Spadina Museum

Spadina Museum

Spadina House and Gardens

Spadina Museum or Spadina House is an historic three storey manor surrounded by gardens, located on the Davenport Hill, along the Spadina Road close to Toronto downtown. The museum is also known for its gardens.

Spadina House is now a museum operated by the City of Toronto Cultural Services. The building is preserved much as it existed more than one century ago. Its décor, artworks and architecture reflect the styles of the 1860s through the 1930s. Theses architectural and artistic styles include Victorian, Edwardian, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, Art Nouveau and Colonial Revival periods.

The Spadina estate’s gardens reflect the landscape during the Austin family’s occupation of the house.

Spadina House is preserved much as it existed more than one century ago. Photo by Elena

Spadina Garden. Spadina gardens are quite and calm. Photograph by © Elena

The first house constructed on the Spadina Hill was built in 1818 by Dr. William Warren Baldwin. It was him who named his 200-acre property and estate Spadina, which derived from the native word espadinong (“sudden rise of land” in aboriginal language).The first two storey wood frame house burnt down in 1835. Dr. Baldwinbuilt a smaller country estate on the property in 1836.

In 1866 James Austin, a wealthy banker, founder of the Dominion Bank, acquired the land. In the 19th and early 20th century the area of the Spadina Hill was the wealthiest in Toronto. A number of Toronto’s leading families had large estates here. In 1892, James Austin turned over the house, and 20 acres of the property to his son, Albert William Austin. Albert Austin expanded the house in several renovations, including the addition of a third floor in 1912. The architects who collaborated in expanding the house were Vaux Chadwick and Eustace Bird.

Spadina Museum. Spadina House. Spadina Museum or Spadina House is an historic three storey manor surrounded by gardens, located on the Davenport Hill, close to Toronto downtown. Photograph by © Elena

Albert Austin sold much of the property to the City of Toronto in 1913 for the construction of the St. Clair Reservoir. Albert Austin died in 1933. The last member of the family to live in the house was Anna Kathleen Thompson, a daughter of Albert Austin. She lived there from 1942 until 1982.

In 1984 the house opened as a museum, jointly owned by the city and the Ontario Heritage Foundation and operated by the City of Toronto. The museum is also known for its gardens.

Address of Spadina Museum:

285 Spadina Road

Spadina Museum Garden. Small but very cozy, Spadina Museum gardens invite you and your family. Photograph by © Elena

In tribute to Marian Lawson, donated bu the Garden Club of Toronto. Photo by Elena

The house was built between 1866 and 1903 and renovated a few times. Photo by Elena

The Spadina estate's gardens reflect the landscape during the Austin family's occupation of the house. Photo by Elena

The Spadina Museum is known for its gardens. Photo by Elena

Spadina gardens greenhouse. Photo by Elena

You can stroll among the garden plants. Photo by Elena

Spadina Museum landcape tour is offered to the visitors. Photo by Elena

Spadina's décor, artworks and architecture reflect the styles of the 1860s through the 1930s. Photo by Elena

Spadina museum and its gardens are located close to Toronto downton. Photo by Elena

Enjoy these green space in any time and in any season of the year. Photo by Elena

In 1984 the house opened as a museum, jointly owned by the city and the Ontario Heritage Foundation and operated by the City of Toronto. Photo by Elena

White flowers in Spadine Garden. Photo by Elena, in memory.