Located 7 km (4.3 mi) from Fortune is Grand Bank, approximately twice as big as Fortune, with a population of 2,310 in 2016 (a decrease of 4.3% over 2011 when there were 2,415).

When it was settled in the mid 1600s by French fishermen it was originally called Grand Banc of Grand Banq, both translate to mean a big, great or large bank.

Most likely it was given such a name because of the high bank that extends from nearby Admiral Cove to the harbour. According to ENL sources, by 1763 there were 64 English settlers.

After the Treaty of Utrecht, rather than give the community a new name, the English speaking settlers simply anglicized the existing name and so, Grand Banc became Grand Bank.

Fishing has always been the main industry, but today tourism is also very important to the economy of the town. The following is from the NLTourism Website:

The epitome of rural Newfoundland, Grand Bank is the most famous community on the Heritage Run Scenic Driving Route, and one of the most beautiful communities anywhere along the Atlantic seaboard.

As soon as you drive into Grand Bank, you can sense this is a special place - self- assured, neat, and conscious of the important part the town has played in Newfoundland history....

Along the waterfront and nearby streets are Grand Bank's architectural wonders. The houses, influenced by the styles of Halifax and Boston, lie close to one another along narrow winding streets.

There are a couple of very fine examples of Queen Anne architecture with the widow's walk' atop the roof. The Heritage Walk takes in most of the older houses and commercial buildings in town.

One of the many highlights is the George C. Harris House. This merchant property was built by Harris in 1908.... Another must-see is the Thorndyke House, a sea captain's house dating from 1917.

One of the Four Hidden Gems of the Burin Peninsula, the Newfoundland Labrador website describes the Provincial Seamen's Museum in Grand Bank as follows:

[It] is run by the Rooms (Newfoundland and Labrador's provincial museum and archives) and boasts an impressive collection of artefacts depicting Newfoundland and Labradorians' connection to sea and land from the 1800's to present day.

The building itself is an architectural wonder, it resembles the sails of a schooner and was originally used as the Yugoslav pavilion at Expo '67 before being moved to Grand Bank in 1971.

Used with permission from "Uncovering the Origin of 1001 Unique Place Names in Newfoundland and Labrador" 2021 Jennifer Leigh Hill

Address of this page: http://nl.ruralroutes.com/GrandBank