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" (there was a coal mine called Brechin near the present BC Ferries terminal), while others call it "Newcastle".
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...
Single Family
595 Larch Street, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #446751
Perched At The Top Of Brechin Hill With Active Ocean And Mountain Views Is Where You Will Find This Brand New High End Home! This Stunning Home Offers 2363sqft With 3 Bedrooms And 4 Bathrooms Well Laid Out Over Three Floors. The Main Floor Offers A Bright A...
Condo/Strata
225 Rosehill Street 201, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #447813
(up To 2 Small Dogs Or 2 Cats Allowed) Located In The Brechin Hill Neighbourhood, Across From Nanaimo's Stunning Waterfront, This Gorgeous 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Plus Den Condo Is The Perfect Place To Call Home. With Ocean Views, Custom Tile Flooring In The ...
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...
Single Family
1381 Discovery Ave, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #448475
Brechin Hill Home With Suite And Ocean Views! Here's An Excellent Opportunity To Own This Updated Home In One Of The Most Popular Neighbourhoods In Nanaimo. The Main Floor Has A Nice Living Room And Open Kitchen Area, 2 Good Sized Bedrooms And Access To Bot...
Condo/Strata
580 Stewart Ave 202, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #447603
Classy Two Bedroom, 823 Sf Condo Set In A Waterfront Development Along The Seawall. With The Popular Promenade Walkway Adjacent To You, You Can Stroll Or Cycle To The Bc Ferries, Downtown Nanaimo And All The Waterfront Amenities Central Nanaimo Offers. Buil...
Condo/Strata
580 Stewart Ave 205, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #448041
Great Location, Walking Distance To Nanaimo's Waterfront, On The Quiet Ocean Front Side Of The Building, This 2-bedroom, One-bathroom Condo Is Perfect For A Working Professional, Someone Looking To Downsize, Investor, Or First-time Home Buyer. This Unit Fea...
Condo/Strata
355 Stewart Ave 407, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #447551
Top Floor Unit With Spectacular Ocean Views Of Nanaimo's Harbour And Beyond! Beautifully Maintained And Updated Over The Last Few Years. Absolutely Immaculate And Offering 2 Spacious Bedrooms With 2 Full Baths. Separate Laundry Room And Nicely Appointed Kit...
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.
