Georgina’s Historical Lakeshore Communities sit gracefully on the shores of Lake Simcoe offering an prestigious setting, in the province. These charming communities, such as Eastbourne, Orchard Beach, Roches Point Mays Wharf and Balfour Beach along with the cottages lining Lake Drive East. The properties boast lots that strike a balance between space and neighbourly connections. Some cottages provide access to the lakefront while others offer a waterfront experience where a simple street crossing leads you to your own dock. The older homes exude a charm with their craftsman style design while newer cottages showcase sizes with a distinct waterfront architectural style that pays homage to the original cottages yet incorporates modern elements, for contemporary living purposes throughout all seasons.
History Of Historic Lakeshore Communities, Georgina
Roches Point derives its name from James Roche, who acquired a land patent in 1803. Initially known as Keswick, this small community eventually adopted the name Roches Point due to its location on a piece of land. Originally part of the Township of North Gwillimbury, Roches Point was envisioned as a town with plans that never materialized despite its picturesque setting.
However Roches Point was overshadowed by its neighbour, Medina Village. When the first post office in the area opened in Medina in 1836 it was mistakenly named Keswick and the error persisted. As fate would have it Medina became known as Keswick while Roches Point transitioned from a mere land descriptor to a village name. By then the village boasted its church and schoolhouse including Christ Church Roches Point which was constructed in 1862 and is renowned for its English style stone architecture.
The establishment of Eastbourne Golf Club in 1914 beyond Roches Point drew vacationers to the area. Club members were instrumental in building some of the cottages, along Lake Drive, many of which still stand majestically today overlooking Lake Simcoe.
The number of vacationers in the area grew more in 1926 when the Balfour Beach cottage community was established by the Dunkelman family. After Camp Katonim was opened in 1932 by Rose and David Dunkelman along with the Balfour Beach Association.
In 1971, when the Regional Municipality of York was established the municipal boundaries were. The historic lakeshore communities of Lake Simcoe became part of the Town of Georgina where they have thrived as both a summer retreat and a year round residential area.
Lifestyle
The commercial district, in Uptown Keswick located around The Queensway and Simcoe Avenue, boasts several quaint shopping centres housing amenities such as a supermarket, a butcher shop, wine outlets, dining establishments, cafes, a florist shop, thrift stores, apparel boutiques and many other offerings.
Historic Lakeshore Communities Parks & Facilities
This charming lakeside community offers a range of leisure activities throughout the year including boating and fishing in the summer and ice fishing and snowmobiling, in the winter. A picturesque road, Lake Drive meanders along the shoreline with speed limits making it an ideal route for a bike ride. Along this drive are public beaches where you can relax and cool off during the summer months. Golf enthusiasts will be delighted by the abundance of both private golf courses in the area including the Eastbourne Golf Club with a rich history spanning over a century.
The region boasts parks and recreational facilities that cater to all ages. Parks within Historic Lakeshore Communities offer playgrounds for children sports amenities, skating rinks and access to water activities. In total there are 8 parks in these communities housing 47 facilities—an average of 5 facilities, per park.
- Number of Parks: 8
- Number of Recreation Facilities: 47
Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks
- Playgrounds – 5
- Rink – 1
- Tennis Courts – 4
- Volleyball Courts – 3
- Basketball Courts – 2
- Ball Diamonds – 5
- Sports Fields – 10
- Splash Pad – 1
- Golf Course – 1
- Beach – 1
- Winter Sports Facilities – 3
- Outdoor Games Facility – 1
- Boating Facility – 1
- BMX Track – 1
- Climbing Wall – 1
- Country Club – 1
- Archery Range – 1
- Fishing Locations – 2
- Trails – 2
- Arts/Performance Facility – 1
Historic Lakeshore Communities Transit
In this area there are a total of 70 transit stops. The Historic Lakeshore Communities primarily consist of people who commute by car with the majority traveling to another city for work.
Resident Commuting Destinations
- Commute within the city – 30%
- Commute to another city – 68%
Types of Commutes
- Vehicle – 93%
- Transit – 2%
- Walk/bike – 2%
Residents Commuting Schedules
- 15 to 29 minutes – 18%
- 30 to 44 minutes – 21%
- 45 to 59 minutes – 13%
- 60 minutes and over – 27%
- Less than 15 minutes – 19%
Historic Lakeshore Communities Elementary, Secondary High Schools
The Historic Lakeshore Communities boast schools, specialized programs, for elementary and secondary education. This neighbourhood is served by a total of 6 schools and 5 Catholic schools. The local schools offer programs such as French Immersion, Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate.
- Public Schools: 6
- Catholic Schools: 5
Public
- Deer Park PS
- Sutton DHS
- Keswick PS
- ÉS Norval-Morrisseau
- Keswick HS
- Lakeside PS
Catholic
- St Thomas Aquinas Catholic ES
- Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Academy
- ÉSC Renaissance
- St Bernadette’s Catholic ES
- ÉÉC Jean-Béliveau
Historic Lakeshore Communities Homes
The charming community of Roches Point, along Lake Drive North boasts some of the waterfront properties in Ontario. The quaint village centre on Metro Road features a mix of cottages and charming year round homes that exude a charm.
As you stroll down Lake Drive East you’ll pass by frame cottages gradually being replaced by new custom homes that embrace a beachfront style complete with spacious front porches and unique architectural touches. Some of these houses have transitioned into year round residences equipped with all the amenities.
In the Historic Lakeshore Communities area you’ll find detached homes. This neighbourhood maintains a population with 36% of households having relocated within the 5 years and 13% having moved within the past year. It offers a blend of newer houses most of which are owner occupied.