Charles Longworth built Hillhurst in 1897 as a monument to his success and wealth. As with many of his social class, after many successful years in shipbuilding and shipping (as well as some alleged rum running) it was time to build a home which would compliment his stature in the community. From their home in Charlottetown, the Longworths traveled extensively around the world collecting many interesting "object d'art" and fine furnishings.

Hillhurst's architecture is known as Georgian Revival or Colonial Revival. This colonial Revival style was an architectural movement that began in America as far back as the Centenary of the American Revolution in 1876 when a wave of nostalgia seemed appropriate after a century of separation from Great Britain. Larger than their Georgian inspirations, Colonial Revival homes were symmetrically laid out around the central foyer. These houses typically made use of wooden paneling to create a warm but at the same time majestic reception hall. This house is no exception. Walking into the entrance hall one can easily see how Mr. Longworth kept his favorite finish carpenter from his shipyard busy for a long time. The reception hall and dining room are finished with quarter sawn oak paneling and ceiling, while the parlour is finished in golden beech. The four unique mantel pieces on the main floor are architectural entities in themselves. With its lavish woodwork, this Victorian home stands as easily a testament to the architecture and opulence of the time. You can imagine Mr. Longworth greeting guests into the warmth of this grand foyer on a cold winter evening.

Life of the upper class at this period allowed for certain advantages. The Longworth's five domestic staff catered to their every need. The domestic staff lived in relative luxury on the third floor which is even lavish by today's standards. Charles Longworth and his wife May, had two daughters, Nora and Eileen, both of whom lived in Charlottetown all their lives.

In the mid 1950s, Hillhurst became the residence of a prominent lawyer and mayor of Charlottetown. Hillhurst was purchased by the University of Prince Edward Island in 1970 and served as the official residence for three successive presidents until 1995. It was purchased by the present owners, Scott Stewart and Jayne Toombs, and through an extensive renovation over a three year period, Hillhurst has been returned to its former glory. This Victorian mansion has nine spacious guest suites with period furnishings and a collection of Island art. Much of the furniture in this mansion is original to Hillhurst and was collected through painstaking effort by the present owners. A few of the pieces of furniture were owned by Honourable George C. Coles and Colonel John Hamilton Gray, two of Canada's Fathers of Confederation.