When you disembark from the ferries at Departure Bay, you're near the old Brechin coal mine site, and Brechin Road runs up the hill to your right. If you head toward downtown, the homes get older and the name transitions to "Newcastle" or "Newcastle Townsite" after the original neighbourhood which was outside of Nanaimo city limits! But this whole area from the ferries to the bridge into downtown, is called "Brechin" by the real estate board.
The Brechin 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.
For the aficionado of 1920s-era mansions, check out the area around the White Spot restaurant and the Yacht Club!
View Brechin and Newcastle home listings below, or read more about the neighbourhood.
Condo Apartment
375 Newcastle Ave 700, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #870382
Enjoy Breathtaking Views From Every Room In This Luxury Penthouse Just Steps Away From Nanaimo's Yacht Club & Seawall. This Spectacular 2 Bdrm, 3 Bath 2826 Sq.ft Condo Is Full Of Unique Features. The New Kitchen Reno Has It All: Beautiful Custom Cabinets, Q...
Single Family Detached
393 Chestnut St, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #869122
**investor Alert** Amazing Opportunity To Own This 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom Home With A Unique Vantage Point Over Newcastle Channel And Brechin Marina Boat Launch. The Main Floor Is Bright And Open With A Large Living Room Connected To The Kitchen And Dining Ro...
Single Family Detached
959 Brechin Rd, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #871590
Classic Charmer With A 2-bedroom Unauthorized Suite And Lovely Departure Bay Ocean And Coastal Mountain Views. Large Yet Private Yard With A Separate Outbuilding For Shop Or Carpark, And Plenty Of Room For Multiple Parking. The Home Has Updated Flooring, Wi...
Single Family Detached
395 Chestnut St, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #870520
3 Bedroom House With Tons Of Potential! This Adorable Bungalow Has Views Of Newcastle Channel And Is Literally Steps From Popular Restaurants, Shops, The Brechin Boat Launch, The Departure Bay Ferry And Seaplanes With Direct Access To Vancouver. The Floor P...
Condo Apartment
566 Stewart Ave 106, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #871928
A Lifestyle In Itself! Waterfront Living At Its Best! Come And See This Fabulous Almost 1400 Sq Ft Condo Right On The Waterfront. Tastefully Updated With A New Kitchen, Paint And More. Offering 2 Bedrooms (or 1 Bedroom With Den) With 2 Full Bathrooms In...
Condo Apartment
1250 Stewart Ave 206, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #869971
Welcome To This Very Special Home - Whether You Are Looking For A Fabulous 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Home To Live In Or An Investment Home That Can Garner Premium Rent, This Is The Home For You!! Imagine Working From Home All Day, Enjoying Views Of The Ma...
Single Family Detached
1843 Stewart Ave, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #869929
Welcome To The Lovely Neighbourhood Of Brechin Hill Where You Will Find This 2 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Home With Ocean And Marina Views, Zoned R1 Allowing For A Secondary Suite, Home Based Business Or B&b And Is Just A Short Distance Away From Departure Bay Fer...
Condo Apartment
355 Stewart Ave 302, Nanaimo, BC
MLS® #872775
As You Walk In To This Well Maintained Third Floor Unit, You Will Immediately Be Taken With The Gorgeous Ocean Views. The Main Living Area Has Large Windows To Take In The View, A Natural Gas Fireplace (gas Incl. In Strata Fee) & Is Open To Your Dining Room...
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.
