Home / Accueil

Weiler Building

921 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W, Canada

Formally Recognized: 1975/11/27

Exterior view of the Weiler Building; City of Victoria, Berdine Jonker, 2004.
Northwest elevation
No Image
No Image

Other Name(s)

n/a

Links and documents

Construction Date(s)

1899/01/01

Listed on the Canadian Register: 2004/08/17

Statement of Significance

Description of Historic Place

The Weiler Building is a five-storey Romanesque brick commercial building on a corner lot on Government and Broughton Streets.

Heritage Value

The Weiler Building is valued as Victoria's first department store. The largest timber-framed building in British Columbia at the time of its construction in 1898, this is an excellent example of the architectural traditions which suited nineteenth century large-scale retail business. As the headquarters of Victoria's most esteemed contemporary furnishers and outfitters - Weiler Brothers Home Furnishings - the prominent position on a corner lot and the considerable mass and highly mannered Romanesque detailing of this building's two street front facades are significant reflections on the prestige and economic fortitude of one of Victoria's most successful early businesses.

The aesthetic value of this building lies in its extravagant design (the work of architect Thomas Sorby); the large arched windows in the upper storeys, and picture windows on the ground floor permitted the maximum amount of daylight to enter the expansive interior and highlight the merchandise within.

Soure: City of Victoria Planning and Development Department

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Weiler Building include:
- the prominent five storey massing, and the situation on a corner lot;
- the faceted corner facade;
- the large arched wood windows on the upper storeys, and the picture windows at street level;
- the Romanesque detailing, including extensive use of arches, voussoirs, rusticated masonry, and dentils;
- the interior spatial configurations and detailing related to the original design of Thomas Sorby.

Recognition

Jurisdiction

British Columbia

Recognition Authority

Local Governments (BC)

Recognition Statute

Local Government Act, s.967

Recognition Type

Heritage Designation

Recognition Date

1975/11/27

Historical Information

Significant Date(s)

n/a

Theme - Category and Type

Developing Economies
Trade and Commerce

Function - Category and Type

Current

Historic

Commerce / Commercial Services
Office or Office Building

Architect / Designer

Thomas Sorby

Builder

n/a

Additional Information

Location of Supporting Documentation

City of Victoria Planning and Development Department

Cross-Reference to Collection

Fed/Prov/Terr Identifier

DcRu-241

Status

Published

Related Places

n/a

SEARCH THE CANADIAN REGISTER

Advanced SearchAdvanced Search
Find Nearby PlacesFIND NEARBY PLACES PrintPRINT
Nearby Places