One of the finest collections of early stone buildings in western Canada, Lower Fort Garry in the Rural Municipality of St. Andrews was built for Governor George Simpson of the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) between 1831 and 1846. Schooners linked Norway House to the Fort which was a focus for industry and transport in the lower Red River Settlement. Its farm helped supply food for boat brigades and oxen for Red River cars. After 1870 the Fort was used as a federal prison and the first training base for the North West Mounted Police. On 3 August 1871, Treaty No. 1 was signed here. It housed the Motor Country Club from 1913 to 1962 and was given to Canada by the HBC in 1951.
The Furloft and Saleshop, built in 1830-1831, is located inside the walls of the fort in the southeast corner, directly across the grounds from a identical warehouse building dating from 1838. It is a two-and-a-half storey, rectangular structure constructed of limestone with a medium pitched hip roof, topped by two stone chimneys, and three gable dormers on each side.
Lower Fort Garry (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2014-0038
Aerial view of Lower Fort Garry (June 2019)
Source: George Penner
The stone walls of Lower Fort Garry (August 2013)
Source: George Penner
Lower Fort Garry (2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
An interior at Lower Fort Garry (August 2013)
Source: George Penner
Southwest bastion at Lower Fort Garry (January 2018)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Big House at Lower Fort Garry (January 2018)
Source: Rose Kuzina
Furloft and Saleshop (July 2010)
Source: George Penner
Warehouse (March 2022)
Source: George PennerSite Coordinates (lat/long): N50.11148, W96.93035
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Memorable Manitobans: James Fraser (1790-1862)
Manitoba Organization: Motor Country Club
Events in Manitoba History: Treaty 1 (August 1871)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Treaty No. 1 Plaque (RM of St. Andrews)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba House (RM of Alonsa)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Upper Fort Garry (Winnipeg)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Plaques for Persons, Events and Sites of National Historic Significance
“Canada given Lower Fort by Hudson’s Bay Company,” Winnipeg Free Press, 26 January 1951, page 1.
We thank George Penner and Rose Kuzina for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 19 November 2022
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