Victoria City Hall – 1 Centennial Square

The Victoria City Hall building was originally built in 1878 by architect John Teague. There were two significant additions, also designed by John Teague, in 1881 and 1890.

Victoria City Hall is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.

To give an idea of how the Victoria City Hall was gradually developed, the photo below shows the original 1878 section of the building.

Here is a map showing the location of Victoria City Hall:

Here is a Google Street View image of Victoria City Hall:

Here are some historic photos of the original Victoria City Hall and the 1881 addition

• BC Archives photo C-08960 – Victoria City Hall, circa December 1878-1879, viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo F-01295 – Victoria City Hall, circa 1881, after construction of addition on west side of the building; viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo F-01296 – Victoria City Hall, circa 1881-1889, after construction of addition on west side of the building; viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• City of Victoria Archives photo M04385 – South wing, circa 1885
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05773 –  south wing after fire hall addition, circa 1885
• City of Victoria Archives photo M07650 – south wing after fire hall addition, circa 1885
• City of Victoria Archives photo M00509 – 1892
• City of Victoria Archives photo M08951 – 1965

1881 Addition to Victoria City Hall

The 1881 addition on the south west of Victoria City Hall was originally built for the Tiger Engine Company, one of Victoria’s three original volunteer fire companies. The original arch outlining the fire hall entrance is still visible today.

Here are some historic photos of Victoria City Hall following the 1881 addition on the west side of the building, with frontage on Pandora Avenue. Note the tower which has since been removed:

• BC Archives photo F-01295 – Victoria City Hall, circa 1882, after construction of addition on west side of the building; viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo F-01296 – Victoria City Hall, circa 1881-1882, after construction of addition on west side of the building; viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo F-01298 – Victoria City Hall, circa 1881-1882, after construction of addition on west side of the building; viewed from Douglas Street, south of Pandora Avenue
• City of Victoria Archives photo M06750 – circa 1885
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05773 – circa 1885
• City of Victoria Archives photo M04385 – circa 1885

Here are some historic photos of the Tiger Engine Company in front of this section of City Hall, circa 1885

• BC Archives photo A-02612 – Tiger Engine Company in front of Pandora Avenue Fire Hall, circa 1885
• BC Archives photo G-04439 – Tiger Engine Company in front of Pandora Avenue Fire Hall, circa 1885

Here are some historic photos of Victoria City Hall following the additions in 1890:

• BC Archives photo A-02817 – Victoria City Hall circa 1897, viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo H-02717 – Victoria City Hall circa 1897, viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo G-04532 – Victoria City Hall circa 1901, viewed from Douglas Street, south of Pandora Avenue
• City of Victoria Archives photo M07923 – 1901
• BC Archives photo E-01538 – Victoria City Hall circa 1902, viewed from Douglas Street, north of Cormorant Street
• BC Archives photo H-04493 – Victoria City Hall circa 1910, viewed from Pandora Avenue, east of Douglas Street
• BC Archives photo A-01556 –  Victoria City Hall in 1938, viewed from Douglas Street and Pandora Avenue
• BC Archives photo I-02095 – Victoria City Hall in 1951; photographer – Duncan Macphail
• City of Victoria Archives photo M07922– 1963, during creation of Centennial Square
• BC Archives photo I-20961 – Victoria City Hall and Hotel Douglas in 1967, viewed from Douglas Street, south of Pandora Avenue
• City of Victoria Archives photo M07922

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