Point Ellice House

Point Ellice House is located in the Rock Bay neighbourhood of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Point Ellice House was designated a National Historic Site in 1966 and became a Provincial Historic Site in 1975. The house is also listed on the City of Victoria's heritage registry.[1] Currently, the museum is managed by Forager Foundation.[2]

A historic black and white photograph of Point Ellice House.
A historic black and white photograph of Point Ellice House.

History

Wentworth Wallace family

Positioned overlooking Selkirk Water/Gorge Waterway, Point Ellice House is among the oldest homes in Victoria and was constructed between 1861 and 1862 for Catherine (née Work) Wallace and Charles Wentworth Wallace. To build the home, Catherine's father, John Work, sold his daughter and son-in-law a two-acre parcel from his estate for $100. Charles was invested in many business ventures in Victoria and British Columbia. By 1866 he was bankrupt, forcing the family to depart from Point Ellice House to pay off debts[3]

A sepia toned photograph of two older women and a black dog on a gravel pathway. There is a large house (Point Ellice House) behind them. A large lawn occupies the left side of the photograph.
Mary Windham O'Reilly and Kathleen O'Reilly on the back lawn of Point Ellice House

O'Reilly family

The O'Reilly family lived at Point Ellice House from 1867 until 1975 when the remaining O'Reilly's sold the historic house, the land, and the collection of household ephemera to the province of British Columbia.

Peter O'Reilly and his wife Caroline O'Reilly (née Trutch) moved into Point Ellice House December, 1867 with their infant son, Francis (Frank) Joseph O'Reilly. Weeks later, their eldest daughter, Charlotte Kathleen O'Reilly, would be born. The couple would have two more children, both born at Point Ellice House: Arthur John "Jack" O'Reilly (born in 1873) and Mary Augusta O'Reilly (born 1869).[4]

Peter's employment as Gold Commissioner, Judge, and Indian Reserve Commissioner gave him the financial freedom to make extensive changes to the house, including the addition of an entire wing in the late 19th century. Diaries and letters sent between family members discuss house renovations and the ongoing work of maintaining kitchen and flower gardens.[5]

Architecture

Architects John Wright and George Sanders chose an Italianate Villa-style design that was popular during the 19th century.[6]

See also

References
  1. "City of Victoria Register of Heritage Properties" (PDF). April 2021.
  2. "Point Ellice House remains open to public". BC Gov News. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. "Charles Wentworth Wallace Profile". pointellicehouse.com. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  4. "The Families of Point Ellice House". pointellicehouse.com. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  5. "BC Archives - O'Reilly fonds finding aid" (PDF). Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  6. "Canada's Historic Places: Point Ellice House". www.historicplaces.ca. Retrieved 23 January 2023.

48.4361°N 123.3772°W / 48.4361; -123.3772

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