502-508 Discovery Street

Downtown Victoria Tour

Discovery Street – Store Street

502-508 Discovery Street

These buildings at 502-508 Discovery Street, on the north east corner of the intersection of Discovery Street and Store Street, were originally built in 1901 by architect Francis M. Rattenbury for the B.C. Electric Railway Company, which produced Victoria’s electric power and also ran Victoria’s street car system. These buildings were used as the street car storage and maintenance depot.

These buildings were listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Here is a map showing the location of 502-508 Discovery Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of 502-504 Discovery Street:

Additional Information About 502-508 Discovery Street

• Assessed Value (July 2020): $10,570,000; Land $3,333,000 Buildings $7,237,000
• Assessed Value (July 2019): $11,098,000; Land $3,333,000 Buildings $7,765,000
• Assessed Value (July 2018): $6,707,000; Land $3,204,000 Buildings $3,503,000
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $6,141,000; Land $3,557,000 Buildings $2,584,000
• Assessed Value (July 2016): $4,014,000; Land $3,382,000 Buildings $632,000
• Assessed Value (July 2015): $3,991,000; Land $2,916,000 Buildings $1,075,000
• Assessed  Value (July 2014): $3,990,000; Land $2,755,000 Buildings $1,235,000
• Canadian Register of Historic Places – listed in 1995

A Brief History of 502-508 Discovery Street

This building at 502-508 Discovery Street, on the north east corner of the intersection of Discovery Street and Store Street, was originally built in 1901 by architect Francis M. Rattenbury for the B.C. Electric Railway Company, which produced Victoria’s electric power and also ran Victoria’s street car transit system. This buildings were used as the street car storage and maintenance depot.

These buildings were listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places in 1995.

Here are some historic photos of these buildings and of Victoria’s street cars:

• BC Archives photo C-07474 – Street Cars Inside 502-508 Discovery Street, circa 1910
• BC Archives photo C-06779 – Victoria Street Car Barns, likely the Pembroke Street elevation, circa 1910.
• BC Archives photo D-02223 – B.C. Electric Railway employees in front of 501 Pembroke Street
• BC Archives photo I-00962– damaged streetcar being repaired in 502 Discovery Street, 1944. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• BC Archives photo A-08834 – last run of Victoria’s street cars, July 1948
• BC Archives photo I-00894 – 502-508 Discovery Street as McLennan & McFeely warehouse. Note that this photo is dated 1943 but we think that date is wrong and must be post 1948. Photographer: Duncan Macphail
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05310 – circa 1960
• City of Victoria Archives photo M05315 – 1960
• City of Victoria Archives photo M03717 – 1965, as Shawnigan Lumber

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