The area gets its name from one of the first houses in the area - the Anglican Reverend Charles Winstanley's house "Falling Brook" built in 1844. Railroad baron Sir Donald Mann modified the name to Fallingbrook when he built his summer home in 1907.
Another estate in the area, Blantyre Park, was divided up with the property along the lake leased to the Victoria Amusement Park which operated from 1878 to 1912. Once closed, the land was used for the Victoria Park Forest school for a while, before the land that eventually became the R.C. Harris Filtration plant.
The neighbourhood is now home to many wonderful homes, and remains one of the few places in Toronto that has private access to Lake Ontario.
List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date.
A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.
1905 | ![]() | Fallingbrook - Sir Donald Manns Summer home - built 1907 - burned down January 26, 1930 (Categorized under: Estates and Houses ) 118 years ago - 1905 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1913 | ![]() | Victoria Park Forest School, Mess Hall building 110 years ago - Tuesday, July 29, 1913 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 30.6°C - Min temp: 17.8°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1913 | ![]() | Children outdoors on bunks at the Victoria Park Forest School 110 years ago - Tuesday, July 29, 1913 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 30.6°C - Min temp: 17.8°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1935 | ![]() | R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant from the south-west 88 years ago - Monday, April 1, 1935 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 3.9°C - Min temp: 0.6°C - 0.8cm of snowfall (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1952 | ![]() | R.C. Harris Purification Plant, east side - lawn, steps, towers 71 years ago - Friday, September 26, 1952 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 16.7°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1952 | ![]() | Tower at east side of the R.C. Harris Purification Plant 71 years ago - Friday, September 26, 1952 - Fallingbrook Max temp: 16.7°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
1957 | Blantyre Park - then St. John's Training School for Boys, Victoria Park Ave., e. side, opp. Bracken Ave.; recreation hall (Categorized under: Estates and Houses ) 66 years ago - 1957 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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1957 | Blantyre Park - part of 60 acre estate purchased in 1858 by Peter Paterson Jr (Categorized under: Estates and Houses ) 66 years ago - 1957 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
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1985 | ![]() | Art Deco entrance to the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario 38 years ago - 1985 - Fallingbrook Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |