Fort Victoria
FORT VICTORIA, built in 1843, was an HBC trading post overlooking a fine harbour at the south end
of VANCOUVER ISLAND. The site was chosen by Chief Factor James DOUGLAS, who said it resembled "a
perfect Eden in the midst of the dreary wilderness." The fort was meant to replace HBC headquarters
at Fort Vancouver on the COLUMBIA R once the Oregon Territory was ceded to the US; this took place
in 1846 (see OREGON TREATY). The site, now in downtown VICTORIA, is bounded by the modern
Government, Broughton, Wharf and Bastion streets. Charles Ross was in command for the first year,
followed by Roderick FINLAYSON. Fields surrounding the fort grew wheat and other produce, and the
little community that sprang up soon outgrew the fort, which was overwhelmed by the arrival of a
flood of prospectors heading for the goldfields in 1858 (see GOLD RUSHES). The walls and buildings
were demolished between 1859 and 1864, and the land was sold for development.
(Encyclopedia of BC: http://knowbc.com/ebc/Books/Encyclopedia-of-BC/F/Fort-Victoria)
In 1842, James DOUGLAS of the HUDSON'S BAY CO selected the port of Camosack (the harbour where
Victoria now stands) as a new fur-trade post - eventually to replace FORT VANCOUVER as the company's
Pacific headquarters and to bolster the British claim to VANCOUVER ISLAND. Known first locally as Fort
Albert, the original intention was to name the site Fort Adelaide, but on 10 June 1843 it was officially
christened Fort Victoria after Queen VICTORIA. The OREGON TREATY of 1846 effectively terminated Fort
Vancouver as Columbia district headquarters, and in 1849 it was superseded by Fort Victoria. The crown
colony of Vancouver Island was also established in 1849 and Richard Blanshard, who became its first
governor in 1850, resided at Fort Victoria. VICTORIA townsite was surveyed adjacent to the fort in 1851-52
and during the FRASER RIVER GOLD RUSH of 1858 its population soared. Fort Victoria eventually became an
anachronism and by 1864 its last remnants had disappeared.
(The Canadian Encyclopedia:
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/fort-victoria)
Prior to Fort Victoria, Fort Vancouver was the main HBC depot of the Pacific Coast.
The wrecking of two Hudson's Bay Ships on a sandbar at the Columbia River's mouth
in 1829 and again in 1830 spurred the need for a easily accessible trading post.
The further quarrelling between Britain and the United States over control of the
Oregon Territory finalised the Hudson's Bay Company's decision to establish a
northern trading post.
In March of 1842 under Simpson's advice, Douglas came across what was then
referred to as Camosack (known today as Victoria). This is an exert from his report
back to John McLouglin, commenting on the favourable aspects of Camosack.
July 1842
"According to your instructions I embarked with a party of 5 men, in the Schooner
Cadboro, at Fort Nisqually and proceeded with her, to the south end of "Vancouver's
Island", visited the most promising points of the coast, and after a careful survey of its
several ports and harbours, I made choice of a site for the proposed new establishment
in the port of Camosack which appears to me decidedly the most advantageous
situation for the purpose, within the Straits of Juan de Fuca.
As a harbour it is equally safe and accessible and abundance of timber grows near it
for home construction and exploration."
Thus in 1843 the building of Fort Victoria commenced! Enlisting Aboriginals, and
HBC labourers within the building of the Fort.
/B/F49A
"The Fort is a quadrangle of 330 by 300ft. The buildings on for the present to be eight
in number, exclusion of bastions - and there dimensions - 60 by 40 by 30 feet. Posts
and Pavilion roofs. of these edifies we have already thoroughly completed three, and
two more (main and officers house) are up but as yet unprovided with covering or
inside work. One octangular Bastion of three stories was built.
In the farming line we have not as yet done much, there are about three acres broken
up and prepared for the plough. The soil appears excellent being composed of decayed
vegetable mould with a strong clayey bottom, it is however a good deal growth of
fern.
The landscape is beautiful and strongly reminds one of some of the noble domains at
home - water alone being (wanting?)to complete the picture. The climate is perhaps
too fine, of which you may judge, when I tell you that from June to November we had
scarcely anything else thou bright sunny days."
B.C. Archives
Charles Ross private correspondence
A/B/40/R735
"Now the "lions" of Victoria then were the Fort and its contents. It had been built by
Mr. Finlayson. The Fort was nearly a quadrangle, about one hundred yards long and
wide, with bastion at two corners containing cannon. The whole was stockaded with
cedar posts about six or eight inches in diameter, and about fifteen feet in length,
which had been brought from near "Cedar Hill" hence its name("now called Mount
Douglas"). There were inside, about a dozen large block story and a half buildings,
say 60x40, roofed with long and wide strips of cedar bark. The buildings were for the
storage of goods, Indian trading shop, and a large shop for general trade. It contained
everything required. The mess room, off which lived Mr. Douglasand family, was at
the corner (of now)Fort and Government streets."
(BC Heritage: HBC at Fort Victoria - http://bcheritage.ca/fortvictoria/fortlife/ross.html)