 The buildings were the first shore establishment of the Royal Navy at Esquimalt.In 1859 the British Colony of Vancouver Island started to construct lighthouses on the approaches to Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours in part to support the Royal Navy and in part to support civilian navigation amidst the Fraser gold rush and other gold rushes.Fisgard Light was illuminated on 16 November 1860 and Race Rocks Light was lit on 26 December 1860.