It began as a Coast Salish burial ground, then became the private residence for a wealthy coal baron before being drafted into military service and finally graduating as a post-secondary educational institution. Hatley Castle and its surrounding grounds, now known as the Royal Roads University campus, have a long and fascinating history.
You can review the colourful past of the castle and its grounds in a wheelchair-accessible museum in the basement of the Hatley Castle. The museum, which opened in January 1999, has exhibits which include many photographs of graduating classes from various incarnations of the facility, ranging from the war-time Royal Canadian Naval College, the Royal Canadian Naval-Royal Canadian Air Force College, the Canadian Services College and Royal Roads Military College.
In the hallway outside the two exhibit rooms stands a horse-drawn carriage once owned by James Dunsmuir who used it for private and state functions. The Friends of Hatley Castle located the carriage in a Victoria works yard in 1999 and brought it to the museum. There are biographies of the Dunsmuir clan and many old photos showing how life was for them in the early part of the century. Another exhibit tells visitors about the castle architect, Samuel Maclure, and shows the original plans for the building.Even a side-saddle used by one of the Dunsmuir women has been brought to the museum for visitors to see.
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