Nanaimo Harbour Circa 1900 The beautiful coastal harbour which we now lovingly call Nanaimo was first occupied by the Coast Salish people whose name was Snuneymuxw (Snuh-NAY-moo).
Nanaimo was originally called Colevile Town until 1860 when the name was officially changed to Nanaimo which is an adaptation of Snuneymuxw (Snuh-NATY-moo). In that year the name Colevile Town was stricken from the maps and records.
It was in 1849, that in exchange for developing the territory, the Hudson Bay Company was given the rites to Vancouver Island and that included the monies earned from mining. They would have to resell the Island to the Crown in ten years and would have to use 90% of their gain to develop the colony. The remaining 10% could be kept by the Hudson Bay Company.
In the spring of 1850 Snuneymuxw Chief Che-wich-i-kan (kist-sa-kum), historically referred to as Coal Tyee, took a canoe laden with coal to Victoria. It was found to be of excellent quality and a company clerk was dispatched to Nanaimo.
In 1853 the Bastion was built to protect the harbour and area.
In 1854 after travelling for 179 days on the Princess Royal, the first immigrants arrived in Nanaimo. It is reported that 23 men and 23 women and a quantity of children left London England on June 2 1854 sailing to Nanaimo via Honolulu. A number of deaths and births are recorded in the ships log during the long journey from England to the final destination of Nanaimo.
Near the end of 1854, Governor James Douglas ordered the first census of the colony. In Nanaimo, the white population was 151, there ere 52 dwelling houses, 3 shops, 6 outhouses and 1 school with 29 tudents. No one was over 60 years old; 15 were between 50 and 60; and nearly half were under 20.
For a more complete and detailed account of the early history of Nanaimo visit the Nanaimo District Museum site by clicking here.
It is reported that in Nanaimo Coal was King until about 1938 when forestry became the major industry in Nanaimo with the construction of a pulp and paper mill near Duke Point. However the Nanaimo deposit is reported to have been mined from 1853 until 1953.
Nanaimo Harbour Circa 1900
