Brigus is west of St. John’s, on the west side of Conception Bay. You can follow Hwy 60 out from St. John’s or go north from the Trans Canada on Hwy 90. You will tie into Hwy 60 and head west.
Brigus history extends back to approximately 1612. Both the sealing and fishing industries played major roles in the economy of Brigus. Records indicate that Brigus sent 66 ships out to the seal hunt in 1847. During the mid to latter 1800’s Brigus was one of the wealthiest communities in all of Newfoundland.
Introduction of steam power brought an end to the economic wealth of Brigus. The wooden schooners gave way to larger, more powerful steamships. Such ships operated out of the larger ports such as St. John’s, leading to the decline of Brigus and other similar communities.
Today Brigus is a great town to poke around. The community has put a lot of effort into maintaining the older homes, some of them nearly 200 years old. Narrow streets wind up and down hills. Large trees line the streets. You can spend hours or days checking out the area.
The harbour area includes the Brigus Tunnel, built over a 4 month period to facilitate the unloading of a ship owned by a Captain Bartlett. Hand drilled holes and gunpowder were used to create an 80 ft tunnel. The tunnel is high and wide enough to allow horses and wagons to go through.
One of the buildings you can not miss is St. Georges. Perched on the top of a hill, it overlooks Brigus and the harbour. Built in 1876 it provided refuge for 126 years to the people of Brigus. It now serves as a museum and cultural centre.
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