Pemberton Building
1000-1002 Government Street
Date of construction: 1899
Architect: Thomas Hooper
This massive brick building featuring dramatic arched bays and
decorated terra cotta cornice. Like the terra cotta spandrels in
Maclure's Temple building (525 Fort Street), some of the capitals of
the piers support small faces. This was probably to show off the
wares of the owner, Charles A. Vernon, who founded the B. C. Pottery
Co.
The ground floor housed the Waitt and Co. piano warehouse and Erskine, Wall & Co. grocers.
In 1907, the piano warehouse and grocers were still tenants. In 1947,
the property was purchased by Pemberton Holmes Real Estate who had
their offices there until the late twentieth century. When the real
estate office moved to the suburbs in 1999, the building was restored
and converted for retail use on the main floor with office above.
Today, the lower storeys are occupied by Artinas Jewellers and Out of Ireland that retails Irish imports.
This Hallmark Society project has been funded by the HBC Foundation and the BC150-Heritage Legacy Fund.
Project manager and researcher: Helen Edwards.
Principal Photography & Consultant:
Ron Bukta, West Ventures Photography.