City Walks — Heritage Walk

Distance: approximately 5 km

Your walking tour begins at Victoria’s Inner Harbour, across from The Fairmont Empress Hotel. The Government Street causeway in front of The Empress was once a bridge that connected the residential area of James Bay with the downtown area. On one side is the Inner Harbour and on the other, where The Empress stands today, was a body of water called James Bay. When The Empress was built, 250 90-foot logs were dropped to the bedrock to form the foundation for the hotel. The Empress was designed by Francis Mawson Rattenbury. It was completed in 1908 (after four years of construction) at a cost of $750,000.

Across from The Empress, on the causeway, stands a statue of Captain James Cook. Cook was the first British naval officer to land on Vancouver Island and he claimed the Island as a British possession in 1778.

Walk down to the dock and board a Harbour Ferry for a short trip across the Inner Harbour. In the background you will see the Legislative Buildings. Victoria is the capital of the province of British Columbia. The Legislative Buildings, built in 1898, were also designed by Francis Rattenbury. The statue on the top of the copper dome is Captain George Vancouver, after whom the Island is named.

Disembark at the beautiful Delta Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort and follow the beautiful causeway along the waterfront to Spinnakers Brewpub and Restaurant, Canada’s oldest brewpub, at 308 Catherine Street. In addition to great pub cuisine, Spinnakers features a selection of ales that are brewed on the premises, including special seasonal barley wines and fresh-picked local berry beers. The original building that houses Spinnakers was constructed in the 1920’s, however extensive renovations have created an entirely new look.

After leaving Spinnakers, retrace your steps along the waterfront causeway to the blue Johnson Street Bridge. The Johnson Street Bridge features a unique cantilevered design and the two large cement weights balance the bridge so well that only two 37-horsepower engines are needed to raise and lower it. At the downtown end of the bridge you'll find the stations for the E & N Railway (Esquimalt and Nanaimo) that runs north on Vancouver Island to Courtenay. The original railway was built by coal baron Robert Dunsmuir to transport coal from his up-Island mines to Victoria and on to San Francisco.

Once you have crossed the bridge, we suggest you choose one of the following two routes:

1. Turn left on Store Street, continue to Swift Street, and turn left. Visit the Harbour Canoe Club Marine Brewpub and Restaurant, located at 450 Swift Street. The Harbour Canoe Club is located in Victoria’s historic, City Light Building, on the waterfront. The City Light Building was built in 1894 and housed the Victoria Electric Light Works. In 1966, it became the city works yard. The Harbour Canoe Club began renovations in 1997, preserving many of the original features of the building, including most of the brickwork and some of the beams.

A unique full-service brewhouse, restaurant and marina, The Harbour Canoe Club offers a broad range of social, cultural, gourmet and marine-based recreational experiences. Returning to old-world brewing traditions, the ales and lagers are lovingly handcrafted using only the finest malted barley, a selection of European Noble hops, purified water and a unique yeast. The result is an unfiltered, naturally-carbonated, fresh and delicious beer. Specialty brews include Cherry Ale.

2) Continue straight ahead to Swans Hotel and Buckerfield’s Brewery at the corner of Store Street and Pandora. Swans is one of the few microbreweries in BC where draught ales are brewed on site in true British tradition. The building was originally a warehouse belonging to the merchant families of Scott and Peden, who sold grain and groceries. It was built in 1913 and grain from the Canadian prairies was delivered by railway car through what is now the main entrance of Swans Hotel. In the 1950’s, the building was sold to the Buckerfield Company, which continued to run it as a feed store. It was purchased in 1988 by Michael Williams who, after extensive renovations and restoration, opened Swans Hotel and Pub. In 1989, Swans began serving beer brewed on the premises in Buckerfield’s Brewery.

Continue south on Store Street to Johnson Street and turn left for the entrance to Market Square. In the 1880’s and 1890’s, Johnson Street was the location of hotels and shops providing supplies for prospectors on their way to the Klondike gold fields. The square housed shipping and warehouses at that time. In the 1970’s the heritage buildings were restored as a public open space with shops and restaurants.

Return to Store Street and walk south (toward the Inner Harbour) to Wharf Street and on to Bastion Square. Bastion Square, the original site of Fort Victoria, is now the location of shops, outdoor restaurants with water views, and the Maritime Museum of BC. The Fort was established in 1843 by Sir James Douglas, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was dismantled in 1864 to accommodate the expansion of the settlement. The original courthouse now houses the Maritime Museum. Enter Bastion Square from Wharf Street, continue up two blocks to Government Street and turn right.

Enjoy the sights and shops of Government Street as you return to the Inner Harbour area.