Family Home • Military College • University Campus • National Historic Site

Take a step back in time… Admire the sculpted ceilings,
panelled walls and heavy oak beams. Imagine society’s elite
gathered around the black marble fireplace in the Drawing Room,
four enormous Belgian crystal chandeliers overhead. Enter the inner sanctum, James Dunsmuir’s Study, where the men would retire after the evening meal to drink, smoke and discuss events of the day.

Experience the legacy at Hatley Castle during its centennial.

The centrepiece of Hatley Estate is a magnificent 40-room replica of a 15th century Edwardian castle. It was built in 1908 for James Dunsmuir, a coal and rail baron who also served as Premier and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia. Over the years, the grand family home was frequented by socialites, gentlemen farmers, business leaders and visiting royalty. In fact the gardener, Ishiburo Kishida, the individual who designed the Japanese Gardens at Hatley Park, was also responsible for the beautiful Japanese Gardens at the world renowned Butcharts Gardens.

The property was eventually sold to the federal government in the late 1930s with the understanding it would always be used for educational purposes. Over the next five decades, the college trained military officers at what was eventually named Royal Roads Military College. Many of the Canadian Forces who attended the training facility went on to become leaders in the public and private sectors. During the time that the military school operated on the site, the castle remained a special place – particularly since one of the first floor rooms was the office of the School Commandant!

HatleyCastle was declared a level one heritage resource, providing it with permanent protection for both its interior and exterior attributes. In 1995, when the site was decommissioned by the Department of National Defence and Royal Roads University set up their campus operations at Hatley Park, Hatley Castle immediately became the home of the President and senior executives of the university.