Beacon Hill Park
The Park Movement Grazing Ground Whose Park?
Beacon Hill Park was named for the two beacons on Mount Beacon. The western most beacon had a triangle(blue) and the other a square(green). If the sailor could see the square through the triangle he was on Brotchie Ledge- which meant trouble! The hydrological chart Victoria Harbour 1860 1shows the ledge(shown in yellow), the beacons, and Mount Beacon.
"Victoria Harbour 1860" Courtesy of BC Archives CM_A215
The Park Movement
Governor James Douglas had set aside 200 acres for Beacon Hill Park in the 1840s. Industrialisation, and urbanisation prompted the need for land to be secured for recreational purposes. Victoria was a booming colony in the 1860s that made use of Beacon Hill Park. The establishment of a park in Victoria reflects a wider Park Movement that was sweeping England and the Continent.
Grazing Ground
Beacon Hill Park was the main location for Cricket matches to be played in Victoria. This was in large part due to the fact that the area was cleared and cultivated prior to the arrival of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the Europeans. The area continued to function as a commons into the 1860s with cattle, pigs, and horses grazing the ground.
Whose Park?
The status of the park territory was a matter of concern to Victoria residents. The land was not given to the city in trust until 1882. During the period from 1859 to 1871 a number of disputes erupted over who should have authority over the Park; the Municipal Corporation or the Legislative Council.
"Cricket Match at Beacon Hill Park, Victoria" Courtesy of BC Archives A-02590