Downtown Victoria Tour
Belleville Street
British Columbia Parliament Buildings – 501 Belleville Street
The British Columbia Parliament Buildings, also known as the British Columbia Legislature Buildings, are located at 501 Belleville Street, between Government Street and Menzies Street.
Free guided tours of the B.C. Parliament Buildings are available. Guided Tours last between 30-40 minutes. Here is a link to the tour schedule.
The B.C. Parliament Building was designed by architect Francis Rattenbury, who won a competition for the design in 1893. The B.C. Parliament Building was completed in 1898.
The initial construction budget was for the B.C. Parliament Buildings was $500,000. When construction was completed in 1898 the final cost was $923,000.
The east and west wings, designed by Francis Rattenbury, were added in 1911 and the Legislative Library, also designed by Francis Rattenbury, was added on the south side of the building in 1915-1916.
Here is a map showing the location of the B.C. Legislative Assembly building:
Here is a Google Street View image of the B.C. Legislature Building:
Here are links to some historic photos of the B.C. Parliament Buildings:
- BC Archives photo D-00236 – circa 1898
- City of Victoria Archives photo M00559 – circa 1915. Legislature Library under construction
- BC Archives photo C-08263 – circa 1910. Also shows the obelisk monument to Sir James Douglas
- BC Archives photo I-03035 – 1969
- BC Archives photo I-03036 – 1981
- BC Archives photo I-03031 – 1985
Here are links to some historic photos of the B.C. Legislative Assembly:
- BC Archives photo I-60799 – circa 1940
- BC Archives photo I-60803 – circa 1970
Here are links to some historic photos of the original B.C. Legislative Assembly building, built on this site in 1862 and known as “the Birdcages” because of its shape. The Birdcages were replaced by the B.C. Parliament Buildings in 1898 but a portion of the original stood on this site until 1957, when it was destroyed by fire:
- BC Archives photo A-02776 – circa 1862
- City of Victoria Archives photo M09620 – circa 1893
- City of Victoria Archives photo M07601 – circa 1895
- BC Archives photo H-03688 – circa 1955. The original Birdcages burned down in 1957.
Would you like to leave a comment or question about anything on this page?
Error: Contact form not found.
Get Social