Cattle Point is a beautiful beach located across from Upland Park in the municipality of Oak Bay. This is a favourite spot for many of Victoria’s residents featuring a gorgeous view of the ocean and Mt. Baker. The land is the traditional home of the Songhees people and evidence of their occupation of the land dates back at least 3,500 years. If you visit Cattle Point or the surrounding area in spring, you will notice the area become abundant with Camas lily bulbs, a common traditional indigenous food source. During the 1840s and 50’s the majority of the Songhees living in this are relocated to Victorias Inner harbour. The rest settled at various on Chatham and Discovery Island’s where they had other, previously seasonal villages.
One thing you may notice when visiting the scenic Cattle Point is that there are no cattle. The origin of this location’s name is a fun little chapter in Victoria’s ever-fascinating history. Between the 1860s and 1910, Cattle Point became the destination for unloading cattle of steamships where they would then have to wade a short way to shore. I know cows are actually rather strong swimmers, but the idea of a herd of cattle paddling up onto the beach’s shore has always greatly amused me. So if you haven’t visited Cattle Point check it out, it’s a beautiful spot in the city with a fascinating local history!
Resource:
‘Burnt Embers’ (September 2011). “Keeping Culture Alive – The Cattle Point Songhees History Sign” Municipality of Oak Bay.
