Gibraltar Point

GIBRALTAR POINT

Because of its large and easily defended harbour Lieutenant-
Governor Simcoe decided to make Toronto the naval and
military centre of Upper Canada. This site, guarding the
harbour, was named Gibraltar Point. Fortification was begun
here in 1794 and by 1800 two defensible storehouses and a
guard house had been erected. These buildings were destroyed
by the Americans during the second raid on York (Toronto)
in 1813. By the following May a small blockhouse mounting
one gun had been constructed. This building, in ruins by 1823,
was dismantled some time before 1833 and not replaced. This
area later became known as Hanlans Point after the family of
the world-champion sculler “Ned” Hanlon who settled near here.

Erected by the Archaeological and Historic Sites Board,
Department of Public Records and Archives of Ontario