From UBC

The Fraser River Gold Rush (Timeline)

Appendix 1: Early British Columbia Political Timeline, Key Events

1842	Victoria selected for a Hudson's Bay Company post.
1849	Vancouver Island became a British colony [52],[53].
1852	Victoria became a town.
1858	Gold Rush begins with news of the Fraser River discovery reaching San Francisco [54].
19 Nov. 1858	Mainland (New Caledonia) became the "Colony of British Columbia" under Governor James Douglas [55].
1866	Two Crown colonies (Vancouver's Island and British Columbia) were joined to form the "Province of British Columbia" [56].
1868	Victoria becomes the provincial capital [57].
1871	British Columbia enters Confederation [58].