BUILDINGS ASSOCIATED WITH FREEMASONS IN GREATHER VICTORIA

This City of Victoria Heritage Building at 1117-1129 Wharf Street in downtown Victoria was built in stages between the 1860’s and 1880’s. It is listed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places as the Rithet Building. The architect for the earlier stages of the Rithet Building is believed to have been Richard Lewis, a member of Victoria-Columbia Lodge No. 1.

The Rithet Building is now B.C. provincial government offices but it is named for Robert Patterson Rithet (1844-1919), a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No.2, who used it as the business premises for his firm R.P. Rithet & Company.

The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street in downtown Victoria, was built in stages between the 1860's and the 1880's for Robert Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street in downtown Victoria, was built in stages between the 1860’s and the 1880’s for Robert Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
The Rithet Building, circa 1912, as the business premises of R.P. Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a memberof Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 in Victoria. [Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian's personal collection]
The Rithet Building, circa 1912, as the business premises of R.P. Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a memberof Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 in Victoria. [Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian’s personal collection]
The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street in downtown Victoria, was built in stages between the 1860's and the 1880's for Robert Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street in downtown Victoria, was built in stages between the 1860’s and the 1880’s for Robert Rithet & Company. Robert Rithet was a member of Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 [photo: Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]

Here’s a map showing the location of the Rithet Building at 1117-1125 Wharf Street:

Here is a Google Street View image of the Rithet Building:

Robert Paterson Rithet (1844-1919) was a leading figure in Victoria’s Business and Finance in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Robert Paterson Rithet, circa 1900 [BC Archives photo F-07390]
Robert Paterson Rithet, circa 1900 [BC Archives photo F-07390]
Robert Paterson Rithet is buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C.

Robert Rithet grave in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C. [Photo by Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]
Robert Rithet grave in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, B.C. [Photo by Vancouver & Quadra Lodge No. 2 Historian]

A Brief History of the Rithet Building

The Rithet Building, 1117-1125 Wharf Street, is comprised of three separate buildings erected between 1861 and 1885.

The middle building of the three was originally a two story building. The northern building and the southernmost building were originally single story structures and the second stories were later additions.

It was used as the business premises of R. P. Rithet & Company.

The Rithet Building was purchased by the B.C. Provincial Government in the 1970’s and was used as government offices. It was consolidated with 1107 Wharf Street and 1109 Wharf Street into a single complex with a new address of 1107 Wharf Street.

In November 2015 the Rithet Building was put on the market and it was sold in January 2016 for $10,380,000.

Here are some more historic photos of the Rithet Building:

The Rithet Building is legally consolidated with the adjacent buildings to the south at 1107 Wharf Street and 1109 Wharf Street.

Here are some links to additional information about the Rithet Building:

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