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Victoria
City Hall - 1878, 1881, 1891, 1963
1
Centennial Square, Victoria
Architect:
John Teague
Additions: Wade, Stockdill, Armour, R.W. Sidall, R. Clack
Mayor
Roderick Finlayson's first objective after his election to office in January
of 1878 was to erect a city hall. Overriding the opinions of the townsfolk
who considered the whole idea an unnecessary extravagance, $10,000 was
allocated and a competition announced for plans. The winner was John Teague.
City Hall was to contain a corn market, surveyors' quarters, apartments
for the assessor, a jail, a police court, a council chamber, committee
rooms, and a museum gallery. The final form was a rectangular block, now
comprising the south wing of the present City Hall. A good example of
the Second Empire style, it is built in red brick with a tin mansard roof.
The 1881 addition consisted of a small wing on the south-west corner for
the Fire Department. In 1891 City Council approved a bylaw for the borrowing
of $35,000 for the completion of the northeast addition. The new wing
added to the existing building constitutes the present City Hall as it
is seen today. In 1891, the main entrance was moved to the base of the
tower block at the center of the Douglas elevation. The facade is divided
into three bays, the projecting center bay carries the thrust of the 140-foot-tall
brick and stone tower block. The entrance is further accented by a balustrade
over the indented porch. On May 6, 1891, C.E. Redfern was awarded the
contract for the installation of the clock which had been manufactured
by Messrs. Gillet & Johnson of Croydon, Surrey, England. Four 500-pound
dials each 706 inches in diameter and the 2,170 pound bell had to be lifted
into place. The clock requires winding once a week. Since 1891 there have
been no major alternations, except those connected with the Centennial
Square project in 1963. At this time the interior was completely renovated
and an International Style addition was constructed at the west end. This
was carried out by the architectural firms of Wade, Stockdill, Armour
& Partners and R.W. Siddall & Associates, under the direction of Rod Clack,
city architectural consultant and director of special planning projects.
 
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