[Updated 10/Apr/2026]
In 1909-10 there was a flurry of building on Cheung Chau as plots were cheap, and the island offered all the benefits of The Peak at a fraction of the cost - sea breezes, exclusivity, and pleasing views.
European House #19 was a bungalow with a pitched tiled roof, built around this time on the ridge of Seascape Peninsula at Nam Tam Wan, close to the beach there, with fabulous views of Lantau to the west, Lamma to the east and various islands to the south. Later on, a west-facing verandah was added.
No #19 can be seen in a very early Mission photo of 1911.
In 1922 'a house on Cheung Chau was purchased by Dr W W Cadbury', which may have been House #19*.
Dr Cadbury was an American medical missionary. From then on, he and his second wife Catharine used their house regularly to holiday with their three daughters from their medical work in Canton. From the copious correspondence of the Cadburys, we get an idea of the vicissitudes that were part of the missionary experience, and what a useful retreat Cheung Chau was. Even there though, they weren't always safe -
In August 1923 they endured a typhoon at the house (safely).
In April 1926 a missionary family the Manly Rankins were using the house, as we have a letter written by Grace Rankin from House #19.
In July 1926, the Cadburys prepared to take a vacation on Cheung Chau and debated whether to bring servants due to a strike in Hong Kong.
In August of that year, Dr Cadbury observed a great number of fellow missionaries were being compelled to stay on Cheung Chau because of the anti-foreign feeling on the mainland. Canton was not affected however.
In April 1927, due to trouble in Canton, women and children were moved to Cheung Chau.
In April 1934, the Cadburys took a spring vacation on Cheung Chau.
In 1938 'Mr W W Cadbury' was recorded as the owner of House #19. The Cadburys were housing two Cantonese refugees from the Chinese hostilities with Japan.
In January 1940 there was some destruction caused by a stray mine near their cottage.
During the war the Cadburys were captured and interned by the Japanese but repatriated in 1942. House #19 may have been badly damaged by the Japanese as being Western-owned. The Cadburys returned after the war, but retired to the USA in 1949.
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Today, together with House #21, House #19 has been redeveloped to become part of the Salesian Retreat House, a Catholic Retreat Centre with 68 suites for physical rest and spiritual renewal.
*I have assumed this was House #19 from the fact that they were the official owners in 1938, but I could be wrong.
Source: Cadbury letters
Photos that show this Place
