1907

The Murchie’s Building

1110-1112 GOVERNMENT STREET

As a young boy working for a prestigious tea merchant in Britain, John Murchie delivered tea to Queen Victoria at Balmoral Castle. In 1894, his adventurous spirit carried his passion of tea blending halfway around the world to British Columbia, where he established Murchie’s Tea, becoming one of Canada’s oldest brands.

The first building on this site was Fort Victoria, built in 1843, followed by a gold rush storefront shack in 1860, then a furniture factory in 1890. This Edwardian brick building was erected in 1907. Following a major renovation upgrade in 1987, Murchie’s Tea and Coffee moved in. Visitors to this building can enjoy the charm and ambience of the spacious interior, particularly noting the original ornate tin ceiling.