From 1915 to 1917 the property was registered to the Vancouver Trust Company.
In 1918 it was purchased by R.W. Bridge of 2027 W. 36th Ave., Vancouver.
In 1924, after visiting Dr. Walter Turnbull, his friend on Savary who owned the log cottage at 3069 Townley, Dr. Frederik N. Robertson purchased what was said to be the last beachfront lot and registered it to his wife, Eva Robertson. Apparently before the Robertsons built their house, the Glynes family tented on the grassy area at the front of the property. There were two girls in the family — Glenys and Alison. Glenys later married early Savary resident, Jim Spilsbury. The house was built in 1925 by William (Bill) Mace, with a fireplace constructed by George Bloomfield. Dr. Robertson named it Tullyokie, from a place in Scotland where it was said that some of his ancestors had resided. (In searching for this cottage and its history, the closest we’ve found is a residence in Kinross named Tillyochie).
The covered front and side (eating) porches often had hammocks hung for sleeping
Around 1959 Bill Mace added a 250 sq. ft. room (apparently named The Snuggery) for Eva Robertson which included a Franklin wood burning stove. At this time a bathroom renovation saw the cottage receive its first bathtub, including a 20 gallon holding tank for hot water that was heated via the wood cookstove. This allowed for a bathing option indoors, rather than the ocean!
In 1964 the title was changed to the children of F.N. and Eva — Olive May Rose,
Dr. Charles Eric Robertson and Frederik Strowan Robertson. Summers were shared by the Roses (Olive, husband Andy and children Drew and Erica (Missy)) and the Eric Robertsons (wife June and children Jamie, Ruth and Jo). They alternated months every year and this arrangement continued until a few years after Olive’s death in 1971.
1956 painting by Laura Gray, the mother of our neighbour, Helen Griffin
During 1974 Dr. Eric Robertson bought out his brother Strowan and his sister Olive’s estate.
Strowan was paid cash. Olive Rose’s estate now included 3087 and 3083 Arbutus Ave. One lot went to Erica Rose and was later sold to the McClellan family, with the other going to Drew Rose who built the log cabin that is now owned by Dell and Jane Valair.
Sometime after 1970, Bill Mace’s grandson, Russ Mace, helped with installing new windows, a sliding glass door and upgrading the wall panelling in the living room. He also enclosed the eating porch by adding large windows and French doors.
In 1977 Drew Rose and Peter Saunders helped with a major kitchen renovation. The back
porch became part of the kitchen and the water pump was moved off the rear porch and housed in a new water tower/shop building constructed by Drew. The outside wall to the eating porch was removed and the crew installed new site-built cabinets and countertops. We have only June to thank for the vibrant orange plastic laminate countertops that we endure to this day.
During this time the kerosene fridge was moved from the back porch and replaced with a propane fridge now inside the kitchen. The hot water storage tank was replaced with a propane hot water tank beside the kitchen stove. A two-burner propane appliance was placed on the countertop of the firewood storage box beside the stove for a speedy boil for morning coffee. The cottage still enjoys a wood burning cookstove which warms things up on a chilly morning.
In 1987 Eric added his children F. Jamie Robertson, Ruth Ann Robertson and Mary Joan Robertson to the title which included a cottage and two lots behind Tullyokie — 3029
and 3031 Arbutus Ave. — recently purchased from Norma and Jack Bald. Eric named the cottage Tullytoo.
In 2009, after Eric’s death, his share reverted to his children Jamie, Ruth and Jo.
In 2025 the Robertson clan will celebrate 100 years of Savary summers at Tullyokie.
The family celebrates Eric’s 80th birthday (l-r Ryan Harrison, Geoff, Jamie, Ben, Paige Eric and Ian Robertson, Russell Dalzell, Ruth and Jo Robertson, Ryan’s mother)
Published 2024
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