| Feature Type: | Hill - Elevation of terrain rising prominently above the surrounding land. |
| Status: | Official |
| Name Authority: | BC Geographical Names Office |
| Relative Location: | Between Elk and Prospect Lakes at S end of Saanich Peninsula, just N of Victoria, Lake Land District |
| Latitude-Longitude: | 48°31'11"N, 123°25'07"W at the approximate centre of this feature. |
| Datum: | WGS84 |
| NTS Map: | 92B/11 |
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Origin Notes and History:
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Observatory Hill adopted in the 18th Report of the Geographic Board of Canada, 31 March 1924, as recommended by BC December 26, 1917. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |
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Labelled "Saanich Hill" on J.D. Pemberton's 1855 map "Southeastern Districts of Vancouver Island", and on Geological Survey sheet 21A, Saanich, 1911, etc. Identified as "Little Saanich Mountain" elsewhere [map/document titles or dates not cited.] The more distinctive name "Observatory Hill" was submitted to BC Geographic Division 10 December 1917 by J.S. Plaskett, director of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory located on the hill. Source: BC place name cards, or correspondence to/from BC's Chief Geographer or BC Geographical Names Office |