A Little Bit Of History...

Welcome to Ma Miller's, home of B.C.'s oldest continueous liquor licence! Built on the site of the historic Goldstream Hotel which served the old wagon road to Cowichan and later the E & N Railroad, the establishment has been in operation since 1864.  Destroyed by fire in 1873,  the hotel changed hands several times before the Millers of Vancouver purchased the 33 acre property in 1910.  Mrs. Mary "Ma" Miller managed the business after her husband was killed in a car accident on the Malahat in 1915.  When the hotel was again destroyed by fire in 1923, the facility was rebuilt as a beer parlor with a suite upstairs for the owner. Despite opposition from, amoung others, the Prohabition Leauge and the operators of a nearby loggin camp who considered it a "menace to the well fare of the men", "Ma" Miller opened her doors in 1931 with the blessing of all but one of the 61 local residents.  "Ma" married Asa Smith, a local horse breeder and remained the owner-operator for another fifteen years.  At the time of her retirement in 1946, beer was selling for 10 cents a glass and 25 cents a bottle.  She died in 1966 at the ripe old age of 90 and the pub, formaly known as the Goldstream Inn was dubbed "Ma Miller's" as a tribute to her homey style and indomitable spirit.  We hope that you enjoy the homey style and spirit that lives on at the Goldstream Inn.