Fort Macaulay

Fort Macaulay (1878-1956) - A Canadian coastal defense fortification first established in 1878 as a part of "Victoria-Esquimalt Fortress". Located on Macauley Point, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Abandoned in 1956. Also known as Macaulay Battery and Macaulay Point Battery.

Fort Macaulay Gun Emplacement #1	Fort Macaulay Gun Emplacement #3
Fort Macaulay Gun Emplacements

Fort Macaulay History

Part of the Harbor Defense of Victoria and Esquimalt Harbors.

The Canadian Harbors at Victoria and Esquimalt were protected by five separate gun batteries with emplaced naval guns starting in 1878. In 1893 an agreement with Great Britain established for a common defense of both harbors. The result of this agreement was the construction of two forts, Fort Rodd Hill on west side of the entrance to Esquimalt Harbor and Fort Macaulay on the east side of Esquimalt Harbor at the entrance to Victoria Harbor, the work being undertaken by a detachment of twenty Sappers from the 18th (Fortress) Company of Royal Engineers sent from Halifax, whose job was to demolish the old earth and wood batteries, then lay out and direct the building of the new concrete and earth forts.

Fort Macaulay was the site of one of the five existing batteries and was armed with three, 7" rifled muzzle loaded (RML) guns. Fort Rodd Hill was a new fort built on a rock bluff at the harbor entrance. Both forts were to mount three, 6" disappearing breech loaded (BL) coastal defense guns in modern reinforced concrete gun emplacements, the work being performed by the Marine Artillery.

This plan coincided with the construction of similar but more extensive American fortifications during the Endicott Period across the Straits of San Juan De Fuca at Fort Worden, Fort Casey (1) and Fort Flagler for the Harbor Defense of Puget Sound.

The Fort Macaulay complex was upgraded to include three reinforced concrete gun emplacements, ammunition stores and a concrete BC post linked by tunnel to a guardhouse and keep. Three 6" MK6 guns on MK4 disappearing carriages were emplaced. In the 1920s and 1930s the disappearing carriages were all replaced with Barbette mounted 6" guns. The guns and mounts remained in place until about 1948.

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  Gun Emplacement #2
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  Guardhouse
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  BC Station from the Guardhouse Tunnel
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  BC Station from the Front
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  BC Station Tunnel Entrance
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  Guardhouse Tunnel Entrance

Fort Macaulay Gun Emplacement Plan 1903

Fort Macaulay BC Post and Guardhouse Plan 1903

Current Status

Part of Macaulay Point City Park, Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Open to the public. No period guns or carriages in place.

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Location: Macaulay Point City Park, Esquimalt, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Maps & Images Lat: 48.418357 Long: -123.409317 Multi Maps from ACME Maps from Bing Maps from Google Elevation: .....'

Sources:

Links:

• North American Forts - Fort Macaulay
• More Photos
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Visited: 22 Jun 2009

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