Hans Hansen, a Norwegian Settler, was the first European to settle in Port Neville. The port is located on the mainland side of Johnstone Strait, just past Kelsey Bay. The Port Neville Inlet is 13 km long. It is easy to understand why Hans picked this place to settle down in, it is absolutely beautiful.
Hans built his home on the south side where white sandy beaches stretch in both directions. There is a government dock out in front of his old log home that is still standing solid after more than 100 years. Over the years there have been many families living in the port.
Port Neville was an important community on the coast and, over the years, operated as a post office, general store, and fuel dock. In 1895, Hans became the first postmaster for the port. The Post Office was the oldest continually operating post office in B.C., it closed in 2010.