The Strathgartney Homestead Property operated as a tourism activity from 1961 to 1981. Photo W. P. Maund

Strathgartney Homestead gave Islanders and visitors a glimpse into the personal lives of the Robert Bruce Stewart family, once the owner of more than 67,000 acres of land on PEI. The Stewarts were one of the few large landowners who actually lived on the Island. They built Strathgartney in the 1860s and it was actively farmed until 1956 when the last male descendent, Honourable W.F. Alan Stewart, Member of the PEI Legislative Assembly, died.

We are developing a list of people who worked at Strathgartney - please contact us with any information / photos you would like added

Take a short tour of the Property! 

Excerpt from the text of an early brochure developed for visitors

Strathgartney Homestead, Strathgartney, PEI, was built by Robert Bruce Stewart, son of David Stewart, of Perthshire, Scotland. He received grants of approiximately 70,000 acres of land comprising Lots 30, 7, 10 and 12, and parts of Lots 47 and 27 in Prince Edward Island.

David Stewart visited his property from June to August, 1831, and in 1846 his son Robert Bruce accompanied by his wife and family, sailed from their native land to live as landlord at Strathgartney.

Robert Bruce was a landscape designer and chose this site for his home. No doubt it reminded him of his own home in Scotland among the hills and valleys. The outline of the design of the surrounding area can still be traced n the stone fences, the beautiful gardens and well arranged out-buildings. Here he lived as Landlord, collecting "quit" rents from his many tenants until the year 1875 when The Land Purchase Act was passed and he was required to sell either to his tenants or the Provincial Government, all his land except 500 acres.

On this acreage stands the Homestead, beautifully situation on one of the highest points of Prince Edward Island, where on clear days across the Straits can be seen the coastline of Nova Scotia, on the right; and over the hills osn the left can be seen a large expanse of the eastern part of our Province.

The Stewarts, generation after generation, lived at Strathgartney, until the death of Hon. W.F. Alan in 1956, a former speaker of the House and Minister of Agriculture.

In the home, the majority of pieces of furniture came from the British Isles with Robert Bruce. In the parlour, be sure to see the rosewood tilt-top table and chairs, the franklin type stove with an unusual fire shield depicting the last supper, a display case containing relics of the past. The dining room contains the large table and chairs, wall tapestry, fireplace, the Stewart Clan Bagpipes and other furniture. Other rooms on this floor are the Butler's Pantry, Kitchen, Tea Room and Library-School Room containing many interesting items. The master bedroom, children's bedroom and bathroom are on the second floor. The third floor bedrooms display hooking frames, spinning wheels, sports equipment and articles of the nineteenth century. 

In the summer, we offer you guided tours through the charming 18th Century homestead, acres of delightful grounds, artists and photographers paradise, panoramic view from elevated par 3 - nine hole golf course. In the winter, an excellent ski and tobogganing area. 

Do come and visit us while on "The Island" and partake of our Scottish hospitality.

The Strathgartney Estate was developed as a tourist activity for visitors without spoiling the natural beauty of the landscape.

"Once visited - long remembered" 

The Strathgartney Years 1961-1981

Keith and Jean Pickard devoted 20 years of their lives to developing the Strathgartney Homestead estate as a tourist destination and achieving this without spoiling the natural beauty of the property. It’s interesting to consider how they become involved in the world of tourism on PEI in the early 1960s. Certainly, they knew the Colonel Johnstone family of Woodleigh and people involved in building hotels. The importance of tourism was discussed in meetings and featured in the local newspapers as the number of visitors began increasing in the mid-1950s and each year became more important to the Island economy.

While the provincial government focused on improving highways and campgrounds, it encouraged private entrepreneurs to develop attractions, entertainment and accommodation to make the visitors’ stay more pleasant and interesting. PEI needed more than beaches and scenery to keep people here for an extended holiday. Family businesses responded to this need and three attractions opened between 1958 and 1960: the Brackley Drive-in Theatre, Woodleigh Replicas in Burlington with its models of English and Scottish historical and literary landmarks and the 16th century Micmac Village at Rocky Point.

Considering Keith’s increasing workload of architectural projects and their young family, venturing into tourism was a huge undertaking. Keith and Jean formed a private company, Strathgartney Homestead Limited, with members of his staff and they worked together to purchase approximately 460 acres of property.

This was the challenge they began in 1961 when the group bought the Strathgartney property from Mrs. W.F. Alan Stewart, whose husband died in 1956, leaving her with three daughters aged 17 to 22.

They started with restoring the house to the mid-1800s period and opened the historic homestead for guided tours in 1961. Keith had a long­-range plan which included both educational and recreational activities. His vision included a campground and campers’ supply store (strategically located on the boundary with the provincial Strathgartney Park), gift shop, food services, golf and horseback riding, and a hotel for those who preferred this level of accommodation.

The Strathgartney property belonged to five generations of the Robert Bruce Stewart family, the largest resident proprietor on PEI. In 1831 they owned over 67,000 acres and were one of the largest individual landowners. Robert Bruce Stewart sailed to Charlottetown in 1846 to manage their large holdings and built Strathgartney Homestead as his country estate in the 1860s. This beautiful farm property was named after the Stewart’s ancestral home in Scotland and is located on one of the highest points of the Island, close to the Trans-Canada Highway and twelve miles west of Charlottetown. In 1875 The Land Purchase Act limited their holdings to 500 acres.

Before the new owners could open the door to visitors there was a tremendous amount of work to be done. The group worked together to cut down trees, trim hedges and shrubs, clear footpaths and walkways, restore the extensive gardens and plant thousands of annual flowers. They preserved and repaired the house and farm buildings, machinery and workshops. They did not move or alter buildings but worked with existing structures and made the necessary repairs.

The home needed to be furnished and decorated in keeping with a 19th century farm. Jean studied and researched the history of the family, the various pieces of furniture and how the farm operated. Having a deep interest in history and a Scottish background definitely helped to fill some of the gaps. Regardless, it was a tremendous effort along with their four children, aged 6 to 12, and her other commitments. She searched antique stores and attended every auction sale to find items that were needed – a hand-hooked rug for a bedroom, a butter churn for the pantry or perhaps a set of harrows for the farm buildings. Jean also helped develop the text for the guided tours to tell the story of the family and describe the furnishings and artifacts. In opening the homestead to the public on July 8, 1961, they wanted to show a part of the Island’s history and culture and help people know their heritage and how people lived in the mid-1800s.

Keith’s overall plan unfolded over the years to meet the needs of Islanders and visitors. There were affordable camping and trailer sites for families and golfing for everyone at the par 3, nine-hole course. It was designed for beginners with reasonable rates and challenges. The restaurant was designed to accommodate bus tours – this industry was growing and needed venues for both food and entertainment. Horseback riding was added in the late-1960s and trails were made through the woods.

As the development expanded, additional staff were required. By the mid-1960s the entire Pickard family moved into a private portion of the homestead and everyone was working in either the house, gift shop or camp store. Keith continued to travel to the office in Charlottetown or to meetings and job sites throughout the Maritimes.

They hired students from the surrounding districts. For teenagers who lived in a rural community, being able to work close to home was a rare opportunity and there was lots of interest. The hiring process began in January when Jean reviewed applications and started interviews. The successful candidates were trained by Jean with a focus on serving the customer and hospitality. These jobs opened up a whole new world for each staff member as they met hundreds of people and responded to all types of questions and inquiries, such as “why is your soil red?” or “how do I get to Cavendish?” Many of the staff returned and sometimes there were two or three members of the same family employed in one area or another. It was easy to spot the girls who worked at the Homestead or in the Campers’ Supply Store because they wore a Stewart plaid skirt and either a white or blue blouse. The training and experience were great assets for students as they continued their education and were able to provide references when they pursued other careers.

In 1980 the Strathgartney Homestead property included

·        Historic Homestead guided tours, formal gardens, footpaths, areas of imported trees, Farm Museum

·        Gift shop featuring Island crafts, woodware, pottery, weaving, china

·        Campers’ Supply Store and Souvenir Shop

·        Campground, trailer sites, washrooms, coin laundry

·        9 Hole Par 3 golf course, 20 Tee driving range, two 9 Hole Miniature Courses, Pro Shop and Snack Bar

·        Restaurant large enough to accommodate bus tours

·        Horseback riding on trails through the woods, pony rides (approx 1966-1969)

·        Outdoor stage for Sunday night singsongs with seating and parking area.

The decision to end their work at Strathgartney was not an easy one. After 20 years of pouring their lives into the development, working with hundreds of staff and suppliers, meeting, greeting and anticipating the needs of thousands of visitors, dealing with all types of crises from loss of electricity to the arrival of an unexpected busload of people expecting a meal. It was a deep loss and a significant change in their lives.

A number of factors led to the decision to sell the property. There was a decline in visitors to the homestead because other sites such as provincially owned Orwell Corner offered a similar experience. It was difficult to keep the entrance fees at a similar rate. Keith’s open-heart surgery in 1981 forced him to live a quieter life and shorter work day. It was challenging to make late night rounds in the campsites to ensure peace and quiet and oversee the operation on top of his professional work.

During their time at Strathgartney, Jean and Keith built something worthwhile, they gave hundreds of people work opportunities and contributed to the educational and recreation landscape of Prince Edward Island. The last season was 1980 and a portion of property was sold to private owners who operated a bed and breakfast.

Throughout the years they remained interested in the Homestead property and carefully followed the activities relating to the Strathgartney Foundation, Friends of Strathgartney, and later the building of the Plan B highway.

Resources: For further information on the Stewarts and their property see Robert Bruce Stewart And the Land Question by Deborah Stewart  https://islandarchives.ca/islandora/object/vre%3Aislemag-batch2-275. 

In 1996 Strathgartney Homestead was named a national historic site https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7764

Photos of Strathgartney Homestead Properpty

A few Photos of Staff and activities of the Strathgartney Homestead Property