599 Island Road is valued for its association with its owners, architects and for its unique construction.

Built in 1909 for Dr. Oswald Meredith Jones, a Welsh ship's surgeon who arrived in 1891 on the H.M.S. Warspite, later becoming BC's pre-eminant surgeon. Jones joined the practice of Dr. John Chapman Davie - who introduced antiseptic surgical practice in BC - and later established his own practice in the Jones Building (1912-dem 1977) After his death in 1918, the Jones family continued residing at Gwenllyn, until the 4 1/2 acre estate's subdivision in 1984.

The Jones home is valued for its association with leading architects Francis Mawson Rattenbury and Samuel Maclure. Constructed shortly after his success with the Empress Hotel, Rattenbury was by then BC'S leading architect, having also designed the Parliament Buildings, Vancouver Courthouse and plans for 1590 York Place. Stylistic suggestions indicate that Samuel Maclure may have designed the interior finishing. (Dr. Jones commissioned Maclure to design the Jones building in 1912, so attribution is likely)

The all-stone construction of this house is rare and the slate roof is one of three remaining in Oak Bay. This residence has special value as an Oak Bay house built of local materials. Specifications direct the walls to be constructed of "split granite" from "boulders on site". The house is actually wood frame construction laid over by split granite veneer, that reduced in thickness from bottom to top. Window sills are brick with a fine concrete rendering. The interior has many original features, including five fireplaces, good woodwork and original light fixtures.

The surviving stone wall and entrance gates are protected by covenant, as is some of the open property within the subdivision. Over 20 trees on the former estate were identified as Heritage Trees in 1985 and the remnants of a Garry Oak ecosystem survive.