SIR MATTHEW BAILLIE BEGBIE 1819 - 1894 Begbie practised law in England for fourteen years before his appointment in 1858 as the first judge of the mainland Colony of British Columbia. During the gold rush, he won the respect of lawless miners of the Fraser River and Cariboo regions. In 1869, after the union of Vancouver Island and British Columbia, he was named Chief Justice of the mainland; in 1870, of the whole Colony; and in 1871, of the Province. He presided in this building, erected in 1889. His 36 years of fearless and impartial service made a lasting contribution to the administration of justice in the Pacific region of Canada.
28 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC, Canada
FORMER VICTORIA LAW COURTS Opened in 1889, the Victoria Law Courts was the first major public building constructed by the provincial government after union with Canada. Previously, court sessions had been held in one of the colonial administration buildings located on the site of the present provincial legislature. Removal of the courts to Bastion Square marked an important stage in the evolution of British Columbia's court system and the start of a programme to erect permanent court houses in judicial districts throughout the province. Trials continued to be held in the building until 1962.
28 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC, Canada
FORT VICTORIA was erected by Hudson's Bay Company 1843. Here Colony of Vancouver's Island was inaugurated by Richard Blanshard 1850. Vancouver's Island and British Columbia united 1866. Two years later Victoria became the capital of British Columbia.
700 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
This building was constructed in 1924 as the Canadian Pacific Marine Terminal Building. Designed by the architectural partnership of F.M. Rattenbury and P.L. James it became headquarters for the Canadian Pacific British Columbia Coast Steamship Service and gateway to Victoria for passengers travelling aboard C.P.R. coastal vessels. Its imposing classical presence continued to enhance the experience of countless visitors and allied armed forces personnel through the 1930's, 1940's, & beyond. The last ship on a regular run to land passengers at this site was the "Princess Marguerite" then a Canadian Pacific steamship. In 1963 C.P. moved to another adjacent location. The building played an important role in the capital's maritime history, so that it may continue to grace the waterfront, in 1978 it came under the stewardship of the Provincial Capital Commission.
The Robert Bateman Centre, 470 Belleville Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
“The Birdcages”. The Legislative Buildings for the Colony of Vancouver Island were built on these grounds in 1859. Nicknamed “The Birdcages” because of their quaint style, they were replaced in 1894-97 by the present buildings. The original Legislative Hall, meeting place of the first House of Assembly west of the Great Lakes, was preserved until 1957 when it was destroyed by fire.
Menzies Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
OLD TOWN VICTORIA. Old Town took shape during Victoria’s rise to prominence in the mid-19th century, when it was an important port and commercial gateway that linked the Pacific Rim to the interior of British Columbia. It was built within the Coast Salish territory of the Lekwungen and W_SÁNEC nations, on the grounds of a former Hudson’s Bay Company trading post. Old Town encompasses the oldest surviving Chinatown in Canada, the waterfront warehouses and wharves that evoke the enterprise and rapid growth that followed the gold rush era, and the richly designed brick buildings that give the old commercial district an air of permanence.
intersection of Wharf, Government and Humboldt Streets, Victoria, BC, Canada
First Dominion Government crown erected in British Columbia surmounting the Post Office built on this site in 1873.
1230 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
Percy Leonard James 1878 – 1970. Percy Leonard James was born in London, England, where he trained and first practiced as an architect. In 1908, he settled in Victoria, British Columbia, where he obtained his first commission and practiced his profession until 1954. Mr. James was a charter member of both the national and provincial architectural institutes. In 1931, he was the first architect in British Columbia to be elected to the College of Fellows of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. In 1956, Mr. James was awarded an Honourary membership in the Architectural Institute of British Columbia, and in 1967, he was awarded an Honourary membership in the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. Mr. James prided himself in his ability to produce solid, durable designs. This was epitomized in this Victoria Federal Building which was officially opened in 1952. It was among the largest stone-faced concrete structures built in British Columbia at the time. [Plaque below] This Government of Canada Building, Victoria, British Columbia, was named in honour of Percy Leonard James on June 24, 1996 by the Honourable Diane Marieau, P.C., M.P. and the Honourable David Anderson, P.C., M.P. [French] Percy Leonard James est né à Londres, en Angleterre, oú il étudie l’architecture et entreprend sa carriére. En 1908, il s’établit à Victoria, en Columbie-Britannique, et c’est là qu’il obtient sa première commande puis exerce sa profession jusque’en 1954. Membre fondateur des instituts d’architecture national et provincial, il est, en 1931, le premier architecte de la Colombie-Britannique à étre élu membre du Collége des Fellows de l’institut royal d’architecture du Canada. M. James devient membre honoraire de l’Architectural Institute of British Columbia en 1956, et de l’institut royal d’architecture du Canada, en 1967. M. James se faisait un point d’honneur de concevoir des ouvrages solides et durables, comme en témoigne cet éédifice du gouvernement fédéral, inauguré en 1952. A l’époque, is s’agissait de l’un des plus importants immeubles de béton à revétement en pierre construits en Colombie-Britannique. Gouvernement du Canada [Plaque below] Cet édifice du gouvernement du Canada à Victoria, Colombie-Britannique, a été nommé en hommage à Percy Leonard James le 24 juin 1996 par l’honorable Diane Marieau, c.p., député, et par l’honorable David Anderson, c.p., député.
1230 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
Fort Victoria Founded 1843. The pavement design near this marks the location of the bastion that stood at the northeast corner of Fort Victoria. From here the stockade ran southward past the gateway at Fort Street, and westward toward the harbour. Each brick within the bastion design bears the name of a Hudson’s Bay Company employee or later resident of the area. Bricks around the outer rim of the octagon carry the names of some of the Indians who signed treaties giving the Hudson’s Bay Company ownership of the Fort Victoria site. Supported by public grants and individual sponsorships, the memorial project was initiated by the Greater Victoria Civic Archives Society. May 1986
1200 Government Street, Victoria, BC, Canada
This tablet marks the site of the bastion which stood at the north east corner of Fort Victoria. The fort was erected by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1843. Erected by Miller, Court & Co. Ltd. For the British Columbia Historical Assn. A.D. 1928
1140 Government St, 69 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC, Canada