Esquimalt had been used by the Royal Navy Pacific Fleet as a base of operations , but a Royal Commission Appointed to Enquire into the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad 1879 to 1883 under the Earl of Carnarvon, designated Esquimalt as a Defended Coaling Station.
The first phase of coastal defence batteries built in 1873 were RML guns at four locations. These were rudimentary batteries, primarily made of earth with two of three guns only, as outlined below:
Brothers Island Battery with three RML guns
Macaulay Point Battery with three RML guns
Victoria Point Battery with two RML guns
Finlayson Point Battery with two RML guns
Starting in 1893 a number of 6-inch coastal defence batteries were built supported by Quick Fire Batteries covering the minefield at the harbour entrance. These five batteries were as follows:
Fort Rodd Hill with three batteries-
UPPER BATTERY with one 6-inch BL gun
LOWER BATTERY with two 6-inch BL guns
BELMONT BATTERY with two 12-pdr Q.F. guns
A submarine minefield in the channel leading to Esquimalt Harbour. This was covered by Duntze Head Battery and Fort Rodd Hill
DUTZE HEAD BATTERY which was initially two 6-pdrs and then rebuilt to mount to 12-pdr Q.F. guns. Also two defence electric lights,
BLACK ROCK BATTERY with two 12-pdr Q.F. guns and two Defence Electric Lights
MACAULAY POINT BATTERY with three 6-inch BL guns