As Victoria grew as a port and a gateway to the gold rush, access to healthcare was desperately needed. Between 1858 and 1868, a series of hospitals were established with this purpose but each time were too small or unequipped to adequately treat the growing populations with advancements in medical science. 

In 1991, construction at Royal Jubilee Hospital uncovered a rubbish heap from when the hospital first opened in the 1890s. A team of archaeologists volunteered to excavate the artifacts, and the collections came to the Royal BC Museum archaeological repository. The artifacts are a critical record of early healthcare and community in Western Canada.