
In 1891 the new B. C. Land and Investment Agency Building rose on this
block. Among the tenants was Charles Rogers with his candy
manufacturing business. The B. C. Land and Investment Agency was
founded by London publisher Thomas Dixon Galpin who bought several
parcels of land in Victoria, then bought out Alsop and Mason, realtors.
The company was Victoria's principal marketer of land during the
1900-1914 boom. At one time it owned or controlled half of the land in
the Victoria area. The new building joined smaller ones in this block.
In 1907, when the streetcar travelled by, the businesses on this side
of Government Street included the B. C. Land and Investment Company,
Peden Bros. - bicycles, Bodwell and Lawson - barristers, George
Hargreaves - civil engineer, Drury and MacGum - real estate, C. W.
Rogers - confectionery, George A. Fraser - druggist, B. C. Fur
Manufacturing Co. Ltd., and R. Porter and Sons - butchers.
Amid great controversy in septembr 1974, the entire city block was demolished and replaced by the Harbour Centre Shopping Mall
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.