City Hall
Victoria's first City Hall was designed in 1875, the building was begun three years later and completed in 1890. The designer was John Teague, an Englishman long resident in Victoria, who was responsible for planning many of the City's early buildings.
City Hall was conceived in the "Second Empire" style popular at the time with a typical mansard roof, tower and rich ornamentation. The building remains one of the best surviving examples of this style in western Canada. John Teague was an architect. He also served as mayor of the City of the Victoria.
Victoria was incorporated in August 2, 1862. City Hall was built in several stages. The first part was erected on the N.W. corner of Douglas and Pandora Streets, the ground was broken on April 2, 1877, and the first Council meeting in the new building was held on December 11, 1878. In 1880, the Tiger Engine Company fire hall was added to the existing structure on the Pandora Street side. The Douglas Street, or north wing, addition and clock tower were added in 1890. In 1962, as part of the Centennial Square project, a new wing housing the Council chambers was added to the rear of the building. At the same time, the entire interior of City Hall was renovated. The City Hall clock officially started at noon on May 5, 1891. It cost $4,821.12
Victoria is Western Canada's oldest city. The City began in 1843 as a Hudson Bay Company trading post, named in honour of Queen Victoria.
With the Fraser Valley gold rush in 1858, Victoria grew rapidly as the main port of entry to the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. When the colonies combined, the City became the colonial capital and was established as the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871.
City Hall
Victoria's first City Hall was designed in 1875, the building was begun three years later and completed in 1890. The designer was John Teague, an Englishman long resident in Victoria, who was responsible for planning many of the City's early buildings.
City Hall was conceived in the "Second Empire" style popular at the time with a typical mansard roof, tower and rich ornamentation. The building remains one of the best surviving examples of this style in western Canada. John Teague was an architect. He also served as mayor of the City of the Victoria.
Victoria was incorporated in August 2, 1862. City Hall was built in several stages. The first part was erected on the N.W. corner of Douglas and Pandora Streets, the ground was broken on April 2, 1877, and the first Council meeting in the new building was held on December 11, 1878. In 1880, the Tiger Engine Company fire hall was added to the existing structure on the Pandora Street side. The Douglas Street, or north wing, addition and clock tower were added in 1890. In 1962, as part of the Centennial Square project, a new wing housing the Council chambers was added to the rear of the building. At the same time, the entire interior of City Hall was renovated. The City Hall clock officially started at noon on May 5, 1891. It cost $4,821.12
Victoria is Western Canada's oldest city. The City began in 1843 as a Hudson Bay Company trading post, named in honour of Queen Victoria.
With the Fraser Valley gold rush in 1858, Victoria grew rapidly as the main port of entry to the Colonies of Vancouver Island and British Columbia. When the colonies combined, the City became the colonial capital and was established as the provincial capital when British Columbia joined the Canadian Confederation in 1871.