Vancouver’s oldest buildings are more than bricks and beams; they’re survivors. Rising from the ashes of the Great Fire of 1886 and the boomtown energy that followed, these structures were built with confidence, ambition, and a belief that this rough-edged port city was here to stay. From early hotels and post offices to warehouses, courthouses, and clubs, each building tells a story of commerce, community, and resilience, standing firm as the city grew up around them.
1865 – The oldest building in Vancouver and it pre-dates the city itself. Originally a general store for Hastings Mill, it survived the 1886 fire and was moved to Alma Street in 1930. It is now a museum. Photo Caption: 1940 – Old Hastings Mill Store in Hastings Mill Park.
Captured in these photographs are places that have worn many identities over time: hubs of social life, centres of government, symbols of progress, and quiet witnesses to protest, celebration, and change. Though Vancouver’s skyline continues to reinvent itself, these buildings remain grounding points; reminders that the city’s modern character is rooted in a layered past, shaped by the people, cultures, and events that passed through their doors more than a century ago. Please enjoy this collection of the 15 oldest buildings in Vancouver.
1886 – The Vancouver Rowing Club was originally formed as the Vancouver Boating Club in 1886. Photo Caption: 1930 – Rowing Club.1887 – The Alhambra Hotel was built in 1887 as one of the city’s earliest fire-resistant structures. It was built soon after the Great Fire of 1886 and originally served as a luxurious hotel that helped define Maple Tree Square’s role as a social and commercial hub. Photo Caption: 1960-1968 – Alhambra Hotel.1887 – One of the oldest extant buildings still on its original site in Gastown, built immediately after the Great Fire. Photo Caption: 1901 – Ferguson Block building.1887 – One of the few remaining wood frame buildings that was constructed shortly after the Great Fire. Photo Caption: 1968 – 100 East Hastings Street – Cosy Corner Groceries.1889 – The Christ Church Cathedral is one of the oldest surviving church buildings in Vancouver and the oldest surviving downtown structure still intact from the 19th century. Photo Caption: 1898 – Christ Church Cathedral.1889 – Originally built in 1889 by Chinese-Canadian entrepreneur Yip Sang as a two-storey brick warehouse and storefront for his Wing Sang Company. Photo Caption: 1902 – Merchant Yip Sang and family members in front of the Wing Sang Company building.1901 – Heritage armoury and home of The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own). Photo Caption: 1901 – Exterior of Beatty Street Drill Hall.1909 – Historic “flatiron” commercial building in Gastown and one of Canada’s first reinforced-concrete structures. Photo Caption: 191-? – Europe Hotel.1910 – The Dominion Building is among the earliest high-rise heritage buildings in Vancouver, dominating Gastown’s skyline in the early 20th century. Photo Caption: 1944 – The Dominion Bank building.1910 – The Old Post Office (now Sinclair Centre) in downtown Vancouver was built between 1906 and 1910 as the Dominion Post Office, later expanding to house federal offices and customs services, and today stands as a restored Edwardian landmark repurposed as offices, shops, and public space. Photo Caption: 1980-1997 – hotograph shows the former Post Office (Sinclair Centre) building.1911 – The Vancouver Art Gallery building, originally constructed in 1906–1911 as the Vancouver Court House, served as the city’s main judicial centre for much of the 20th century before being repurposed in 1983 as a major public art museum. Photo Caption: 1989 – Vancouver Art Gallery.1912 – The Sun Tower was constructed in 1911–1912 as the World Building and briefly became the tallest building in the British Empire. After being bought by The Vancouver Sun in 1937 it took on its current name and remains an iconic heritage office landmark in the city’s downtown. Photo Caption: 1972 – Sun Tower.1913 – The Sylvia Hotel was built in 1912–1913 as the Sylvia Court Apartments. It briefly stood as one of the city’s tallest buildings, was later converted into an apartment-hotel during the Depression and then a full-service hotel. It has been designated a heritage landmark ever since. Photo Caption: 1972 – Sylvia Hotel from Beach Avenue.
1916 – Heritage Hall in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood was originally Postal Station “C”, later housed federal offices including the RCMP, and after community-led restoration in the early 1980s became a celebrated heritage building and cultural/community events venue. Photo Caption: 1974 – Heritage Hall.
The photos above were collected from the City of Vancouver Archives. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Vancouver, British Columbia, and across Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.
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