Journey Through Architecture, Neighbourhoods, and Stories
Victoria, British Columbia is known for gardens and coastal scenery, but another layer of the city reveals itself through its historic homes. The historic homes in Victoria BC, found behind gates, along tree lined avenues, and tucked into quiet neighbourhoods, tell the story of the city’s early ambition and character.
On one customized private tour, we spent the day visiting some of these remarkable homes. Each carries a different architectural style and a different story. Together they form a living museum of the city’s past.
Visitors interested in exploring these homes can also discover them on the EV Tours History Tour or as part of a scenic coastal exploration on the EV Tours Waterways Tour.
Craigdarroch Castle
Built: 1887
Architecture: Scottish Baronial
Perched on a hill overlooking Victoria, Craigdarroch Castle was built for coal baron Robert Dunsmuir, one of the wealthiest men in British Columbia during the late nineteenth century.
The mansion has thirty nine rooms, intricate woodwork, stained glass windows, and dramatic staircases that climb through four levels of Victorian design.
An anecdote often told during visits is that Robert Dunsmuir never actually lived in the finished house. He died in 1889 while the castle was still under construction. His family completed the residence, turning it into a powerful symbol of wealth and ambition during Victoria’s early boom years.
Standing on the upper floors, visitors can see sweeping views of the city and ocean that reminded early industrialists why Victoria was such a strategic port.
Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
The Spencer Mansion
Built: 1889
In the elegant Rockland neighbourhood stands the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria. What many visitors do not realize is that the gallery began as a private residence known as Spencer Mansion.
The house was built for William Spencer, a prominent businessman. Its Italianate design includes arched windows, decorative brackets, and sweeping verandas that reflect the Victorian fascination with European architectural styles.
Today the historic mansion forms the heart of the gallery complex, which also includes modern exhibition spaces and a peaceful Japanese garden.
On tours, it is always interesting to watch visitors transition from admiring paintings inside the gallery to suddenly realizing they are standing in what was once a family living room more than a century ago.
Hatley Castle
Built: 1908
Architecture: Scottish Baronial Revival
Located just outside Victoria at Royal Roads University, Hatley Castle was built by James Dunsmuir, the son of Robert Dunsmuir of Craigdarroch fame.
Where Craigdarroch represented Victorian industrial wealth, Hatley reflects Edwardian grandeur. The estate included magnificent formal gardens, a working farm, and expansive views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
The house later served as a military college before becoming part of Royal Roads University. Film enthusiasts may also recognize it from movies and television productions that have used the castle as a dramatic backdrop.
Standing on the terrace overlooking the gardens, visitors can easily imagine the lavish social gatherings that once took place here.
Emily Carr House
Built: 1863
Architecture: Early Colonial
The childhood home of celebrated Canadian artist Emily Carr offers a very different kind of story.
Built in 1863, the house reflects a modest colonial style compared with the grand mansions of Victoria’s industrial families. Yet it played a crucial role in shaping one of Canada’s most influential artists.
Emily Carr grew up here before traveling widely and eventually becoming famous for her bold paintings of the forests and Indigenous villages of the Pacific Northwest.
Visitors often find Emily Carr House particularly touching because it still feels personal. The rooms evoke the early years of an artist whose work later became internationally recognized.
Discover Victoria’s Historic Homes on a Private Tour
Exploring these homes reveals more than architectural styles. They tell the story of Victoria’s development as a port city, a cultural centre, and a place where industry, art, and landscape shaped daily life.
Many visitors enjoy discovering these locations on a customized EV Tours history experience, where neighbourhoods such as Rockland, Oak Bay, and the city centre unfold through architecture and storytelling.
Guests interested in coastal scenery and maritime history may also enjoy the EV Tours Waterways Tour, which explores the harbours, inlets, and shoreline communities that shaped Victoria’s growth.
Each house, each neighbourhood, and each view of the ocean adds another chapter to the story of Victoria.