Historic photos from around Fallingbrook, Toronto

Between The Beaches to the west and the Toronto Hunt Club to the east, Fallingbrook is a small community within the greater Birch Cliff area of Scarborough.

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. New! You can now access the photos by street address A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.

 
 

1900 Historic photo from 1900 - Victoria Park on Lake Ontario at Queen Street East, south side at Fallingbrook Road in FallingbrookVictoria Park on Lake Ontario at Queen Street East, south side at Fallingbrook Road
125 years ago - 1900 - Fallingbrook at 23 Fallingbrook Road at Queen Street East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1905 Historic photo from 1905 - Fallingbrook - Sir Donald Manns Summer home - built 1907 - burned down January 26, 1930 in FallingbrookFallingbrook - Sir Donald Manns Summer home - built 1907 - burned down January 26, 1930
(Categorized under: Estates and Houses )
120 years ago - 1905 - Fallingbrook at 151 Fallingbrook Road s.e. corner at Kingston Road
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1913 Historic photo from Tuesday, July 29, 1913 - Victoria Park Forest School, Mess Hall building in FallingbrookVictoria Park Forest School, Mess Hall building
(Categorized under: Schools )
112 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 Historic photo from Tuesday, July 29, 1913 - Victoria Park Forest School - children outdoors on bunks in FallingbrookVictoria Park Forest School - children outdoors on bunks
(Categorized under: Schools )
112 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)
1930 Historic photo from 1930 - Filtration Building - south elevation - blueprints - R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in FallingbrookFiltration Building - south elevation - blueprints - R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
95 years ago - 1930 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location
1930 Historic photo from 1930 - Service Building - south elevation - blueprints - R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant in FallingbrookService Building - south elevation - blueprints - R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
(Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
95 years ago - 1930 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location
1933 Historic photo from Monday, May 15, 1933 - Building the foundations for the west wing retaining wall of the R.C. Harris Plant in FallingbrookBuilding the foundations for the west wing retaining wall of the R.C. Harris Plant
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
92 years ago - Monday, May 15, 1933 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1935 Historic photo from Monday, April 1, 1935 - R.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant from the south-west in FallingbrookR.C. Harris Water Filtration Plant from the south-west
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
90 years ago - Monday, April 1, 1935 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
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)
1935 Historic photo from Monday, April 1, 1935 - Looking west across the excavation by the Lake in front of the R.C. Harris Plant in FallingbrookLooking west across the excavation by the Lake in front of the R.C. Harris Plant
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
90 years ago - Monday, April 1, 1935 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
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)
1935 Historic photo from Thursday, November 28, 1935 - Guniting complete, curve Suction Header No. 1 (a big pipe) in the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario in FallingbrookGuniting complete, curve Suction Header No. 1 (a big pipe) in the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
90 years ago - Thursday, November 28, 1935 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1936 Historic photo from Thursday, March 26, 1936 - Twenty ton crane and steel roof frame during construction of the R.C. Harris Plant in FallingbrookTwenty ton crane and steel roof frame during construction of the R.C. Harris Plant
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
89 years ago - Thursday, March 26, 1936 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1952 Historic photo from Friday, September 26, 1952 - R.C. Harris Purification Plant, east side - lawn, steps, towers in FallingbrookR.C. Harris Purification Plant, east side - lawn, steps, towers
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
73 years ago - Friday, September 26, 1952 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
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 Historic photo from Friday, September 26, 1952 - Tower at east side of the R.C. Harris Purification Plant in FallingbrookTower at east side of the R.C. Harris Purification Plant
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
73 years ago - Friday, September 26, 1952 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at Victoria Park Ave.
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 Historic photo from 1957 - Blantyre Park - then St. John's Training School for Boys, Victoria Park Ave., e. side, opp. Bracken Ave.; recreation hall in FallingbrookBlantyre Park - then St. John's Training School for Boys, Victoria Park Ave., e. side, opp. Bracken Ave.; recreation hall
(Categorized under: Estates and Houses --- Schools )
68 years ago - 1957 - Fallingbrook at 180 Fallingbrook Road
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1957 Historic photo from 1957 - Blantyre Park - part of 60 acre estate purchased in 1858 by Peter Paterson Jr in FallingbrookBlantyre Park - part of 60 acre estate purchased in 1858 by Peter Paterson Jr
(Categorized under: Estates and Houses )
68 years ago - 1957 - Fallingbrook at 180 Fallingbrook Road
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1985 Historic photo from 1985 - Art Deco entrance to the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario in FallingbrookArt Deco entrance to the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
40 years ago - 1985 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1986 Historic photo from 1986 - Aerial view of the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario in FallingbrookAerial view of the R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
39 years ago - 1986 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2011 Historic photo from Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - Filtration room, R.C. Harris water treatment plant at 2701 Queen St. E. at the foot of Victoria Park Ave in FallingbrookFiltration room, R.C. Harris water treatment plant at 2701 Queen St. E. at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
14 years ago - Wednesday, May 11, 2011 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East foot of Victoria Park Ave.
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2013 Historic photo from 2013 - Water Plant Rotunda - acrylic painting by Boyer, George, 1954- in FallingbrookWater Plant Rotunda - acrylic painting by Boyer, George, 1954-
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
12 years ago - 2013 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East foot of Victoria Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2013 Historic photo from 2013 - Water Plant Rotunda - acrylic painting by Boyer, George, 1954- in FallingbrookWater Plant Rotunda - acrylic painting by Boyer, George, 1954-
12 years ago - 2013 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East foot of Victoria Park
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
2015 Historic photo from Monday, July 6, 2015 - Complete north facade of the Filter Building at the R.C. Harris Plant in FallingbrookComplete north facade of the Filter Building at the R.C. Harris Plant
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
10 years ago - Monday, July 6, 2015 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
2016 Historic photo from Sunday, May 29, 2016 - Interior - filter operating galleries in the Filter Building R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario in FallingbrookInterior - filter operating galleries in the Filter Building R.C. Harris Plant along Lake Ontario
(Categorized under: R C Harris Water Treatment Plant )
9 years ago - Sunday, May 29, 2016 - Fallingbrook at 2701 Queen Street East at the foot of Victoria Park Ave
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)