For thousands of years, the sheltered waters of Esquimalt Harbour have been home to the Coast Salish peoples, including the Esquimalt and Songhees Nations. The community’s name is derived from the Indigenous word Es-whoy-malth, meaning “the place of gradually shoaling water,” a fitting description of the harbour’s gently sloping shoreline. The first Europeans arrived in 1790 when Spanish explorer Manuel Quimper entered the harbour, but it was the Hudson’s Bay Company and later the British Royal Navy that transformed Esquimalt into one of the most important ports on Canada’s Pacific coast.
During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the era captured in these photographs, Esquimalt evolved from a small agricultural settlement into a thriving naval community. In 1865, the Royal Navy established its Pacific base here, drawn by one of the finest natural deep-water harbours on the west coast. Shipyards, docks, rail connections, churches, schools, and businesses soon followed, while generations of sailors, shipbuilders, and local families shaped the character of the growing town. The naval tradition continued after the formation of the Royal Canadian Navy and remains a defining part of Esquimalt’s identity today.
Today, Esquimalt is a vibrant waterfront municipality bordering Victoria, where historic naval landmarks exist alongside modern neighbourhoods, parks, beaches, and walking trails. Home to Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt, which is the headquarters of Canada’s Pacific naval fleet, the township also celebrates its rich Indigenous heritage, maritime history, and strong sense of community. These historic photographs offer a remarkable glimpse into more than eighty years of change, preserving the people, places, and moments that helped shape one of British Columbia’s oldest and most storied communities.
For similar collections, please see these previous stories including Old Photographs of the Hudson Bay Company from the West Coast, Old Photographs of Totem Poles from BC’s West Coast, and Old Photographs of Lighthouses from BC’s West Coast.
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.
