Community

Williams Creek, from which the Company takes its name, is located in the Quesnel Highlands of the Central Interior of British Columbia. The creek flows from the summit of Bald Mountain and through the historic gold mining towns of Richfield and Barkerville before joining another stream to become the headwaters of the Willow River between Barkerville and the town of Wells.

Williams Creek was named for Wilhelm Dietz, a Prussian sailor who was the first to discover gold on the creek. The creek was quickly staked by his companions and soon after by others. Williams Creek became the most important and richest digging area in the Cariboo goldfields, giving birth to the towns of Richfield, Barkerville and Cameronton, which collectively were at one time known as Williams Creek. Barkerville and Camerontown were named for two of Dietz's companions.

During the 19th Century gold rush, Barkerville was once the largest city north of San Francisco and west of Chicago. It is now preserved as a provincial historic site. Barkerville is located on the western edge of Williams Creek, 80 kilometres (50 mi) east of Quesnel along BC Highway 26, which follows the route to Barkerville, Wells, and the former sites of the historic gold producing Cariboo Gold Quartz and Island Mountain mines.

Barkerville can be found on Google Maps at Barkerville, BC V0K 1RO.

To learn more, click here to download our historic brochure about the area, or visit www.barkerville.ca