Opened in 1907 as the Women Student's Hostel Society, Victoria House is the oldest hall of residence at Victoria University of Wellington, and the second hall of residence for women students in New Zealand.

A kitchen, dining and sitting room, and accommodation for the matron - the person who ran the hostel - were included.

Almost immediately the building was finished, the Society purchased the cottage next door (280 The Terrace), using it for additional accommodation.

Then in the early 1970s, a five-storeyed accommodation block – later called Wallis Wing – was built across the back of all the old houses the Society had acquired from 280 to 288 The Terrace.

In 2014 seismic strengthening was undertaken of Wallis Wing and a progressive refurbishment programme for the building was started, the first stage of which was completed in early 2015.