VICTORIA –  

Summary

• Point Ellice House in Victoria’s Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood will cease operations as a public heritage destination
• The site will remain open to the public until Aug. 21, 2026
• The Province will assume operational responsibility for Point Ellice House on Sept. 2, 2026

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Point Ellice House, a provincial heritage site, will cease operations as a public heritage destination.

The site will remain open to the public until Aug. 21, 2026, on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Point Ellice House is in Victoria’s Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood. As one of Victoria’s oldest residences, the house was built between 1861 and 1862 for Charles Wentworth and his wife, Catherrine, daughter of John Work, who was chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company. It was expanded by the O’Reilly family, who lived in the house until 1975. 

In 1966, the site was designated a national historic site of Canada, and became a provincial heritage site in 1975. The house is also listed in the City of Victoria’s heritage registry.

Effective Sept. 2, 2026, the Province will assume operational responsibility for Point Ellice House, ensuring the site and its heritage artifacts are preserved and protected. The Province is reviewing options for reopening and will make an announcement once a decision has been reached.

The Province is committed to the conservation and protection of B.C.’s heritage properties and artifacts. To support the work, the Province contracts with non-profit organizations to manage provincial heritage sites, provide public access and undertake ongoing conservation and maintenance activities. Since 2020, the Province has provided more than $55 million to preserve and protect B.C.’s heritage assets.