Victoria City Tour

St. Charles Street – 1000 Block

1005 St. Charles Street

1005 St. Charles Street was built in 1910-11 by architect Samuel Maclure for Simon Leiser (1851-1917) and Caroline Leiser (1856-1935). It is listed as Heritage Registered by the City of Victoria Heritage Registry.

Simon Leiser was one of the leading figures in late 19th and early 20th century Victoria business. The office and warehouse for his wholesale grocery company, Simon Leiser & Co., is still standing at 524 Yates Street. He is also associated with the construction of the Board of Trade Building, 31 Bastion Square, and the Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street.

1005 St. Charles Street. Built in 1910-11 by architect Samuel Maclure for Simon Leiser and Caroline Leiser.

1005 St. Charles Street. Built in 1910-11 by architect Samuel Maclure for Simon Leiser and Caroline Leiser.

Here’s a map showing the location of 1005 St. Charles Street.

Here is a Google Street View image of 1005 St. Charles Street:

1005 St. Charles Street, built by architect Samuel Maclure in 1910-11 for Simon Leiser.

1005 St. Charles Street, built by architect Samuel Maclure in 1910-11 for Simon Leiser.

Additional Information About 1005 St. Charles Street

  • Assessed Value (July 2019): $3,140,000; Land – $1,745,000, Buildings – $1.395,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2018): $2,903,000; Land – $1,945,000, Buildings – $958,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2017): $2,563,000; Land – $1,735,000, Buildings – $828,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2016): $2,248,000; Land – $1,446,000, Buildings – $802,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2015): $2,064,000; Land – $1,134,000, Buildings – $930,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2014): $1,996,000; Land – $990,000, Buildings – $1,006,000
  • Victoria Heritage Foundation
  • Victoria Jewish CemeterySimon & Caroline Leiser grave

A Brief History of 1005 St. Charles Street

1005 St. Charles Street was built in 1910-11 by architect Samuel Maclure for Simon Leiser and Caroline Leiser.

After Simon Leiser‘s death in 1917, Caroline Leiser (1856-1935) lived here until 1919, when the property was sold for $50,000 to George Bushby, who lived here until 1922.

Simon Leiser was one of the leading figures in late 19th and early 20th century Victoria business. The office and warehouse for his wholesale grocery company, Simon Leiser & Co., is still standing at 524 Yates Street. He is also associated with the construction of the Board of Trade Building, 31 Bastion Square, and the Royal Theatre, 805 Broughton Street.

Simon Leiser was also a leading figure in Victoria’s Jewish community, serving as President of Congregation Emanu-El at 1461 Blanshard Street.

There were several owners between 1922 and 1959, when the home was converted from a single family residence to a 10 suite apartment building called St. Charles Lodge.

We recently received an email from a reader who told us that she rented a bachelor suite on the main floor of 1005 St. Charles Street between 1967 and 1971. Here are her comments, used with her permission:

“I lived there from 1967 until 1971.  I paid $95 a month all inclusive.  Beautiful bachelor suite with fireplace and old claw bathtub.  I loved living there.  One of the photos in your web site [note: see photo above] is the front driveway on St. Charles and the three middle windows [note: on the main floor] was my suite…”

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