What’s New

Thank You to Our Volunteers

From our Volunteer Coordinator:

Point Ellice House was recently alive to say Thank You! to all of our most valuable volunteers for a dinner in their honour.  It was an opportunity to catch up with fellow volunteers and enjoy the food contributions brought by all.  Our volunteers are a dedicated group of people coming together to promote and to help preserve our treasured historic site.

We can’t thank our volunteers at Point Ellice House enough.  They are all making a difference and are driven by the desire to see Point Ellice House continue to be a wonderful historic site to visit now and in the future.

We also like to thank Save-On Foods at Westside Village for there support for our celebration and honoring of our volunteers.

Spooky Halloween

 

According to Ross Crockford, author of ‘Victoria, The Unknown City’, ‘Likely the most haunted house in town, Point Ellice House seems to be occupied by several long-dead members of the O’Reilly clan.’

Join us for a truly spooky Halloween experience.  Point Ellice House, rumored to be a temporary morgue for those lost in the 1896 collapse of the Point Ellice Bridge (aka the Bay Street Bridge), is ready to entertain those who enjoy all that the spiritual world has to offer.

Bring your family, your friends and especially your out of town guests who want to experience the life and times of the spooky English flavor that has enhanced the history and heritage of Victoria!

Spooky Halloween Tours:

October 27, 28 and 29
Tours scheduled at 5, 6 and 7 p.m.
we are accessible!

As tickets are selling quickly,  please call in advance to reserve your tour.

Special event rates*: 

Adults:  $12.00
Students (ages 12 to 18): $10.00
Children (ages 3-12): $5.00
Under 3:  Free
Family Rate:   $34.00
(2 adults accompanied by two or more of their children):

Point Ellice House Preservation Society Members:  50% off

Call Point Ellice House (250-380-6506) or email (info@PointElliceHouse.com) to make your reservations today.

Bringing our Afternoon Teas Indoors

Summer is winding down, and as the weather changes, our picnic tea baskets will be put away.

Starting in September, we will move the Afternoon Tea from on the lawn into the Visitor Centre where you can also browse the Secret Vintage Shoppe. You will be able to enjoy the same delectable menu (prepared by Truffles Catering) in our cozy shoppe filled with nostalgic memories, for all to reminisce.

Afternoon Tea will be served on weekends at 12:00 noon or 1:00 pm. In order to ensure your group will have a pleasurable event, reservation and prepayment must be made at least 2 days in advance (before 1pm, please). 

Tours of the Heritage House are available prior or after your Tea, and those enjoying Afternoon Tea can purchase a reduced price ticket of the House Tour.

The Point Ellice House Picnic Tea

With on site renovations to the Carriage House, we have been unable to  prepare and present the High Teas as we’ve had in the past.  We no longer have a kitchen, nor the ability to properly clean and sanitize our fine china.

However, in order to share the Point Ellice House gardens and to support the ongoing activities to preserve the heritage house and artifacts we are serving our ‘Picnic Tea‘.

The Picnic Tea, is served with a complete menu of sandwiches, scones, and dessert as we had in our high teas served in the past.  Truffles Catering is our partner who prepares and delivers as per advance reservations.

Our tea is provided by Silk Road serving their traditional black tea blend ‘Point Ellice House Tea’. Also available is their ‘Philosopher Brew’ herbal tea.

As being a picnic tea, the food and drink is served on our Gorge-view lawn under our tents using our comfortable chairs and tables, as we have in the past.  In case of inclement weather, the Visitor Centre is available for seating.

In order for Truffles Catering to properly prepare your Picnic Tea, we ask for reservations at least two days in advance.  Reservations can be made by calling the Visitor Centre at 250-380-6506 (please leave voice mail) or by email at info@PointElliceHouse.com.

If you have further questions, or would like to schedule a large group on a different time frame, please contact our Visitor Centre.

Volunteer opportunities at Point Ellice House

Point Ellice House VolunteersPoint Ellice House is in need of volunteers to assist with tourist activities to support the maintenance and support of the heritage house and artifacts:

  • Tour Guides— taking visitors through the historic house and telling the wonderful tales of the O’Reilly family who occupied the house for 3 generations on the beautiful Gorge Waterway.  Training and support given.
  • Tea Service — involving carrying tea and coffee thermoses to and from the lawn.
  • Crafters — for painting/refreshing small furniture items for the Gift Shop.
  • Hauling  (with small truck or SUV) — for delivery of larger items for the Gift Shop.

3 hours per week suggested for Tour Guides and Tea Volunteers, please contact Shirley at Volunteer@PointElliceHouse.com or call (please leave a message) at the Visitor Centre at 250-380-6506.

Miniature House Display

Point Ellice House is proud to be a site to display the miniature projects by the Small Endeavor Miniature Club.  Their Canadian Heritage in Miniature exhibition is now on display at various locations throughout Victoria.

We are excited about the 1:12th scale miniature projects their members have made to celebrate Canada’s 150th Anniversary of Confederation.  The display will be in the Visitor Centre through July 31 during our open hours.

For more information, check out the Small Endeaver Miniature Club website at:
http://www.victoriaminiatureclub.ca/.

Heritage Plants for Sale

You’ve seen our gardens (or maybe just pictures here), now you can bring a small part of the Point Ellice House and Gardens home with you.

For $3.99 to $7.99, depending on pot size, you can take home a plant started by our Head Gardener and volunteers ready for your house or garden.

Plants available include:
Fall aster, Gooseneck loosestrife, Bearded iris, Montbretia, Lamb’s ears, Yarrow, Hollyhock, Fall chrysanthemum, Japanese anemone, Lavender,  and Tomatillo

For more information please contact our Visitor Centre.