5 Blackburn Ave

Ottawa, Ontario

Former headquarters of the National Trust for Canada.

Constructed in 1905 for William H.A. Fraser, owner of the wholesale lumber business Fraser & Co., the three-storey red brick house built on an irregular plan, features projecting bays, a deep columned entry and side porch, and cross gabled gambrel roof. The interior includes a spacious foyer, beautiful woodwork and mouldings, and eight fireplaces.

Situated on a promontory of sandy soil, "Sandy Hill" was originally the estate of Louis-Theodore Besserer, a notary from Quebec City who was a member of the House of Assembly and a veteran of the War of 1812. In 1876, a portion of the estate was purchased by the Freehold Association of Ottawa, a partnership of three Ottawa businessmen - lumber baron James Maclaren, banker Charles Magee and industrialist and former Member of Parliament Robert Blackburn - who were influential in transforming Sandy Hill into a luxury residential area.

William Fraser and his family resided in the house until 1911, at which time Ewan McLachlin of McLachlin Bros. Limited moved in. Another lumber magnate, David G. Gilmour took up residence from 1921-1924. Between 1940 and 1945, Captain William "Billy" Avery Bishop, World War I flying ace and first Canadian airman to receive the Victoria Cross, resided at the house with his family. From 1947-1956, the house served as the offices of the Italian embassy.

During the mid-1950s, Robert Blackburn's son, Russell, an Ottawa businessman and banker, bequeathed the house to the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) in tribute to the nurses who had cared for him during his illness and up to the time of his death. The property became the organization's national headquarters until 2001 when the VON moved to larger offices.

The National Trust for Canada purchased the house at that time as its new permanent national headquarters. In February 2005, the main house and its carriage house were designated by the City of Ottawa under the Ontario Heritage Act. The property was sold in 2011 with a heritage easement managed by the Ontario Heritage Trust and the National Trust headquarters moved to 190 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1R 6H4