"Always On My Doorstep...." Ladysmith by Lady_Mystique

Ladysmith Travel Guide: 30 reviews and 38 photos

Rainbow at Sunset as seen from my sundeck...

PARADISE ! ! !

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Ladysmith is smack on the 49th paralle, overlooking Ladysmith Harbour on Vancouver Island's east coast.

Ladysmith's town father, James Dunsmuir, was a coal baron in the late 1800's.
When Dunsmuir's resources were dwindling at his Wellington mine near Nanaimo,
he began planning a town to house workers near the new Extension mine to the south.

Homes, churches, and shops were hauled in pieces by rail or house and wagon to the new site;
and the sudden exodus of 5,000 turned Wellington into a ghost town.

As Dunsmuir's town took shape in 1900, the Boer War was much in the news.
He named the community for Ladysmith, South Africa, to honour British troops releieved there after a long seige. Original streets such as Buller, Kitchener, and Baden-Powell were named for the British generals.

New Ladysmith sprang to life, with wide boulevards and streets, telephone lines,
and electricity for all provided by a coal-fired power plant.
Plans called for hotels, even and opera hall; though for many single miners,
the dozen or so saloons provided ample entertainment.

Intro Updated May 23, 2005
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Reviews (1)

Cozy Atmosphere Restaurants (1)

Great place to come for a cozy lunch; or a mid-morning (or afternoon) snack! You choose and order your meal at the... more travel advice

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Comments (5)

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Martin_S. Aug 25, 2008 at 10:48 PM

Looking for more updates on Ladysmith, Vancouver, BC and Canada, need to know what to expect !! ^O^ Martin
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Toshioohsako Jan 18, 2008 at 6:56 AM

Ladysmith is in Vancouver Island. Thank you for telling me about it. I visited VI last summer from Vancouver but missed this place.
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frenchlondon Dec 20, 2007 at 4:16 AM

wow, your hometown does look like paradise!
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Maillekeukeul Jun 13, 2005 at 8:12 AM

Eager to see what it looks like...
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Darby2 Jun 5, 2005 at 11:38 AM

We must do "High Tea" at the Beanery when I come to Van Isla....I do hope they have perohe on the menu ;o)) My folks ran a 'Beanery' in Boston Bar, in the CN railway station restaurant.