangs.
- Irregular fenestration consisting of wooden sash windows such as multi paned and multiple assembly double hung sashes, Palladian window on main façade, casement windows, panelled wooden front door with multi paned sidelights, and multi paned French doors.
- Associated landscape features such as mature coniferous and deciduous trees, including a specimen Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca', and a number of Quercus garryana.