Built in 1930, this historic Powerhouse was home to a diesel generator that provided the first electricity to the seaside town of Qualicum Beach. After joining B.C.’s hydroelectric power grid in 1935, the building became a site for industrial storage.
The Qualicum Beach Historical Society acquired the building in 1984 and developed the property to include 3 more buildings in addition to the Powerhouse, and it is now the site of the Qualicum Beach Museum and Archives.
The history of the Powerhouse mirrors the economic and industrial history of the province, and as such, has significant educational value, as well as contributes to the historic significance of the town. The early 20th century brick-and-steel design of the Powerhouse makes it an iconic landmark and a must-see destination for central Vancouver Island.
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Designed by British architect Karl Branwhite Spurgin, the steel frame is a nod to the decorative half-timbering of the Tudor-Revival style. Simple, clean lines, and a vaguely medieval look of the building is in keeping with the style of architecture during this period.
The original diesel engine was removed from the building in 1946. After the historical society acquired in the building in 1984, they found an identical diesel engine (that worked!) to install in the Powerhouse to replicate the historic nature of the building. The engine was decommissioned in 2004, but remains in the Powerhouse as part of the permanent display.
The Powerhouse underwent major renovations from 2020-2022 and re-opened in 2023 with a new look and a brand new permanent exhibition, highlighting the history of power and energy in Qualicum Beach and is impacts on local climate change.
Endroit
587 Beach Road, Qualicum Beach, BC, Canada
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