The Bastion is an enduring local icon in the third oldest city in British Columbia.
Built in 1853, the three floors of the Bastion were skillfully crafted using traditional wood working techniques by workers of the Hudson’s Bay Company. Over the years, politics and land deals saw this sturdy wooden fort moved twice. Today it is Nanaimo’s most recognizable landmark.
While the Bastion’s timbers are original, the interior represents activities of the early mining post from 1853 – 1862. Today, this former Hudson’s Bay Company building is a symbol of Nanaimo’s history. The Bastion is a “must see” destination for visitors to Nanaimo.
The Bastion is open 11am-3pm on Saturdays, Sundays & stat holidays from July 1 – Labour Day. Group tours of the Bastion are available for booking during the off-season.
Construction, Moving and Renovation
Left: The Bastion being moved in 1974. Right: The Bastion undergoing restoration work in 2010.
The Bastion was constructed using the pièce-sur-pièce technique which uses timbers laid atop one another horizontally with tenons cut on each end. The tenons are inserted into vertical grooves in the eight vertical posts, while the bottom sill log was set on a masonry foundation. The structure was built using basic hand tools: a crosscut saw, broad axe, adze, auger and pit saw. As nails were expensive, few were needed using this technique.
Logs were cut and squared nearby and hauled to the site and gaps between the logs were filled with chinking (straw or moss mixed with clay or mud) to keep out the rain and wind.
Originally, the Bastion was situated on the present-day location of the Dorchester Hotel parking lot. However, by 1891, the land was sold and the new owner threatened to demolish the structure. A contribution of $175 from the city saved the Bastion and it was moved across Front Street. The Bastion was moved again in 1974 when Front Street was widened.
Restoration in 2010 repaired and replaced some of the ageing parts of the Bastion, although the majority of the timbers and other components of the structure are original.
History of the Bastion
Nanaimo’s Bastion is the last remaining wooden Hudson’s Bay Company bastion in North America. Today, having survived multiple moves, renovations and changes in ownership, the Bastion is the city’s oldest structure and a recognized Municipal Heritage Site. Learn more about the Bastion by contacting the Nanaimo Museum!
