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.
Building
Location
Function
B01 (Warehouse)
c1838
Storage, barracks (1846-1848, 1870), penitentiary (1871-1877), psychiatric facility (1885-1886), maids’ quarters
B02 (Northeast Bastion)
Late 1840s
Gunpowder magazine
B03 (Southeast Bastion)
1845-1846
Icehouse, provision store (1873-1874), washroom facilities
B04 (York Boat)
?
Water transport
B05 (Fur Loft/Sales Shop)
1830-1831
Storage, fur pelt preparation, sales
B06 (Museum)
1965-1966
Houses the exhibit “First Nations and Métis Peoples of the Lower Red River”
B07 (Southwest Bastion)
1847
Wash house, cook house, storage
B08 (Men’s House)
1852
HBC labourer and tradesmen living quarters, psychiatric facility – women’s ward (1885-1886), stable, icehouse, storage
B09 (Northwest Bastion)
Sometime between 1841-1848
Bakehouse, stable (1890s), icehouse
B10 (Big House)
1830-1832 (annex in 1840)
HBC governor’s residence, multi-use officials’ housing
B11 (Doctor’s Office)
1885
Doctor’s office
Map of buildings at Lower Fort Garry (no date)
Source: Milan Lukes
Postcard aerial view of Lower Fort Garry (no date)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough, 2014-0038
Postcard aerial view of Lower Fort Garry (1970s)
Source: Milan Lukes
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 (September 2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
An interior at Lower Fort Garry (August 2013)
Source: George Penner
B07 Southwest Bastion at Lower Fort Garry (January 2018)
Source: Rose Kuzina
B10 Big House at Lower Fort Garry (January 2018)
Source: Rose Kuzina
B05 Furloft and Saleshop (July 2010)
Source: George Penner
B01 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: Guest Cottage (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 and Milan Lukes.
Page revised: 5 April 2026
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