Victoria BC Points of Interest – Government House
- 1401 Rockland Ave, Victoria, BC V8S 1V9
Government House, the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia is considered to be the ceremonial home of all British Columbians.
The house, which is located in the Rockland neighbourhood of Victoria a few minutes east of downtown and was built in 1959, is actually the third government house on this site. The first, known as Cary Castle, was purchased to be the Lieutenant Governor’s residence in 1865 but was sadly destroyed by fire in 1899. The home built to replace it, designed by renowned architects Rattenbury and Maclure was also subsequently lost to fire in 1959. The current building was designed as a replica of that second house.
While Government House itself isn’t open to the public, being reserved as accommodation for the Lieutenant Governor’s distinguished guests, visitors can enjoy exploring the extensive 36 acre grounds and the historical Cary Castle Mews.
The mews, a cluster of 19th century wooden service buildings built to support the original castle, include stables, a carriage house, a gaol and a wash house. They have been rehabilitated to their original condition and the carriage house now contains a costume museum which showcases a variety of period pieces including a Butler’s uniform and a Landau carriage.
The mews are open to visitors from May to September. Visitors can enjoy the grounds, which include formal gardens, a rose garden and a Garry Oak ecosystem 365 days a year.
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Getting There
From the Government House to IdeaZone
Getting to your next Victoria BC destination:
To get from the Government House to Miniature World in Victoria BC, Head east toward Rockland Ave, Turn left onto Rockland Ave, Turn left onto Cook St, Turn right onto Fairfield Rd, Continue onto Burdett Ave, Continue onto Humboldt St. Destination will be on the left.
Head to the next Point of Interest: Miniature World
