650 Fisgard Street – Victoria Masonic Temple

Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street, built in 1878 with additions in 1909

Here is map showing the location of the Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of the Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street:

In 1909 a major addition was undertaken to the west end the building. The building permit for these additions, issued by the City of Victoria in May 1909, describes a “three storey, brick and stone building, 6 rooms” with an estimated construction cost of $15,000. Work on the addition was started in July 1909 by contractors Dinsdale & Malcolm and completed in December 1909.

The new additions were dedicated in a Masonic ceremony on 14 December 1909, attended by over 400 Freemasons.

The photo below shows a contemporary architectural drawing of the 1909 additions to the Victoria Masonic Temple, as seen from Fisgard Street:

Architect’s drawing of the 1909 addition and alterations to the Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street

The photos below give an indication of the dimensions of the original 1878 building and the 1909 additions.

The photo below has been cropped to show the original 1878 section of the Victoria Masonic Temple designed in 1878 by architect John Teague, a former Mayor of Victoria and a member of Victoria’s oldest Masonic Lodge, Victoria-Columbia Lodge, No.1.

This section of the Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street, was the original 1878 building, prior to the 1909 addition at the west end of the building.

The photo below shows the west section of the Victoria Masonic Temple, built in 1909.

We are not sure of which architect designed this section of the building in 1909. We are currently researching that question.

The contractors who built this section in 1909, at an estimated cost of $15,000, were Dinsdale & Malcolm.

This section of the building opened in December 1909.

This section of the Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street, was added in 1909.

Additional Information About the Victoria Masonic Temple, 650 Fisgard Street

• Assessed Value (July 2018): $2,465,000; Land $1,588,000, Buildings $877,000
• Assessed Value (July 2017): $2,867,000; Land $1,537,000, Buildings $1,330,000
• Assessed Value (July 2016): $2,801,000; Land $1,462,000, Buildings $1,139,000
• Assessed Value (July 2015): $2,395,000; Land $1,323,000, Buildings $1,072,000
• Assessed Value (July 2014): $2,395,000; Land $1,250,000, Buildings $1,145,000
• Canadian Register of Historic Places – recognized in 1995 and listed in 2005.
• BC Archives photo F-07566 – Laying the Corner Stone of the Masonic Temple, 23 April 1878

Here are links to some historic photos of the Victoria Masonic Temple:

• BC Archives photo F-07566 – Laying the Corner Stone of the Masonic Temple, 23 April 1878
• BC Archives photo H-04268 – Fisgard Street, 1971
• BC Archives photo H-04269 – Douglas Street, 1971