Description of Historic Place

538 Yates Street is a small, two storey brick commercial building on the north side of the street. It can be identified by a highly decorative bracketed metal cornice, and a small entrance bay on the western portion of its unusual asymmetrical façade.

Heritage Value

538 Yates Street adds value to Victoria's Old Town District because it is an excellent example of the type of small scale masonry buildings that were constructed during the 1880s as the City's commercial spectrum diversified to meet the needs of the growing population. Its primary heritage value lies in its compatibility with and contribution to the collection of buildings of a similar scale and date of construction which characterize this part of Yates Street, and in the unique elements of its 1888 design which set it apart from the rest and help to diversify the architectural composition of the commercial streetscape.

Source:City of Victoria Planning and Development Dept.

Character-Defining Elements

The character defining elements of 538 Yates Street include:
- Its location, set amongst other buildings of a similar scale and date of construction.
- Its small massing and two-storey flat roofed form.
- Construction methods and materials used to carry out its original 1888 design.
- Historic architectural detailing relevant to its 1888 design, including inset upper-storey windows with incised wooden panels and the highly decorative metal cornice.
- Its asymmetrical street-front façade characterized by a small entrance bay on the westernmost portion.
- Its continuous commercial use for small scale retail business.