This estate, the residence of the Crown's representatives in British Columbia, has a long association with that office. In 1865 the government of the colony purchased Cary Castle on this site as the residence of the governor of Vancouver Island. When British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871, Cary Castle became the home of the province's lieutenant governors. The present structure, built in 1957-1959, is the third official residence on the site, and its porte-cochere came from the previous building, which was destroyed by fire. The grounds, originally laid out in the early 20th century under a succession of lieutenant governors, include evolving Picturesque gardens, a shaded pond, mature trees, and a rare Garry Oak ecosystem. The outbuildings known as the Mews, constructed between 1872 and 1903, recall how a great estate was run in the 19th century, and the varied landscapes make the estate a notable part of British Columbia's history.