Point Ellice House – A slice of history in Victoria preserved!
**July 2023 After being closed for a while due to lack of funding … Point Ellice House is now open again but with limited availability. Please check their website for the most up-to-date information**
Point Ellice House is a unique treasure located on the Gorge Waterway very close to downtown Victoria, BC. What makes this home so unique is that it has remained in the hands of the same family for three generations with all of it’s original contents and without any substantial redecorations. What you will see, including the wall paper, the fixtures, the furnishings, the china, is original and covers the period from 1890 through 1920 and provides a rare opportunity to see one of North America’s largest collections of late Victorian and early Edwardian objects in an original, untouched Victorian home. It is now a National Historic Site.
Ironically, this special gem is located in the middle of a dirty industrial area very close to downtown Victoria, but don’t be deterred by the surrounding grime. Once through the gate you’ll be transported to a lovely pastoral setting.
The History of Point Ellice House
Point Ellice House was originally built between 1861 and 1864 and was purchased by Peter O’Reilly and his wife Caroline Trutch in 1867. Peter O’Reilly was one of the first Gold Commissioners in BC and later a judge. Caroline’s brother, Joseph Trutch was the first Lt. Governor of the province. The house remained in the family’s possession for 108 years and was sold with all its belongings to the Province of BC in 1975 by O’Reilly’s grandson John and his wife Inez.
Point Ellice House Gardens
PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON OPENING TIMES/DATES.
Tour Historic Point Ellice House and the Collection
Take an amazing self-guided tour of the house and see one of North America’s largest collections of original artifacts from the Victorian period.
Hours of Operation & Rates:
Please check website for current hours and admission rates.
Find Point Ellice House
2616 Pleasant Street
Victoria, British Columbia
V8T 4V3
Tel: 250-380-6506E-mail: info@PointElliceHouse.com
[…] and the Fawcetts had built elegant homes along the banks of the waterway.The O’Reilly house Point Ellice House, still stands today. It is a relatively unknown gem in the city, and is open to the public. In my […]
[…] and the Fawcetts had built elegant homes along the banks of the waterway.The O’Reilly house Point Ellice House, still stands today. It is a relatively unknown gem in the city, and is open to the public. In my […]