Estate, model farm, residence.

Details of Site Location: Both sides of the East Don River, south of York Mills Road, between Leslie Street and Highway 404.

Boundary History: The estate consisted of 800 acres; another 1,000 acres were leased.

Current Use of Property: Most is occupied by a golf club and the balance is parkland.

Historical Description: David Dunlap was born in 1862 in Pembroke, Ontario, where he received his initial education. He obtained his degree in law from Osgoode Hall and set up a practice in Mattawa, Ontario, where he met the Timmins brothers. Together they formed the La Rose Mining Company, to extract silver at Cobalt. In 1909, they discovered gold and went on to help form Hollinger Mines and Noranda Mines. Dunlap became extremely wealthy. His Toronto house was at 93 Highland Avenue, but he began to acquire land for a summer residence. He purchased the Gray grist and sawmill proper-ties on the East Don and kept adding to them. A house was planned for a site overlooking a large millpond in 1919, and architects Wickson and Gregg were hired. The estate was being converted into a model farm, so the house became one of forty buildings on the property. The cows lived in tiled stalls, had music played to them, and were vacuumed at intervals. Pigs had baths, and the piggery had flower boxes at the windows. The Wickson and Gregg house was Norman in character, with huge stone chimneys and several dormers. The dining room had a beamed ceiling and huge fireplace complete with a bake oven. At the front of the house, a sunroom opened onto a tiled piazza. John Ridpath carved the front door trim and main staircase. Terraces behind the house had lawns and rock gardens, and even a teahouse in Japanese style. The swimming pool was heated. The mill built by James Gray continued to operate into the 20^th century, and the millpond stretched across the valley. David Dunlap died at his city residence in 1924, and his wife, Donalda, then sold the farm. She and her son presented the University of Toronto with the funds to establish the David Dunlap Observatory at Richmond Hill. The farm was taken over by the Don Mills Development Company and became the Donalda Golf Course. A battle is being waged at present to preserve the one barn remaining from the Donalda Farm.

Relative Importance: David and Donalda Dunlap should be remembered for their uses of this huge estate property and for their philanthropy, which was extensive. E.P. Taylor’s conversion of the farm to a housing subdivision and golf course is also worth remembering as the first planned community. Mrs. Dunlap also worked with many charities and in farm management.

Planning Implications: A plaque is recommended for placement at the entrance to the golf course, explaining the history of the land and river.

Reference Sources: Patricia W. Hart, Pioneering in North York (1968); Liz Lundell, The Estates of Old Toronto (1997).

Acknowledgements: Maps Project.