McNeill Bay

McNeill Bay is a scenic Oak Bay shoreline named for HBC captain William McNeill, rich in history and popular for its natural beauty and recreation.

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Location

Oak Bay
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About

McNeill Bay, formerly Shoal Bay, is a scenic coastal spot in Oak Bay and it’s named after Captain William Henry McNeill of the Hudson's Bay Company.
It was misnamed on Captain Richards’ 1865 British Admiralty Chart as “McNeil” Bay.
Captain McNeill, born in Boston in 1801, was a key figure in the Hudson’s Bay Company’s maritime service. He was captain of HBC’s steamer SS Beaver, in the late 1830s and he settled near this bay on a 200-acre property.
McNeill was married twice and had 12 children.
In 1837, McNeill reported to Governor George Simpson, recommending Camosun, now known as Victoria, as a promising location for a trading post or settlement.
In 1869, Captain McNeill added his name to a petition addressed to U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant, calling for the annexation of British Columbia to the United States.
William Henry McNeill passed away in Victoria on September 4, 1875. (Source: Lives Lived West of the Divide, Bruce McIntyre Watson)
Singular among Oak Bay’s earliest settlers, the McNeill family still has descendants living here today, a living link to the area’s earliest colonial history.
Captain McNeill is also the namesake of Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island.
The beach is fairly rocky, with a few sandy areas. You can see the Trial Islands Lighthouse from shore.
From the southwestern end of the beach, there is a trail that leads to Walbran Park and Anderson Hill Park is nearby.
While visiting the area, many people enjoy recreational activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, and windsurfing.
While exploring you’ll find Black hawthorn and Pacific crab apple trees.
Today, McNeill Bay remains a favourite among local artists, drawn to its natural beauty and quiet, reflective atmosphere.