5709 Wales St

Built around 1911–1912, the one and a half storey Craftsman-style bungalow at 5709 Wales Street is one of the few remaining early farmhouses in what was once the Municipality of South Vancouver. The City of Vancouver designated the building a Municipal Heritage Site in 1993 under By-law No. 7103, which describes it as a “Craftsman-style bungalow” on Lot 1 (except N 17 ft.), Block 5, DL 721, Plan 1828.

The house stands near the historic Avalon Dairy Farm, founded in 1908 by Jeremiah Crowley, and reflects the early agricultural character of the district. Farmhouses like this were built as the surrounding forest was cleared for small dairies and market gardens before the First World War. Typical Craftsman features seen here include a low pitched front gable roof, exposed rafters, and a deep porch with square wood posts.

"Wales Road" first appears in the City Directories in 1914 with 5709 Wales Street not appearing until the 1915 Directory. The first resident is listed as "Gunning Saml." Samuel Gunning was a local hardware store owner, who arrived in Vancouver from Ireland in the early 1900's with his wife, Margaret Elizabeth, and four children.