Victoria, BC – Huntingdon Hotel & Suites is proud to announce the completion of the extensive restoration of Belleville House, a beautifully preserved heritage inn located at 327 Belleville Street in the heart of Victoria's Inner Harbour.
Following nearly ten months of careful restoration, Belleville House is now welcoming guests, adding eight distinctive boutique guest rooms to Victoria's downtown accommodation offering while preserving one of the city's historic residential landmarks.
Originally built in 1877 as the private residence of Alexander Blair Gray, Belleville House has stood as a quiet witness to nearly 150 years of Victoria's history. Born in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1841, Gray immigrated to British Columbia during the Cariboo Gold Rush before establishing himself as a successful merchant and later serving as Justice of the Peace in the growing colonial capital. His grand residence quickly became one of Victoria's most admired homes, reflecting the optimism and prosperity of the era.
Today, that same spirit has been carefully preserved.
Throughout the restoration, the project focused on maintaining the property's historic character while thoughtfully modernizing the guest experience. Original architectural features were restored wherever possible, the historic gardens revitalized, and the home's timeless elegance carefully preserved for future generations.
One of the most exciting discoveries during construction came when the team uncovered the home's original stained-glass dome, hidden for decades. The feature has now been fully restored and once again serves as one of Belleville House's most distinctive architectural centrepieces.
"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."
The restoration also extended beyond the building itself, with careful attention given to the property's mature landscaping, historic gardens and exterior character, ensuring Belleville House continues to complement the surrounding heritage streetscape of Victoria's Inner Harbour.
"As stewards of several heritage properties, we recognize the responsibility that comes with preserving these buildings for future generations," added Cassels. "Projects like Belleville House help celebrate Victoria's rich architectural history while supporting our city's growing tourism economy and providing visitors with a truly unique place to stay."
The restoration was completed in partnership with several outstanding local trades whose craftsmanship helped bring the historic property back to life, including Western Design Build, whose expertise guided the restoration throughout the project, and Capital Heights Painting, whose meticulous exterior restoration preserved the home's historic beauty and architectural character. “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. Discovering hidden heritage details from 1877, like the gold-leaf dome, original deeply detailed architectural trim, and wood-burnings 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. Heritage projects ask us to become both detective and problem solver, balancing preservation with performance. That's the work we love. When a historic building begins to reveal its original character while being thoughtfully prepared for another century of use, you know you've done a true service to the heritage fabric of the city, by carrying the stories forward." , said Ann Squire-Ferguson, owner of Western Design Build.
Belleville House is now accepting reservations and joins Huntingdon Hotel & Suites and Pendray Inn & Tea House as part of the Huntingdon Hotel hospitality collection, offering guests an intimate heritage stay just steps from Victoria's Inner Harbour, the Legislature, museums, restaurants and waterfront attractions.