5 Blackburn Avenue

Address: 5 Blackburn Ave

Construction date: 1905

This house was constructed in 1905 for William H.A. Fraser. Fraser was the owner of the wholesale lumber business Fraser & Co.. William Fraser and his family resided in the house until 1911. Then 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, flying ace during the First World War 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, the house was bequeathed to the Victorian Order of Nurses (VON). The property became the organization's national headquarters until 2001 when the VON moved to larger offices.

The National Trust for Canada then purchased the house for 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.

This three-storey red brick house 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.