. ▁ ▁Const ruction ▁Begin s ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁November ▁ 1 8 5 4 ▁R ear - Ad mir al ▁Henry ▁William ▁Bruce ▁who ▁had ▁been ▁at ▁the ▁West ▁Africa ▁Squadron ▁was ▁appointed ▁Commander - in - Ch ief , ▁Pacific . ▁ ▁Upon ▁arrival ▁at ▁Es qu im alt ▁Bruce ▁asked ▁Governor ▁James ▁Douglas ▁to ▁provide ▁the ▁n avy ▁with ▁a ▁hospital ▁to ▁receive ▁the ▁expected ▁sick ▁and ▁wounded ▁from ▁the ▁Crime an ▁War . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 5 ▁three ▁wooden ▁h uts ▁were ▁built ▁on ▁D unt ze ▁Head , ▁which ▁would ▁also ▁be ▁known ▁as ▁Hospital ▁Point . ▁ ▁The ▁buildings ▁were ▁the ▁first ▁shore ▁establishment ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁at ▁Es qu im alt . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 5 9 ▁the ▁British ▁Col ony ▁of ▁V ancouver ▁Island ▁started ▁to ▁construct ▁l ighth ouses ▁on ▁the ▁approaches ▁to ▁Es qu im alt ▁and ▁Victoria ▁Har b ours ▁in ▁part ▁to ▁support ▁the ▁Royal ▁Navy ▁and ▁in ▁part ▁to ▁support ▁civil ian ▁navigation ▁amid st ▁the ▁F ras er ▁gold ▁r ush ▁and ▁other ▁gold ▁r ush es . ▁ ▁F is g ard ▁Light ▁was ▁ill umin ated ▁on ▁ 1 6 ▁November ▁ 1 8 6 0 ▁and ▁Race ▁Ro cks ▁Light ▁was ▁lit ▁on ▁ 2 6 ▁December ▁ 1 8 6 0 . ▁ ▁In ▁ 1 8 6 5 ▁the ▁facilities ▁in ▁Es qu im alt ▁were ▁recognized ▁as ▁an ▁alternate ▁base ▁for ▁the ▁Pacific ▁Station ▁which ▁was