Georges Island: public granted access to historic island in Halifax harbour

Ottawa has announced the public will soon be able to visit Georges Island, the national historic site in the middle of Halifax harbour, on weekend boat tours.

Halifax MP Andy Fillmore made the announcement Thursday from the small island, which has been largely off limits for years, mainly because of safety concerns.

READ MORE: Passenger ferry to Halifax’s Georges Island on deck for this summer

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Designated a historic site in 1965, the Island was fortified by the British military in 1750 and served as detention centre during the deportation of Nova Scotia’s Acadian population between 1755 and 1763.

Its military installations include Fort Charlotte, which is known for housing two seaward-facing artillery batteries and an underground tunnel complex.

READ MORE: Halifax Harbour historic site gets $2 million for wharf to improve access

The island is also the site of one of Canada’s first fully automated lighthouses.

In August 2019, the federal government announced it would spend more than $2 million to build a permanent wharf with floating docks.