Chorley Park

The forth, and final, Government House in Ontario was called Chorley Park. Designed by Francis R. Heakes in a French Renaissance style, it was built of Credit Valley stone between 1911 and 1915 on 14 acres of the still relatively undeveloped Rosedale neighbourhood. One of the most expensive residences ever constructed in Canada up to that point, it cost over a million dollars.

But the lavish building was expensive to maintain, and even heat, especially as the world slide into The Depression, and was closed in 1937. It was acquired by the federal government and used as a military hospital, RCMP headquarters in Toronto, and a residence for refugees of the 1956 Hungarian uprising.

Finally, in 1960 the City of Toronto bought the building and property, and in 1961 the building was demolished and the grounds were turned into a park.

List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.

And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of Government House photos.

1910 Historic photo from 1910 - Government House, Chorley Park, Rosedale in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, Rosedale
115 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1910
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911 Historic photo from 1911 - Foundations and bridge for Government House (Chorley Park) in Don Valley BrickworksFoundations and bridge for Government House (Chorley Park)
114 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1911
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912 Historic photo from 1912 - Government House, Chorley Park, Rosedale in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, Rosedale
113 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1912
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from 1915 - Aerial watercolour view by the architect Elmer H. Russell of the fountain and Chorley Park in Don Valley BrickworksAerial watercolour view by the architect Elmer H. Russell of the fountain and Chorley Park
110 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1915
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1915 Historic photo from 1915 - Chorley Park dining room in Don Valley BrickworksChorley Park dining room
110 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1915
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1915 Historic photo from 1915 - Chorley Park - History of Ontario Vice-Regal Residences in Don Valley BrickworksChorley Park - History of Ontario Vice-Regal Residences
110 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1915
Link to archive record - Map location
1916 Historic photo from 1916 - Government House (1915-1937), path, under bridge betw. inner and outer courts in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House (1915-1937), path, under bridge betw. inner and outer courts
109 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1916
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1916 Historic photo from 1916 - Government House (1915-1937) - Interior, billiard room in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House (1915-1937) - Interior, billiard room
109 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1916
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1916 Historic photo from 1916 - Government House (1915-1937); Interior, blue parlour with furnishings in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House (1915-1937); Interior, blue parlour with furnishings
109 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1916
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1923 Historic photo from Tuesday, November 20, 1923 - Chorley Park, residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario in Don Valley BrickworksChorley Park, residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario
102 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - Tuesday, November 20, 1923
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1925 Historic photo from Saturday, July 25, 1925 - Front view of Lt.-Governors residence Chorley Park - in Rosedale in Don Valley BrickworksFront view of Lt.-Governors residence Chorley Park - in Rosedale
100 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - Saturday, July 25, 1925
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1926 Historic photo from Sunday, July 25, 1926 - Side view of Ontario Government House, Chorley Park, Toronto in Don Valley BrickworksSide view of Ontario Government House, Chorley Park, Toronto
99 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - Sunday, July 25, 1926
Max temp: 23.9°C - Min temp: 15.6°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1930 Historic photo from 1930 - Areal photo of Government House, Chorley Park in Don Valley BrickworksAreal photo of Government House, Chorley Park
95 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1930
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1948 Historic photo from 1948 - Plan of Chorley Park when it was used as a hospital in Don Valley BrickworksPlan of Chorley Park when it was used as a hospital
77 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1948
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Government House, Chorley Park, main entrance in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, main entrance
75 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1950
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Government House, Chorley Park, west tower in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, west tower
75 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1950
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Government House, Chorley Park, view from west in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, view from west
75 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1950
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Government House, Chorley Park, main entrance in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, main entrance
75 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1950
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1950 Historic photo from 1950 - Government House, Chorley Park, south entrance in Don Valley BrickworksGovernment House, Chorley Park, south entrance
75 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1950
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1955 Historic photo from Thursday, March 24, 1955 - Plan of Chorley Park when it was used as R.C.M.P. offices - #2 building in Don Valley BrickworksPlan of Chorley Park when it was used as R.C.M.P. offices - #2 building
70 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - Thursday, March 24, 1955
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1959 Historic photo from 1959 - Front view of Chorley Park during its demolition in Don Valley BrickworksFront view of Chorley Park during its demolition
66 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1959
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1959 Historic photo from 1959 - Side view of Chorley Park during its demolition in Don Valley BrickworksSide view of Chorley Park during its demolition
66 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1959
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1959 Historic photo from 1959 - View of Chorley Park during its demolition in Don Valley BrickworksView of Chorley Park during its demolition
66 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1959
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1959 Historic photo from 1959 - Winter scene showing the bridge in front of Chorley Park in Don Valley BrickworksWinter scene showing the bridge in front of Chorley Park
66 years ago - Don Valley Brickworks - 1959
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)