Downtown Victoria Tour


Douglas Street – 1200 Block

1225 Douglas Street – Bank of Montreal

This landmark building was designed and built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Merchants Bank of Canada, which used it as its main branch office in Victoria. It is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places as the Merchants Bank of Canada.

When the Bank of Montreal took over the Merchants Bank of Canada in 1921-22, this building became a Bank of Montreal branch and has remained Victoria’s main downtown branch of the Bank of Montreal to this day.

Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street. Built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Merchants Bank of Canada

Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street. Built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Merchants Bank of Canada

Here is a map showing the location of 1225 Douglas Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of 1225 Douglas Street:

 

 

Here are some architectural details of 1225 Douglas Street:

Merchants Bank logo, Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street

Merchants Bank logo, Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street

Architectural detail, Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street

Architectural detail, Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street

Additional information about the Bank of Montreal, 1225 Douglas Street

  • Assessed Value (July 2019): $12,906,000; Land $3,280,000, Buildings $9.626,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2018): $12,860,000; Land $3,061,000, Buildings $9.799,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2017): $11,354,000; Land $2,964,000, Buildings $8.390,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2016): $9,168,000; Land $2,818,000, Buildings $6.350,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2015): $9,385,000; Land $2,430,000, Buildings $6.955,000
  • Assessed Value (July 2014): $8,943,000; Land $2,296,000, Buildings $6.647,000
  • Canadian Register of Historic Places
  • Bank of Montreal History (note: PDF)
  • British Immigrants In Montreal
  • Evolution of Canadian Banks

A Brief History of 1225 Douglas Street

1225 Douglas Street was originally built in 1907 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Merchants bank of Canada, which used it as its main branch on downtown Victoria.

When the Bank of Montreal too over the Merchants Bank of Canada in 1920, this became a branch of the Bank of Montreal, which already had a downtown branch at 1200 Government Street.

Despite having another large branch at 1200 Government Street, the Bank of Montreal kept this building as a downtown bank branch, expanding it on the south and east in 1945.

It is now the main downtown branch of the Bank of Montreal.

Here are links to some historic photographs of 1225 Douglas Street:

1200 Government Street, built in 1897 for the Bank of Montreal by architect Francis Rattenbury.

1200 Government Street, built in 1897 for the Bank of Montreal by architect Francis Rattenbury.

1200 Goverment Street

1200 Government Street was built in 1900 by architect Francis Rattenbury for the Bank of Montreal, which used it as a downtown retail bank branch until the 1980’s. when it was sold and converted to retail use.

It is now the Irish Times pub.

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