Description of Historic Place

Completed in 1908, the Pachena Point Lighthouse is a major coastal light on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. It sits in a rugged, isolated, and heavily wooded environment along the West Coast Trail and is considered an important landmark and point of interest for several thousand hikers each summer. It is a late example of a wooden, octagonal tower and supports a First Order Fresnel lens. The tower exhibits a classically-inspired tripartite division into base, column, and capital with a plain pediment over the door and flat hoods over the windows.
There are several structures on the site, including two related buildings that contribute to the heritage character of the lighthouse: (1) the 1921 duplex dwelling, and (2) the 1967 senior keeper dwelling.

Heritage Value

The Pachena Point Lighthouse is a heritage lighthouse because of its historical, architectural, and community values.

Source: Statement of Significance, HSMBC, June 2012.

Note: Contact the Registrar for a full description of the lighthouse's heritage value.

Character-Defining Elements

The following character-defining elements of the Pachena Point Lighthouse should be respected:
- its intact, as-built structural form, height, profile, and proportions;
- its octagonal tapered structure of timber-frame construction, with steel I-beams incorporated at the lantern floor to support the weight of the lantern and light;
- its cladding with cedar shingles on the shaft;
- its expression of the classically-inspired tripartite tower division of base, shaft, and capital;
- its simple design of the soffit and fascia at the cornice design;
- its stone-cladding at the base of the tower;
- its entrance with a gable and projecting eaves above, with its respective designed form and proportions;
- its windows with flat hoods above, with their respective designed form and proportions;
- its metal gallery railing, including its respective designed form and proportions;
- its round metal lantern, including its respective designed form and proportions, featuring rounded glass panes, a railing surrounding the glass panes, and capped by a dome supporting an arrow weathervane;
- its traditional red and white exterior colour scheme;
- its visual prominence in relationship to the water and landscape.

The following character-defining elements of the related buildings should be respected:
- their respective built forms, profiles, and proportions;
- their traditional red and white exterior colour schemes;
- their contextual relationships to the lighthouse within an historic lightstation setting.