Description of Historic Place

The Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post sits on a rock promontory within Fort Rodd Hill overlooking Esquimalt Harbour and the Juan de Fuca Strait. The concrete, single-storey, rectangular, flat roofed structure has low massing. An observation slit wraps around the front of the structure. The designation is confined to the footprint of the building.

Heritage Value

The Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post is a Recognized Federal Heritage Building because of its historical associations, and its architectural and environmental values.

Historical Value:
The Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post is one of the best examples of a structure associated with the final program to make Fort Rodd Hill fully operational and is illustrative of a pivotal phase of development. The coordinating function of the Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post was crucial to the operation of the 6-inch disappearing guns of the Upper and Lower Batteries. It is also associated with Signallers operations as part of coastal defence.

Architectural Value:
The Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post is an example of an early 20th century military design for an observation and signalling post. The construction is basic and the design functional used in the housing of specialized military equipment.

Environmental Value:
Although changed, the setting of the Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post has retained its character. The integration of the structure with the natural features is characteristic of coastal defences. Its presence reinforces the present military character of the site.

Sources:
Joan Mattie, Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgarde Light station, 603, Fort Rodd Hill Road, Colwood, B.C. Federal Heritage Buildings Review Office Report 96-096; Battery Commander’s Post, 603 Fort Rodd Hill Road, Colwood, British Columbia. Heritage Character Statement 96-096.

Character-Defining Elements

The character-defining elements of the Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post should be respected.

Its functional military design and good quality materials and craftsmanship such as:
-the simple, single-storey, flat roofed massing of the structure that is partially concealed by an earth embankment;
-the simply detailed concrete formwork with rounded edges at openings and projecting copings;
-the solid wooden entrance doors with their metal plate covering, the downward swinging steel shutters, and the tubular metal handrail along the promontory edge;
-the layout and planning.

The manner in which the Fort Rodd Hill, Battery Commander’s Post reinforces the present character of the Fort Rodd Hill National Historic Site as evidenced by:
-the integration of the structure with the site’s natural features, a characteristic of this type of coastal defence structure.