Spadina and the Austins
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.
Plaque via Alan L. Brown's site Toronto Plaques. Full page here.