Day Tours Lesson Plans and Resources

Victoria Heritage Park
Power House Road, Victoria, Newfoundland

Contact Information:
Sharon Snooks
Town of Victoria
Victoria, NF. A0A 4G0
Phone: (709) 596-3783
Fax: (709) 596-5020

* 80 minutes from St. John's
* Open June-Sept.
  Off season by appointment
* Rates available on request

Site:

The Victoria Heritage Park has three life size exhibits depicting aspects of Newfoundland life over the past 300 years. The park has a Water Wheel powered Sawmill, a Newfoundland Pony Barn with ponies and gear and a Hydro Electric Generating Station. Each of these were important to the growth and development of Newfoundlands economy.

For many centuries, energy from falling water has been used to generate power. This power was used by humans to do many tasks more quickly and efficiently. The Victoria Heritage Sawmill is a full size replica of a working water powered Sawmill that existed at Deep Bight, Trinity Bay. Visitors to this site can see the step by step process of sawing a log into rough lumber. This lumber was used by residents for there own benefit and for trade. These types of sawmills came to Newfoundland in 1610 with John Guy. They no longer exist today because of changes in technology.

The Newfoundland Pony is a special equine that developed on the island from a mixture of breeds from different parts of Europe. They are known for their quiet disposition, stamina for hard work and endurance against bad weather conditions. The barn in Victoria is a retirement home for old ponies and has many types of traditional carts, gear and farm tools used by rural residents when they needed the pony to do work.

The 1904 Newfoundland Power Hydro Electric Station was the second built in Newfoundland. Its generating equipment is among the oldest in Canada- the 1914 turbine still producing electricity. At one time this station provided electricity for communities from Brigus, along the North Shore of Conception Bay and to Heart's Content. In 90 minutes students can see a complete hydro electric site with a dam, flume pipe, and generating equipment. In the Museum are early household electric appliances and the 1904 generating equipment.

Located in Victoria. Turn right off the Trans Canada at Route 70 onto the Baccalieu Trail.

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