Admiral's Marina, Harbour Grace
Photos of Harbour Grace

The scenic town of Harbour Grace, one of largest on the Baccalieu Trail (population 3380, 2001 census), has one of the most well developed harbours on the Avalon Peninsula. It is also one of the earliest settled areas in Canada with a recorded history that spans almost 500 years.

Early History

The town's name is thought to have been derived from Harve de Grace, illustrating the French influence in early European visits to the region.

CLICK HERE for information about the early history of the town as recorded by John Guy and his settlers in about 1612, and by Abbé Jean Baudoin, the priest who accompanied Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville on his raids in the early 1700s.

The Pirate, Peter Easton

Harbour Grace has many sites of cultural and historic interest. The pirate, Peter Easton, one of the most successful pirates of the 17th century, made the town his headquarters for a short time. The Conception Bay Museum, which is near the site of which has been traditionally associated with Peter Easton's fort, contains a number of exhibits including one on pirates.

Governor Robert Hayman

Governor Hayman spent spent 15 months in Newfoundland during his first visit. He visited Newfoundland a number of other times after that, but never spent another winter on the island. He spent much of his time at Harbour Grace writing and translating poetry. His book Quodlibets is the first book of English poetry written in the New World.

More Recent History

The Harbour Grace Regatta, which is held every summer in August, is one of the oldest sporting events in North America. The first Harbour Grace Regatta was held on Tuesday, July 22, 1862.

The Railway Station Museum commemorates the first railway line to open between St. John's and Harbour Grace in 1884. The last spike in the narrow gage rail line was driven by Prince George, later to become King George V, who was at the time visiting Newfoundland as a midshipman aboard H.M.S. Cumberland. (Today there is no existing railway in the province, the last spike was removed in November 1990.)

The Harbour Grace Air Strip figured prominently in the history of Transatlantic flight. From 1927-936, more than twenty flights took off from Harbour Grace to fly the Atlantic, some of them piloted by famous aviators such as Amelia Earhart.

The SS Kyle, which is aground in the harbour, was built in 1913 and became the first boat to provide Labrador with a regular scheduled service. The boat, which is immortalized in Ted Russell’s poem “The Smokeroom on the Kyle,” is an icon in Newfoundland culture. Local singer, songwriter Shawn Lidster has a new song about the Kyle: www.shawnlidster.com/kyle/kyle.htm

Phil Earle, sone of the famous Captain Guy Earle of Carbonear, has provided the Tourism Association with two accounts of the SS Kyle's last days. The first is a retelling of the SS Kyle's last trip to the "front" when the ship hit an iceberg. Click here for a PDF version of that exciting story. The second tells how the SS Kyle came aground in Harbour Grace Harbour, and is included below.

"In summer 1965, the last year the Kyle went to the Ice, my father, Captain Guy Earle, asked me to take the Kyle from Carbonear to be anchored in Harbour Grace harbour off Moores Fish Plant. With two other men, Lew Simms, engineer, and Reg Garland, seaman (both from Carbonear and now deceased,) I towed the Kyle with the MV Clammer to a good holding ground spot in mid harbour off from NEF plant and dropped the Kyle's two large anchor in a V position on the bottom.

Father said this was the best spot to keep her for the winter. I think she got through the first winter of 65/66 but some time in Jan-Feb of 1967 there was a big NE storm coming straight up Hr Grace Harbour. She must have dragged her two anchors together, thus losing their grip on the bottom, and began dragging them over the bottom as the boat was blown westward directly up the harbour towards Riverhead.

It is possible that at some time in her flight toward her final resting place she may have broken her chains, or had them run out. It would be an interesting project for some skin divers to find her chains on the bottom and trace them to her anchors so that this aspect of her final minutes could be known. In any case she, in the high waters of the storm surge, went up high on the rocks in Riverhead and never moved since."

Town of Harbour Grace

Harbour Grace Today

Visit the well stocked Kearney Tourist Chalet located near Riverhead at the bottom of the harbour for information. Visitors to the town can take advantage of many services, including a number of first class B&Bs, restaurants, a large marina, and recreational facilities.

Baccalieu Travel Tours -Choose a tour of a community on the Baccalieu Trail or a combination package to fit your needs. Single day or week long tours can be arranged. A local guide will inform and entertain as you discover the beauty the Baccalieu Trail has to offer. Contact: Shelley Bastarache 207 Harvey Street, Harbour Grace. A0A 2M0 Tel: (709) 596-0757 Web Site: www.baccalieutraveltours.ca

Drop Anchor, art studio and gift shop, sells carefully selected crafts and works of art and MooMoo's Ice Cream ! Contact: Dave Sheppard 59 Water Street Harbour Grace NL A0A 2M0 Tel: (709) 683-0128.

Hair Gallery & Spa de Sante spa and hair care facility in the beautiful town of Harbour Grace. Award winning hairstylists, body piercing, nail enhancements, scalp massage, spray tanning, manicures, pedicures, sauna, as well as acne treatments, facials, body wraps, and other spa treatments. Contact: Chris and Sandra Smith 126 Water Street, Harbour Grace, NL A0A 2M0 Tel: (709) 596-4247 Fax: (709) 786-4405 Web Site: www.hairgalleryspa.com

Li'l Angel Photography services include wedding photography and family portraits (including pets), modeling portfolios, advertising, wall murals, and photo restoration. Photography can be completed in the studio or at the client's site. Also carries digital and 35mm photographic supplies. Contact: Tony Miller. 688 Harvey Street, Harbour Grace, NL A0A 2M0 Phone: 709 596-6689 Web Site: www.lilangelphotography.com

Rose Manor B&B Located in the Historic town of Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, this Second Empire Style home was built in 1878 for Thomas R. Bennett who, at the time, was the Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. John's. The house was built on ocean waterfront property and is surrounded by one acre of beautiful gardens and large old trees including a magnificent 200-year-old cherry tree. There's plenty of room to walk, talk, relax, and enjoy the ocean view. Email:Lucy Haire P.O. Box 12, Harbour Grace, NL A0A 2M0.Toll Free: 1-877-596-1378 Tel: (709) 596-1378 Fax (709) 596-1907 Web Site - www.therosemanor.com

Town of Harbour Grace has a deep and rich history spanning almost 500 years. From the pirating fights of Peter Easton and the pioneering flights of Amelia Earhart to historical sites and buildings, Harbour Grace has many intriguing stories and sites for the visitor. The Admiral's Marina is the site of many activities from boat tours, to outdoor concerts, to performances by Rebel Island Theatre. Contact: Daphne Mercer Harbour Grace, NL A0A 2M0 Telephone: (709) 596-3631 Fax: (709) 596-1991 Web Site: www.hrgrace.ca

Victoria Manor Shoppes & Gallery is located in the beautifully restored Victoria Manor (c1830) in historic Harbour Grace at the corner of Harvey Street and Victoria Street. The Victoria Manor Shoppe & Gallery carries fine art, fine craft, antiques, collectibles, used books, and antique books. Contact: Randy Follett, 25 Victoria Street, Harbour Grace. Phone (709) 596-8111, Fax: (709) 722-9308.