Restoration of Victoria’s historic Belleville House complete
Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, June 30, 2026
By Victoria News Staff
Belleville House has reopened following the restoration of the heritage inn location in Victoria’s Inner Harbour.
Huntingdon Hotel & Suites said the restoration work took nearly 10 months.
Located at 327 Belleville St., Belleville House is an eight-room heritage inn originally constructed in 1877 as the residence of Alexander Blair Gray. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1841, Gray immigrated to B.C. during the Cariboo Gold Rush before establishing himself as a successful merchant and later serving as justice of the peace in the growing colonial capital.
According to Huntingdon, the restoration project focused on maintaining the property’s historic character while modernizing the guest experience.
“Original architectural features were restored wherever possible, the historic gardens revitalized, and the home’s timeless elegance carefully preserved for future generations,” the hotel said in a statement.
They did uncover an exciting piece of the original home during construction — an original stained glass dome that was hidden for decades.
The feature has now been fully restored and once again serves as a distinctive architectural centrepiece.
Several local trades companies were tapped to help with the project, including Western Design Build and Capital Heights Painting.
“Working on Belleville House in our design and build capacity has been a rare privilege because every aspect holds a piece of the building’s story. Discovering hidden heritage details from 1877, like the gold-leaf dome, original, deeply detailed architectural trim, and wood-burning fireplaces, has been incredibly rewarding,” said Ann Squire-Ferguson, owner of Western Design Build
Squire-Ferguson added that the challenge was “significant” as they weaved 150 years of history with modern building standards and technology.
“Heritage projects ask us to become both detective and problem solver, balancing preservation with performance. That’s the work we love. When a historic building begins to reveal its original character while being thoughtfully prepared for another century of use, you know you’ve done a true service to the heritage fabric of the city by carrying the stories forward.”
