While it might not have the same profile as the Royal Roads property in Colwood, Mary Hill in Metchosin is another piece of Department of National Defence land with a long and rich history.
A piece of the property has also been declared surplus, meaning the land could become a part of a First Nations treaty process in the not-too-distant future, similar to what is happening with the Royal Roads lands now.
Perhaps with that in mind, the Association for the Protection of Rural Metchosin is hosting a presentation next Wednesday, April 19 on the history and ecology of the 400-acre coastal property.
Metchosinite Chris Pratt, one of two presenters on the evening along with Todd Manning, will focus on the history of the land, which has been mostly off-limits to the public for decades.
In the property’s early history, First Nations groups would roast the bulbs of flowers and store them for the winter.
“It was also a First Nations practice to set fire to the whole of the land in the fall … that kept the invasive weeds down and kept it as a sort of open meadow land,” Pratt explained.
The Weir family, led by patriarch Robert, immigrated to the area in 1852 and eventually used the land around Mary Hill for sheep grazing because of its meadow-like properties. “It was just a beautiful spot,” Pratt said.
That beauty is what makes it an important piece of land for the region, he added.
“The sea is on both sides … you’ve got everything from octopus in the ocean and eagles on top of the hill. There’s not many places where you have that sort of (connectivity),” he said, noting that rare plants and snakes have also been found in the area.
Given that it’s DND land, it’s no surprise that Mary Hill also has an extensive military history, starting during the Second World War.
According to Pratt, three six-inch diameter guns placed there served as part of the military’s coastal defense and nearby lookouts kept watch for incoming ships. The site hasn’t been actively used for military purposes since at least the 1990s.
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns isn’t sure whether Mary Hill is within the confines of any treaty negotiations, but said the District has expressed to Beecher Bay First Nation that it would like to see it become a regional park should DND dispose of it.
“It is some of the most beautiful environmental property. It’s very unusual and it’s got very high environmental value,” Ranns said.
The presentation starts at 7 p.m. April 19 at Metchosin Community House at 4430 Happy Valley Rd. and refreshments will be served following the discussions.