Downtown Victoria Tour
Government Street – 1200 Block
1200 Government Street
1200 Government Street is now the Irish Times Pub.
The building was originally built in 1897 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Bank of Montreal, which used this building as a downtown branch until the early 1980’s.
This building was placed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 1975.
1200 Government Street, built in 1897 for the Bank of Montreal by architect Francis Rattenbury.
Here is a map showing the location of 1200 Government Street:
Here is a Google Street View image of 1200 Government Street:
Additional Information About 1200 Government Street
This building is legally consolidated with 50-56 Bastion Square.
- Assessed Value (July 2019): $7,561,000; Land $5.374,000 Buildings $2,187,000
- Assessed Value (July 2018): $5,704,000; Land $3.486,000 Buildings $2,218,000
- Assessed Value (July 2017): $5,389,000; Land $3.076,000 Buildings $2,313,000
- Assessed Value (July 2016): $5,027,000; Land $2.636,000 Buildings $2,391,000
- Assessed Value (July 2015): $4,798,000; Land $2.434,000 Buildings $2,364,000
- Assessed Value (July 2014): $4,784,000; Land $2.396,000 Buildings $2,388,000
- Canadian Register of Historic Places – listed in 1975
A Brief History of 1200 Government Street
Here are links to some historic photos of this building:
- City of Victoria Archives photo M00131 – circa 1899
- City of Victoria Archives photo M06537 – circa 1901; photo attributed to Francis Rattenbury
- BC Archives photo I-03349 – 1976
- BC Archives photo I-03350 – 1976
This building was originally built in 1897 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Bank of Montreal, which used this building as a downtown branch until the early 1980’s.
The first Bank of Montreal branch manager at 1200 Government Street was Archibald C. Galletly, who lived at the Bank of Montreal manager’s residence at 1715 Rockland Avenue. In 1905 Archibald C. Galletly retained architect Francis Rattenbury, who also designed 1200 Government Street in 1897, to design and build a house at 1737 Rockland Avenue for Archibald Galletly’s sister, who was acting as A.C. Galletly’s housekeeper following the drowning deaths of Galletly’s wife and daughter. As it turned out, Archibald C. Galletly rented 1737 Rockland Avenue to Robert Butchart and Jennie Butchart, who lived there until about 1908, when they moved permanently to what is now Butchart Gardens.
The Bank of Montreal used 1200 Government Street as a downtown bank branch until the early 1980’s, when it closed this branch as part of a branch consolidation and moved all its downtown Victoria branch operations to its downtown main branch at 1225 Douglas Street.
In 1975, this building was listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places.
After the Bank of Montreal moved out, this building was converted to retail use and was occupied by various stores.
It is currently the Irish Times Pub.
Here are two houses on our Victoria City Tour which are associated with architect Francis Rattenbury, who designed 1200 Government Street, and Archibald C. Galletly, the Bank of Montreal Victoria manager when 1200 Government Street was built.
1715 Rockland Avenue, designed for the Bank of Montreal in 1893 by John C.M. Keith and Cecil Evers.
Built for the Bank of Montreal by architect J.C.M. Keith in 1893 as the residence of the local Bank of Montreal Manager.
A.C. Galletly, Victoria’s Bank of Montreal Manager in 1899, was living here when 1200 Government Street was commissioned.
1737 Rockland Avenue, designed by architect Francis Rattenbury in 1902 for Archibald Galletly
1737 Rockland Avenue was built in 1902 by architect Francis Rattenbury for Archibald Galletly, the manager of the Bank of Montreal branch at 1200 Government Street.
Francis Rattenbury also designed 1200 Government Street for the Bank of Montreal.
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