Philip Gilman, a wealthy mining engineer from England, purchased beachfront property at Jericho Beach in 1906 and 1909. He hired architects Samuel Maclure and Cecil Fox to design his dream home, which was completed in 1911. However, due to a decline in land values by 1916, Philip was forced to sell the property back to the Government of BC at a significantly reduced price to cover taxes. Facing financial difficulties, Philip sold his home to Mildred Brock in 1922 and returned to England with his family.
Millie and her husband Reginald Brock, along with their youngest son, moved into their new home named "Brockholm" in August 1922. Millie dedicated herself to the home and gardens, creating a beloved place for their five sons. Reg and Millie had a wide circle of friends and hosted guests from around the world. However, a tragedy occurred in July 1935 when they both died in an airplane crash near Whistler. Their three younger sons stayed in the house until 1938 to complete their education before selling Brockholm to David Tait.
David Tait, owner of Privateer Mines in Zeballos, relocated to Vancouver with his wife Emily and settled in Brockholm. They established a public company to bring the mine into production. However, the war years brought challenges, and the frozen gold standard at $35 an ounce led to the closure of the mine, resulting in a significant reduction in David's income. Sadly, David passed away in 1952, and his widow sold the property to the Federal Government for use by the RCMP.
In 1951, the RCMP absorbed 495 members of the BC Provincial Police and established the Fairmont Training Subdivision at Fairmont Barracks. The Vancouver Subdivision relocated to Brock House in 1952 due to space constraints, becoming a challenging workplace. The RCMP's Security and Intelligence Section joined later. However, by 1971, Brock House was boarded up as the RCMP relocated to new quarters in South Vancouver.
After being abandoned and facing issues with squatters and vandals, Brock House was purchased by the City of Vancouver from the Federal Government in 1975. It was then transferred to the Vancouver Park Board, who awarded the property to Brock House Society in October of the same year, following extensive public consultations.
Since 1978 the home has hosted thousands of events of all kinds and continue to be a landmark venue in Vancouver.