Harewood History: Five Acres

August 28, 2025

Before Harewood became known by its modern name, it was once referred to as Five Acres, a name that holds deep significance in shaping the very structure and identity of this beloved Nanaimo neighbourhood.

The Original Vision

The Five Acres development was not just a nickname; it was a carefully organized real estate scheme that dates back to the early 20th century.

In the late 1800s, Samuel Matthew Robins, superintendent of the Vancouver Coal Mining and Land Company, purchased the expansive Harewood Estates, a sprawling parcel at the foot of Mount Benson. His idea was simple but transformative: divide large tracts of land into five-acre plots and sell them off to settlers, farmers, and workers, many of whom were associated with nearby coal mining operations.

Robins leased the lots at very reasonable rates or offered purchase options, to provide families with space for homes, gardens, livestock, and a measure of stability – especially in times when coal markets faltered.

This initiative is recognized as one of British Columbia's earliest planned agricultural communities and set the foundation for what would become Harewood.

These modest parcels were large enough to support small-scale farming and self-sufficient homesteading, yet small enough to be affordable and manageable for working-class families. As a result, Five Acres became a thriving mix of rural charm and community life – a grid of semi-rural properties that allowed for everything from livestock to large gardens to family-run trades.

An Almost Forgotten Name

Five Acres was the original name for this neighbourhood. Over time, "Harewood" became the more dominant term, especially as municipal services expanded and political boundaries shifted. But for many longtime residents, Five Acres is still a living memory, a nostalgic symbol of community, resilience, and the spirit of self-sufficiency.

Some remnants of the Five Acres name still appear in real estate documents, anecdotal storytelling, and the occasional street reference. Those who grew up in Harewood might remember the Five Acres alternative school on Victoria Road that was closed in 2013.

Five Acres is a name that deserves to be remembered – and celebrated.

The Legacy Lives On

Though time has passed and urban development has taken hold, the original five-acre divisions still echo through the modern landscape of Harewood. Street patterns, property lines, and even a few remaining old houses are all subtle reminders of that past.

As Harewood modernized, most of the original plots were subdivided and re-zoned, but the structure they created helped form a solid foundation for the neighbourhood's distinctive identity.

The Last of the Five Acres

With land in Nanaimo at a premium, the final undeveloped pieces of the original Five Acre plots are rapidly disappearing. New housing developments, infill zoning, and urban expansion are reshaping Harewood daily. Yet with each new townhouse or multi-unit building, the ghost of Five Acres remains, etched into the soil and the stories of those who lived it.

Since 2015, one of the last undivided five-acre plots (at 933 Park Avenue Street) was transformed from a former hayfield into a vibrant urban farm run in partnership with Growing Opportunities and Nanaimo Foodshare, called Five Acres Farm. It became a community classroom, offering growing tours, volunteer programs, and fresh produce through initiatives like the Good Food Box –sustaining both bodies and spirits in the process.

This legacy was captured in the 2019 documentary Five Acres, co-directed by Paul Manly and Laurie MacMillan, which premiered at Nanaimo's Port Theatre. The film shines a spotlight on how this small urban farm became a beacon of community food security and hope.

Saving The Five Acres Farm

In a powerful conclusion to years of community advocacy, Nanaimo City Council voted in December 2023 to preserve Five Acres Farm entirely as greenspace, rejecting proposals to allocate any portion of the land for affordable housing. With over 750 residents voicing their preference for the "park-only" option in public surveys – far outpacing other mixed-use plans – the decision honors both historical legacy and urban greenspace needs.

Building on this resolve, the City unveiled a concept plan in January 2025 to transform the site into a public park and urban agriculture centre complete with walking trails, boardwalks over the wetland, educational signage, community gardening areas, and a nature play zone.

This thoughtful vision ensures that the land's original purpose – as a space for community, resilience, and sustenance – will continue to shape Harewood's future.