This sculpture references the Gold Rush of 1858 that brought many people to Fort Victoria. This sculpture is situated near the Custom House, where mining licenses were administered.
It is one of 12 bronze sculptures of life-size hands engaged in activities that symbolize the Capital City's history and identity can be explored around downtown Victoria. Explore and discover these artworks with The Hands of Time Walking Tour Brochure.
The artworks are located around Victoria's Inner Harbour, with one art piece at City Hall, The Hudson, along the Songhees Walkway, and another at the top of Beacon Hill at Beacon Hill Park. The artworks can be found on buildings, lamp standards, rocks in landscaped areas, and on bedrock.
Each pair of three-dimensional hands is unique, varying in culture, age and gender, and tells a story about a downtown location. The Hands of Time reveals a depth of meaning about Victoria – quietly symbolizing significant elements, eras, and stories of Victoria through the ages to the present, beckoning exploration and contemplation.
The 12 sculptures are representative of the 12 numbers on the clock face, 12 months in a year, and Victoria's sesquicentennial in 2012.