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St. Andrews on the Hill Aurora

History of St. Andrews on the Hill

St. Andrews, on the Hill originally formed part of a 210 acre land grant given to William Hughes in 1803. Hughes diligently cleared the forest on his property to meet the conditions of his Crown grant. In 1820 he sold his portion of land to Dennis Fitzgerald for a sum of $2000.00. After in 1827 Thomas Cosford acquired the Fitzgerald property at a low price of $1800.00. Born in England in 1796 Cosford immigrated to Canada in 1811. Was highly skilled as both a blacksmith and carriage maker by profession.

Cosfords property became known as Willow Farm while their actual farmhouse was referred to as Oakland Cottage—a name associated with the home of the Cosford family in England. Cosford married Nancy Pearson, whose family owned the farm situated north of their property. Together they had three children named Thomas William, Mary Ann and Jane.

At one point in time the Cosford family owned properties at four corners of Yonge Street and St. Johns Sideroad—later recognized as Cosford’s Corners.

The ownership of Willow Farm remained within the Cosford family until 1903 when it changed hands times before St. Andrews College arrived on campus in 1926.

Prior to the development of the neighborhood known as St. Andrews On The Hill, during the 1980s SAC was encompassed by farmland.
Willow Farm Lane, the street, in our neighborhood serves as a reminder of our community’s rich history. Please note that Willow Farm still stands today as a owned residence situated off St. Johns Sideroad. The southern section of our neighborhood was once part of the Aurora Orchard real estate development, which commenced back in 1965.

This ambitious project marked the endeavor ever undertaken in Auroras history. It is worth noting that this planned mixed use community was previously an apple orchard. During the approval process, with the Aurora Town Council it was emphatically stipulated that a remarkable 3,000 apple trees must be preserved on the premises to honor and preserve a link to the cherished heritage of our neighborhood.

Lifestyle

The St. Andrews Shopping Centre, located off Yonge Street is a known landmark, in the neighborhood. One of its features is the clock tower that adds to its charm. This delightful outdoor plaza offers cobblestone walkways beautifully landscaped gardens and cozy sitting areas. Shoppers can find a variety of fashion stores, restaurants, health and wellness establishments as professional offices all in one place, at this popular shopping destination.

St. Andrews on the Hill

St. Andrews On The Hill is a neighborhood known for its family atmosphere. It has developed around the St. Andrews College, one of the private boys schools, in Canada. Situated on the outskirts of the magnificent Oak Ridges Moraine, St. Andrews On The Hill enjoys a landscape with trees lining its streets.

The roads gracefully meander up and down hills following the contours of the land. The presence of lands and horse farms bordering this area in Newmarket to the north and King Township to the west creates a countryside ambiance. It’s quite a contrast from bustling Yonge Street, which lies adjacent, to St. Andrews College and serves as the neighborhoods boundary.

Transit

In the Hills of St. Andrew neighborhood there are a total of 10 transit stops. This area mainly consists of people who commute using vehicles and a majority of them travel to another city, for work or other purposes.

Destination of Residents Commute

  • Commute within the city – 22%
  • Commute to another city – 77%

Various Modes of Commuting

  • Vehicle – 83%
  • Transit – 12%
  • Walk/bike – 2%

Duration of Residents Commutes

  • 15 to 29 minutes – 22%
  • 30 to 44 minutes – 21%
  • 45 to 59 minutes – 14%
  • 60 minutes and over – 21%
  • Less than 15 minutes – 20%

St. Andrews on the Hill Elementary, Secondary and High Schools

The Hills of St. Andrew area boasts Elementary, Secondary and High Schools offering a variety of special programs. There are a total of 8 schools, 6 Catholic schools and 1 private school catering, to the residents of Hills of St. Andrew. These local schools provide programs such, as French Immersion, All Male education, International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement courses.

  • Public Schools: 8
  • Catholic Schools: 6
  • Private Schools: 1

Public

  • Aurora Heights PS
  • Aurora HS
  • Lester B. Pearson PS
  • Académie de la Moraine
  • Terry Fox PS
  • Devins Drive PS
  • ÉS Norval-Morrisseau
  • Sir William Mulock SS

Catholic

  • ÉÉC Saint-Jean
  • St. Joseph Catholic ES
  • ÉSC Renaissance
  • Our Lady of Grace Catholic ES
  • St John Chrysostom Catholic ES
  • St. Maximilian Kolbe HS

Private

  • St. Andrew’s College

St. Andrews on the Hill Parks & Facilities

Finding fun at the parks, in this area is a breeze. The Hills of St. Andrew parks offer playgrounds for children with a total of three parks and four recreational facilities. On average each park has one facility.

  • Number of Parks: 3
  • Number of Recreation Facilities: 4

Recreation Facilities in Neighbourhood Parks

  • Playgrounds – 3
  • Trail – 1

St. Andrews on the Hill Homes

St. Andrews, on the Hill is an exclusive neighborhood with high end homes situated on desirable lots. This community is located in the part of Aurora characterized by its terrain and charming streets that often wind their way to peaceful cul de sacs.

The luxurious homes, in this area predominantly feature architecture, adorned with brick exteriors. It is customary for these homes to have two or three car garages integrated into their designs. The properties are meticulously landscaped, boasting trees lining the streets and creating a canopy effect.

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