New Westminster in Greater Vancouver, British Columbia — Canada’s West Coast (North America)

The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 10, 2010

1. The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office Marker

Inscription. The New Westminster Court House The Court House was designed by architect George William Grant and opened on June 3, 1891 by the first colonial judge and Chief Justice for British Columbia, Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie.

On September 10, 1898, the entire New Westminster downtown business area was destroyed by fire, including the Court House. The Court House was rebuilt within existing walls by G.W. Grant and reopened on June 19, 1899.

The Land Registry Office The Land Registry Office was designed in 1910 by architect E.G.W. Sait. The new building became the office for the Record of Instruments and Registration of Titles affecting real estate for the District of New Westmninster.

The Court House and the Land Registry were closed in 1980. The buildings were renovated in 1989, renamed "Begbie Court" and reopened in January 1990. In 1997 the buildings were purchased by "Begbie Court Holdings Inc.", a wholly owned subsidiary of "Operating Engineers Pension PLan".

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1990.

Location. 49° 12.184′ N, 122° 54.622′ W. Marker is in New Westminster, British Columbia, in Greater Vancouver

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. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Carnavon Street and McKenzie Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 668 Carnavon Street, New Westminster BC V3M 5Z5, Canada. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 16 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Carnegie Library (within shouting distance of this marker); The Great Fire (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Irving House (approx. 0.6 kilometers away); Salmon! (approx. 2.9 kilometers away); Canadian Northern Railway Station (approx. 15.8 kilometers away); 144 West 10th Avenue (approx. 15.8 kilometers away); 148 West 10th Avenue (approx. 15.8 kilometers away); 150 West 10th Avenue (approx. 15.8 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Westminster.

Regarding The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office. •Canada's Historic Places statement of heritage value for the Court House:The New Westminster Courthouse is symbolic of the administration of justice during the province's early years. As the first capital of British Columbia and a prominent commercial centre, New Westminster was vital in the establishment of order in the colony, and remained an important administrative centre. In 1860, the first court house was erected, a one-storey building with a canvas ceiling. This was replaced by a new structure in Market Square in 1873. In 1890-91, this imposing new brick and stone court
Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 10, 2010

2. The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office Heritage Building Marker
Mounted directly above the historical marker is a Heritage Building marker reading:
New Westminster designated Heritage Building
The New Westminster Court House 1891 - rebuilt 1899
The Land Registry Office 1910
house was built, located uphill from the city's commercial centre. In 1891, it was opened at the Spring Assizes with due ceremony by Sir Matthew Baillie Begbie, B.C.'s first judge and first Chief Justice. The interior of the courthouse was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1898 but the building was reconstructed in 1899 to the same general plan.

• Canada's Historic Places statement of heritage value for the land registry building: The Land Registry Office is a significant legacy of New Westminster's role as an administrative centre. The distribution of Crown Land as well as the registration of land transactions was a key function of the colonial government. New Westminster, as the capital of the Mainland Colony, and later as the first capital of the province of British Columbia, was the location of the original Land Registry in 1860. The Land Registry was housed in various offices until the construction of this substantial building during the western boom years, an indication of the volume of land sales at the time. The building remained as the local Land Registry in New Westminster until 1980.

Also see . . . Canada's Historic Places. The Canadian Register of Historic Places - includes a searchable database. (Submitted on July 17, 2010.)

The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Courtyard image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 10, 2010

3. The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Courtyard

The marker is mounted on a wooden plaque or base mounted on the wall in the rear of the courtyard open to Carnavon Street, just to the right of the windows.

The New Westminster Court House after the Great Fire of 1898 image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of the New Westminster Public Library, September 1898

4. The New Westminster Court House after the Great Fire of 1898

The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office (2010) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, June 10, 2010

5. The New Westminster Court House and Land Registry Office (2010)

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 3,141 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2010, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.