The barracks were built by the Royal Engineers' Office between 1880 and 1886. In 1873 a system of recruiting areas based on counties had been instituted under the
Cardwell Reforms and the barracks were intended to become the
depot for the
71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot and the
78th (Highlanders) Regiment of Foot. Following the
Childers Reforms, the barracks became depot of the
Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders in 1881. The barracks remained in use as the base of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders until September 1960, when the regiment moved to
Fort George, shortly before the amalgamation of Seaforths and Camerons. On 15 November 2025, a peaceful protest and counter-protest took place on the Inverness High Street, with no reported arrests. ==Architecture==