Dunbar-Southland are two distinct neighbourhoods rolled into one.
Dunbar to the north is an affluent neighbourhood with its western boundary lying next to Pacific Spirit Regional Park. It’s well known for its quiet, leafy avenues, heritage homes and numerous parks. Shopping along Dunbar Street doesn’t have quite the buzz of a
West 4th or
South Granville but the quaint stores add to the distinctive, gentile feel of the area.
Keep heading south and you’ll hit Southlands, a rural oasis on the floodplains of the Fraser River just 20 minutes from
downtown Vancouver. As you cross the line from Dunbar to Southlands, property goes from wealthy to luxurious. Instead of single family homes on pristine lots, Southlands features multi-million dollar estates hidden on large, secluded acreages.
Southland is horse heaven for those who like to ride and the area boasts several stables and riding-related businesses. You won’t find much in the way of shopping malls or nightlife here but there are plenty of
golf courses and garden nurseries to entice locals out of their mansions.
Dunbar-Southland is a neighbourhood of well-established families and you won’t find too many recent immigrants in the area. It is also less ethnically diverse than other parts of Vancouver but this is gradually changing as the housing stock becomes a little more diverse with the construction of condos bringing more affordable property to the area.
If you have a high-flying, jet setting lifestyle or travel for work, Southlands is an ideal location for international travel as Vancouver International Airport is a few minutes drive away and the US border is 40 minutes away.
Average house selling price* (Sept. 2010): $1,681,022 / Dunbar
What it's known for?
› Camosun Bog
› The international
environmental group Green Peace was founded on W 19th Avenue in Dunbar
Schools
The independent
St George’s School has topped the Fraser Institute’s BC school rankings for several years and West Point Grey and Crofton House School regularly feature in the top five. Lord Byng, and University Hill are among the most sought after public secondary schools in the area.
Vancouver Secondary School Boundaries (Clickable Map)
Vancouver Primary School Boundaries (Clickable Map)
Interactive map displaying all Vancouver schools
Public Transportation
The Dunbar Loop at Dunbar and 41st links the neighbourhood to
UBC, Metrotown in
Burnaby and
Richmond. The Canada Line SkyTrain can also be picked up at the airport or SW Marine Drive.
Notable Parks & Attractions
› Balaclava Park
› Comosun Park
› Chaldecott Park
› Memorial West Park
› Musqueam Park
› Pacific Spirit Regional Park
Interactive map displaying all Vancouver parks
Inhabitants
Affluent, well-educated professional families and retirees.
Location
Dunbar runs North-South from 16th Ave to Southwest Marine Drive, and East-West from Mackenzie Street to the edge of the UBC Endowment Lands and Pacific Spirit Park. Southlands is located south of Southwest Marine Drive and shares the same east-west boundaries as Dunbar.
* Source: Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver