Farms & Ranches

Beaver Lake Farm

Located southeast of Quesnel, this farm was known for supplying some of the first mules, horses and cattle to travellers on their way to the goldfields.

Australian Ranch

Located south of Quesnel this ranch was started in 1863 by Andrew Olson and the Downes brothers. Its name is attributed to Olson's experiences in the Australian goldfields prior to coming to BC. In 1903 the property was purchased by the Yorston Brothers and it has passed down in this family to the present day.

Moffat Ranch-Lansdowne Farm

Henry Moffat owned this farm near Alexandria. He would sell his produce 100 miles away in Barkerville, using horses and wagons. A round trip would take him nearly a month. This farm remains in the Moffat family today.

Bohanon Ranch

James Bohanon arrived in the Cariboo in the 1860s and established a farm in the Kersley area. Many artifacts belonging to his family and their descendants can be seen in our parlour and kitchen displays.

Sing Ranch

Nam Sing arrived in Quesnel in 1858 and started a large ranch where the airport is today. He was successful enough to bring his wife from China in 1880. Together they and their 12 children raised produce which they transported to sell in the goldfields around Barkerville.

Forestdale Ranch

Ruric Marsh arrived in the Quesnel area in 1909. He took up a homestead on the west side of the Fraser river where he sold wood to the sternwheelers passing by the ranch. He later built a "town" house in West Quesnel, which is now the River Rock Pub.

What did they grow?

We know from articles about our fall fair that around the turn of the century farmers here produced livestock and these crops: