Georges Island National Historic Site of Canada

Georges Island was designated a national historic site in 1965 because:

— it played an important role as part of the Halifax Defence Complex which protected one of the principal naval bases of the British Empire during the 18th and 19th centuries;

— it contains representative examples of shore defences from the late 18th century to the Second World War;

— it served as a location for the detention of Acadians at different times between the beginning of the Deportation in 1755 and the end of the Seven Years War in 1763.

Georges Island stand out by its geographic and strategic location in the middle of one of the finest natural harbours in the world, and in the range of military works constructed during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries for inner harbour defence.

The cultural landscape of the island bears witness to significant changes in military strategy and defence technology through the found location, form and materials of surviving complexes of historic buildings, engineering works, fortifications, paths, landscape features and remains above and below ground, on land and in water.

The construction of defence works on Georges Island began when Halifax was established in 1749. Significant periods during which facilities were upgraded include 1794-1812 (masonry escarp linking north and south batteries, stone Martello tower - smooth bore ordnance), 1864-1869 (construction of Fort Charlotte with rifled-muzzle-loading ordnance), 1870-1879 (submarine mine period), 1902 (the breech-loading period). The island continued to play a military role in the Canadian war efforts in both World Wars.

Georges Island played an important role during the Deportation of the Acadians who were placed here in detention camps used between 1755 and 1763. Some inmates were allegedly assigned the task of constructing buildings and other structures. Those interned here experienced inadequate facilities and difficult living conditions while awaiting deportation to Anglo-American colonies or to Great Britain. There are no buildings remaining from this period.

Georges Island became a national historic site in 1965 and has since been conserved.