Aberthau community centre was once a mansion called ‘Rear House’ owned by James Rear, General Manager of American Life Insurance. Rear’s four children, two boys and two girls, enjoyed the expansive property, which included an automobile garage, a carriage and stable house, an (unfinished, but children-friendly) attic, and a spacious verandah, which extended around two sides of the building, with a stone base and open enclosure above. In 1918, Colonel Victor Spencer, son of businessman David Spencer, the founder of the department store chain ‘Spencer’s,’ acquired the mansion, as the Rear family relocated to Pasadena, California. The new owner, veteran from the African War and the First World War, renamed his home ‘Aberthau,’ a Welsh term to indicate “a place filled with light.” in 1938, the federal government took possession of the property, so that the 22-room structure could function as the Royal Canadian Air Force Officers’ Mess for the neighbouring seaplane base at Jericho Beach. The structure suffered several damages during the war times, with a fire destroying the roof and the attic being severely damaged in 1943. With Aberthau House being turned over to the Board of Parks and Recreation for the provision of intern space of the ‘West Point Grey Recreation Project,’ it was also recognized for its potential as a cultural and recreation centre. Further renovations and alterations were required. A year later, with programming starting in September 1974, the newly refurbished cultural and recreation centre officially opened on 16 November by Commissioner May Brown.