[2] In the winter of 1852–53, a Scottish shepherd, Peter Brown, was killed by two natives, one from Cowichan the other from Snuneymuxw.

They were tried on the ship SS Beaver on 17 January 1853 and hung the same day at Execution Point[3] on Douglas Island.

In 1910-1911, a series of dams were built by the along the river by the Western Fuel Company to supply water to the miners for coal washing.

The city of Nanaimo turned this area into a park with swimming, walking trails, and picnicking.

One such chasm known to locals simply as The Abyss, located about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Upper Colliery Dam, has become a popular destination for tourists, hikers, and geologists.