The historic Belleville House, located at 327 Belleville Street, has officially reopened after undergoing a 10-month heritage restoration.
Following the restoration, Huntingdon Hotel & Suites is once again welcoming guests to Belleville House, offering eight unique rooms.
Belleville House was originally built in 1877 as the private residence of Alexander Blair Gray.
Gray was an early settler and colonist of Victoria. Here, he established a general goods store called A.B. Gray and Company, located on the corner of what is now Bastion Square and Wharf Street.
He later served as Justice of the Peace in the growing colonial capital and built his grand residence which would become one of Victoria’s most admired homes.
Throughout the restoration of Belleville House, Huntingdon tried to recapture the era’s air of optimism and prosperity.
The project focused on maintaining the property’s historic character while modernizing the guest experience.
Huntingdon says that original architectural features were restored wherever possible, the historic gardens on the site were revitalized and the home’s timelessness was carefully preserved.
“Our vision from the beginning was never simply to renovate a building,” said Erin Cassels, the property’s General Manager,
“It was to respectfully restore an important piece of Victoria’s history. Every decision was made with the goal of preserving the craftsmanship, charm and heritage that make this property so special while creating a memorable boutique experience for today’s travelers.”
According to the hotel company, one of the most exciting discoveries during construction came when the team uncovered the home’s original stained-glass dome, which had been hidden for decades.
The dome has also now been fully restored and is once again one of Belleville House’s most distinctive architectural centrepieces.
“Working on Belleville House in our design+build capacity has been a rare privilege because every aspect holds a piece of the building’s story,” said Ann Squire-Ferguson, owner of Western Design Build, one of the trades companies involved in the restoration.
“Discovering hidden heritage details from 1877, like the gold-leaf dome, original deeply detailed architectural trim, and wood-burnings [sic] fireplaces, has been incredibly rewarding. The challenge has been just as significant: carefully weaving 150 years of history together with today’s building standards, technology and the needs of a modern hotel.”
Belleville House is now accepting reservations, joining Huntingdon Hotel & Suites and Pendray Inn & Tea House as part of the Huntingdon Hotel hospitality collection.
Rooms at Belleville House start at around $470 per night.
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