Discover Toronto's history as told through its plaques

2004 - Now in our 15th Year - 2019

To see what's new on this site, you can visit the Home Page

Looking at this page on a smartphone?
For best viewing, hold your phone in Landscape mode (Horizontal)

Spadina and the Austins

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2011

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

At 285 Spadina Road is the Spadina Estate, now a museum. The plaque describing it can be found a little way south at the top of the Baldwin Steps on the west side. Here's what the plaque says:

Coordinates: 43.677709 -79.408319

The present Spadina estate at the crest of this hill, originally comprising 52 hectares of land, was occupied by the Austin family for more than 100 years. James Austin (1813-1897) built his residence in 1866, incorporating the foundations of the earlier Baldwin's Spadina. A prominent businessman and financier, Austin was a founder and first president of the Dominion Bank in 1870. In this capacity he was responsible for the institution of the branch banking system in Canada. He was also president of the Consumers Gas Company for over two decades, being first elected to that position in 1874. After his death his son Albert W. Austin (1857-1934), also a successful businessman and financier, inherited Spadina. He made alterations and additions to the house and property in 1897-1898, 1905 and 1912-1913 giving the estate its present appearance. In 1978, with the support of his daughter, Mrs. Anna Kathleen Austin Thompson, and her son Austin Seton Thompson, the property was purchased jointly by the City of Toronto and the Ontario Heritage Trust. The restored Spadina was opened to the public in 1984 as a historic house museum illustrating the life-style of four generations of one family. It is operated by the Toronto Historical Board.

Other plaques on the Baldwin Steps
The Baldwin Family
The Baldwin Steps
Casa Loma and the Pellatts

Related Toronto plaques
The Baldwin Steps
Dominion Bank Building

More
Residential buildings

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

(none yet)

Here's where you can send me a comment for this page.

Note: Your email address will be posted at the end of your comment so others can respond to you unless you request otherwise.

Note: Comments are moderated. Yours will appear on this page within 24 hours (usually much sooner).

Note: As soon as I have posted your comment, a reply to your email will be sent informing you.

To send me your comment, click [email protected].

Thanks
Webmaster

Note: If you wish to send me a personal email, click here.