Finlayson Point

Long before European settlement, Finlayson Point was home to the Songhees people, who lived in the region for thousands of years. They had a fortified village here from roughly 904 AD to 1689 AD. They relied on the surrounding waters for fishing and transportation, and their enduring presence is reflected today in the archaeological sites and cultural artifacts found at Finlayson Point and nearby areas (source).

A sad tale is associated with these defensive village sites, recorded from an Elder in the mid-19th century.

According to the account, a devastating disease arrived during one summer long ago, possibly a smallpox outbreak in the 1700s. The people living in the palisaded village at Holland Point fled into the hills, while others gathered their belongings and winter food supplies and moved into several houses within the fortified village at Finlayson Point.

When the Holland Point community returned in the spring, they entered the Finlayson Point fort and discovered that everyone inside had died. Relatives later came to bury the deceased in stone cairns on Beacon Hill (source).

The point is named in honour of Roderick Finlayson, a highly influential figure in Victoria’s early history.

Finlayson began his career as a Hudson’s Bay Company clerk in the 1840s, later serving as deputy to Charles Ross in 1843. He went on to sit on Vancouver Island’s legislative council from 1851 to 1863, and became chief factor in 1859 (source).

In 1878, Finlayson served as mayor of Victoria and was a strong advocate for the construction of the city’s new city hall (source).

From 1878 to 1892, this location was armed with two 64-pound wrought-iron rifled guns, standing guard against the threat of a Russian invasion (source).

By the early 20th century, Finlayson Point had become a popular destination for both residents and visitors, valued for its scenic beauty and recreational appeal.