Barker Road
Barker Road is a road located on Victoria Peak, Hong Kong at an altitude of approximately 350 metres above sea level with a length of about 1,7 km. It starts from the Old Peak Road and ends at Magazine Gap on Peak Road.
Name
The road was named after George Digby Barker, a former military commander and acting administrator of Hong Kong between May and December 1891.History
The road opened in 1898. The Public Works Department reported in its Annual Report for 1898The Barker Road leading from Plantation Road to Magazine Gap was also completed in the year and opened for traffic, the total cost being $26,880.00. The length of this road is 5,660 feet and the ruling gradient 2 in 40, while the steepest gradients being 1 in 20 make it available for rickshaw traffic.
Long before completion, the road became a favourite evening walk and already three large building sites have been sold, and the erection of one European residence is well advanced.
From this report it can be seen that Barker Road originally started at Plantation Road close to the Barker Road Station. Later the part from the station to the Peak Road was renamed from Plantation to Barker Road.
Peak Tram Stop
On the western end of Barker Road the Barker Road stop of the Peak Tram is located. The tram runs over Barker Road on a bridge creating a narrow tunnel.Houses
Barker Road is located on the steep slopes of Mount Gough. From all lots residents have an undisturbed view onto Victoria Harbour making it a very expensive location. For that reason and due to the difficult terrain not too many houses have been built there. Most houses have been renewed since the first one was built on one lot, so today’s houses mainly are second or third generation.The following houses are there today :
| Barker Road No. | Name of the house | Date of occupation | Generation No. |
| 1 | Barker Road Podium | approx. 2005 | 2 |
| 2 | Sky Court | 1992 | 3 |
| 3 | Residence of the US Consul General | 1987 | 2 |
| 8 | Trollstua | 1945 | 1 |
| 11 | Commanders Residence | ? | 2 |
| 12 | Bracken Hill | 1953 | 2 |
| 15 | Victoria House | 1951 | 2 |
| 17 | Victoria Flats | 1923 | 1 |
| 22 | - | 2017 demolished | 2 |
| 23 | Cragside Mansion | 1975 | 2 |
| 27 | Altadena House | 1974 | 2 |
| 28 | Knightsbridge Court | 2013 | 3 |
| 31 | Richmond Houses | 2003 | 3 |
| 35 | Falconridge | 2018 | 3 |
| 37 | - | 1985 | 1 |
| 41 | Barker Villa | 1974 | 1 |
| 43 | Haking Mansions | 2001 | 2 |
| 47 | Villa Blanca | 2016 demolished | 2 |
| Barker Road stop | 1888/1919 | 1 | |
| 51 | Epworth Lodge | 1949 | 2 |
Odd numbers are uphill of Barker Road, even numbers downhill.