Downtown in Victoria in Capital, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)
Former Victoria Law Courts
L’Ancien Palais de Justice de Victoria
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011
1. Former Victoria Law Courts Marker
[English]
Opened in 1889, the Victoria Law Courts was the first major public building constructed by the provincial government after union with Canada. Previously, court sessions had been held in one of the colonial administration buildings located on the site of the present provincial legislature. Removal of the courts to Bastion Square marked an important stage in the evolution of British Columbia’s court system and the start of a programme [sic] to erect permanent court houses in judicial districts throughout the province. Trials continued to be held in the building until 1962.
[French]
Ce palais de justice a eté inaugure en 1889. Il fut le premier édifice public d’importance construit par la province après son entrée dans la Confederation. Auparavant, les séances avaient lieu dans l’un des bátiments de l’administration coloniale, la où s’elève aujourd’hui l’hotel du gouvernement provincial. La reinstallation des cours de justice dans cet édifice marqua une étape importante dans l’organisation judiciaire de la Colonbie-Britannique. Elle inaugura aussi un programme de construction de palais de justice permanent partout dans la province. La magistrature y instruisit des procès jusqu’en 1962.
Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.
Commission des lieux et monuments historique du Canada
Government of Canada – Gouvernement du Canada
Topics and series.
this page online
Location. 48° 25.554′ N, 123° 22.145′ W. Marker is in Victoria, British Columbia, in Capital. It is in Downtown. It can be reached from Langley Street. This marker is located on the building at #28 Bastion Square. Bastion Square is located between Wharf and Government Streets at the foot of View Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Victoria BC V8W 1H9, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on British Columbia’s Vancouver Island. Globally, it is in North America, in the Inside Passage, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie (here, next to this marker); Boomerang Court and Chancery Lane (here, next to this marker);
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011
2. Former Victoria Law Courts Marker
Of the two markers the Law Court marker is the one on the left. The marker is located on the B.C. Maritime Museum building.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 15, 2011
3. The Old Victoria Law Courts are preserved in the BC Maritime Museum
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011
4. Photograph of the Old Jail
The old jail house in Bastion Square stood where the Maritime Museum is today. It had a gallows to the left of the building which was photographed in the 1870s.
Image D-07224 Courtesy of BC Archives
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011
5. Photograph of the Old Jail on a Utility Box
Fort Victoria plaque in the foreground.
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, September 14, 2011
6. Fort Victoria Plaque
1843 – 1993
In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of Fort Victoria
March 16, 1843
Presented by Premier Mike Harcourt, Province of British Columbia
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,222 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on November 3, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
