About the Site
The farm is your way to experience local farmlife as the Stewarts did over 100 years ago.
Historic Stewart Farm is situated on the unceded, traditional and ancestral lands of the Salish peoples, including the q̓ic̓əy̓ (Katzie), q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓ (Kwantlen), and se’mya’me (Semiahmoo) nations.
Read about our commitment to anti-racism.
The Stewart Family
Like many Surrey residents, John and Annie Stewart were not born here but made a home and raised a family here in Surrey. Hailing from Scotland, John married Quebecois Annie Davidson in Nanaimo in 1884.
Like many biographies of historical figures, the story of the Stewarts is pieced together like a puzzle. First hand accounts, witnesses and even photos of them are scarce. Still, gathering the evidence available about general lifestyle trends and the community from 1890-1910, we know the Stewarts were a hardworking farm family of average means. Although the farmhouse is lovely by today’s standards, it was not the largest or most lavish in local Victorian times.
The Stewart were, however, certainly part of the growing community. With just two sons - a small family for the times - they would have rallied friends and nearby work crews to harvest their fields. The Stewarts owned 440 acres of land, including what visitors see now, as well as land across the river where the Stewarts had two additional barns.
Becoming a Heritage Site
The municipality of Surrey purchased 54 acres of the site in 1984. It is operated by the Heritage Services Division of the Parks, Recreation and Culture Department and has responsibility for the operation of the City’s heritage resources. It has both city and provincial heritage site designation.
