When you disembark from the ferries at Departure Bay, Brechin Road runs up the hill beside you. From here, almost all the way to downtown, is the old Newcastle Townsite. This neighbourhood includes a lot of different styles, many of them rare and highly desirable. These homes were built to enjoy the amazing views of Departure Bay and Newcastle Island; decks are large, windows are tall, roads are steep, and there's a sort of maritime feeling. Even if your home doesn't have an ocean view, you will see the water every day - up close - as you come and go.
Note, the real estate board calls this whole area "Brechin Hill" after the coal mine settlement (Brechin) that was near the present BC Ferries terminal and Brechin Road. But closer to downtown (around the White Spot restaurant and the Yacht Club), the area is called "Newcastle" after the Newcastle Townsite that was here in the early days (and from whence Townsite Rd gets its name).
View Brechin and Newcastle home listings below, or read more about the neighbourhood.
Condo/Strata
35 Newcastle Ave 301, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #446151
One Of Nanaimo's Premier Condominiums. Absolutely Spectacular Location, Panoramic Ocean Views And A Fully Renovated ( Over $150,000 Spent) 1800 Sqft, 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Condo. Stunning Kitchen With Quartz Countertops, Solid Wood Soft Close Cabinets & Dra...
Single Family
1421 Princess Royal Ave, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #448285
Great Opportunity For Multi Family Development For Condo Complex Or Apartment Building On This R8 Zoned (medium Density) Multi Family Site With Views Of Newcastle Channel, Departure Bay And Newcastle Island. 2 Separate Legal Lots, One With Alley Access. One...
Condo/Strata
27 Cypress Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #449801
Waterfront Living At Its Best! Three Story Townhouse On Nanaimo's Seawall With Stunning Views Of Newcastle Island And The Marina. Enjoy One Of Three Ocean Front Patios While Watching The Boats Sail By, Sea Planes Or Launch Your Kayak Right In Front Of Your ...
Single Family
329 Larch Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #450887
Proud To Present Harbour Point Home's Newest 'built Green' Home Offering Eco Living, Upscale Finishes + Marina & Ocean Views! This 5 Bed 3 Bath Brechin Hill Home Delivers Lifestyle! Walkable To Marina, Shopping, Ferry, Schools & Downtown On The Harbourfront...
Single Family
327 Larch Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #450886
Showcasing Harbour Point Home's Newest 'built Green' Home! Contemporary Finishes Plus Marina & Ocean Views. Situated In Desirable Brechin Hill, This 4 Bed 3 Bath Home Offers Lifestyle! Walkable To Marina, Shopping, Ferry, Schools & Downtown On The Harbourfr...
Condo/Strata
29 Cypress Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #450819
Lifestyle & West Coast Living! 1min From Your Door W/your Kayak & You'll Be On The Ocean Living The Life You've Dreamed! Welcome To This Pristine Oceanfront 0 Maintenance Home! No Shovelling Snow Just Pure Bliss On The Water! This 3lvl Showhome Features New...
Single Family
595 Larch Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #453431
High End, New Home Finished With The Finest Materials Is Nested On The Top Of Brechin Hill With Shining Ocean & Mountains Views. Featuring 3 Bdrms/4 Baths. Large Windows Were Designed To Provide Extra Sound Proofing & To Optimize Views From This Location. A...
Single Family
350 Vancouver Ave, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #453241
Urban Character Residential Or Future Multi-family Development Site Steps Away From Nanaimo Yacht Club In The Brechin / Newcastle Neighbourhood. Located Within Walking Distance To The Waterfront And Seawall To Downtown Nanaimo, This Is A Popular Area Curren...
Condo/Strata
75 Bryden Street 402, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #446547
Largest Unit In Bryden Beach Complex. Fabulous Ocean, Mountain And City Views From This 1,376 Square Ft. Top Floor Unit. Featuring 2 Bedrooms, Den And 2 Bathrooms. Bright Kitchen Overlooking Splendid Ocean Views. 2 Generous Size Decks (8'10" X 5'4") And (12...
Ocean views are the norm for homes on Brechin Hill, with about 35-40 multi-family buildings and about 550 single-family homes perched on steep streets running down to the ocean.
This area runs the length of the Newcastle Channel between Departure Bay and Nanaimo Harbour - it's a very central, desirable location - and yet much of it is quiet and cozy, disturbed only by float planes and the horns of the Departure Bay ferry terminal.
The larger portion of this neighbourhood is between the ocean and Terminal Park Mall - on your right for several blocks as you drive off the ferry toward downtown. On this end of Brechin, east/west streets are named for trees: Willow, Chestnut, Maple, etc. The lots in this area tend to be about 6000-9000 square feet, or larger for certain corner properties and lots near the water.
Less quiet is the southern end of Brechin (Newcastle Ave., Vancouver Ave.), closer to downtown and nearer the island highway. For lovers of old-town Nanaimo, this is the best real estate available, matched only by the Old City area. This neighbourhood's streets slope down to the ocean, such that you can usually look down the road and see boats, backdropped by Newcastle Island across a narrow channel. There are a number of apartment buildings and some very fine old homes; this was the original Newcastle Townsite where many of the early 20th century elite built gorgeous estate homes on large lots. These have since been subdivided, but some houses still sit on 10,000-19,000 sqft parcels. If you love mature gardens and fine craftsman homes, this neighbourhood is worth checking out.
There are several condos in the Brechin area, from waterfront developments down on Stewart Avenue (the road running between BC Ferries and downtown) to ocean view apartments up on Vancouver Avenue (closer to downtown) and Estevan Road (Terminal Park shopping mall).
Back to Nanaimo neighbourhoods
VIREB IDX Reciprocity listings are displayed in accordance with VIREB's broker reciprocity Agreement and are copyright © the Vancouver Island Real Estate Board. The above information is from sources deemed reliable but it should not be relied upon without independent verification.
