FAQ - A Brief History | The Hudson - Victoria, BC

HBC c. 1920 - Courtesy of BC Archives collections

1860	Site of Church of St. John the Divine. This historic church started life in 1860 as the "Old Iron Church" and moved into its present building in Quadra Street in 1912.
1912	Following advice from one of its directors who was with Harrods department store in London, The Hudson's Bay Company began an aggressive modernization program. The resulting Victoria store is living legacy of this period.
1913	The Victoria store, designed by Burke, Horwood & White from Toronto, was started but stopped for a period because of World War 1. Construction resumed after the war and the original building was completed in September, 1921.
1921	The Hudson's Bay Store opens for business.
1948	A substantial retail extension was added on to the east side of the structure, designed by Moody & Moore of Winnipeg.
2003	On the Hudson's Bay Company's 333 anniversary, The Bay relocates to the former Eaton Centre. Meanwhile, the 1921 store was listed in the city's heritage registry and awaited redevelopment.
2006	Townline bought the old HBC building and engaged Merrick Architects of Vancouver and Victoria to undertake the extensive design interventions that would create The Hudson - modern homes wrapped in history.
2010	The conversion is completed and The Hudson begins its second life as a modern urban residence.

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All archival photos courtesy of BC Archives collections