Introduction to Marpole

Marpole is one of the city's oldest communities. It is the first community seen by visitors when entering from the south. It stretches from Angus Drive to Ontario Street, and from 57th Avenue to the North Arm of the Fraser River. The region's traffic passes through this neighbourhood, just as it did years ago.

History & Heritage

It is believed that the Marpole area was inhabited as far back as 3500 B.C. Two early village sties were discovered and documented by archaeologists along the north shore of the Fraser. Today, a stone cairn and a plaque in Marpole Park reminds visitors of the Marpole Midden, evidence of Marpole's earliest settlement. Workers discovered the Marpole Midden in 1889 during the extension of Granville Street. Many tools, weapons and other artifacts were found in what proved to be one of the largest village sites discovered in North America.

Non-natives first settled it in the 1860's. Marpole was originally called 'Eburne Station' after Harry Eburne, the area's first storekeeper and postmaster. At the time, it was a small town separated from the rest of the city by miles and miles of forest.

At the turn of the 20th century, Eburne grew and prospered with the construction of the Vancouver Lulu Island Railway and the B.C. Electric interurban train line. Business people realized the riverfront's industrial potential. Eventually sawmills, shingle mills, sand and gravel companies came to the area. In 1916, the area was renamed for CPR General Superintendent Richard Marpole. By 1929, when the community joined with Vancouver, Marpole became one of the city's major industrial centres.

When the Oak Street Bridge opened in 1957 the historic business district along Hudson and Marine suffered a serious decline as traffic shifted to Oak Street and several blocks to the east.

In the 1960's, the area south of 70th Avenue was rezoned and low-rise stucco walkups began to replace the original homes. In 1975, when the Arthur Laing Bridge opened to airport traffic, commercial activity focused once again on Granville Street.

A number of heritage buildings remain in Marpole including Lloyd George School, Colbourne House at 8743 South West Marine Drive, Abbeyfield House, and Firehall No. 22. After the Fire Department outgrew the building, the 1924 Firehall No. 22 was converted, with minimal alteration to the exterior, into Marpole Place, a seniors' centre and neighbourhood house. Abbeyfield House, at 67th Avenue and Hudson Street, was built in 1912 as a private residence. In 1928, the Craftsman-style home was transformed into the city's first Children's Hospital. The home is now an independent living facility for seniors, operated by the Abbyfield House of Vancouver Society.