Living in Aurora Highlands
Aurora Highlands as its name would suggest is situated on a high plateau of land and at a higher elevation than most parts of Aurora. The land forming the south border of this neighbourhood is conservation land that is part of the Oak Ridges Moraine. Aurora Highlands is one of Aurora’s largest neighbourhoods in terms of land mass. Aurora Highlands is a family oriented neighbourhood with a diverse mix of housing and an abundance of greenspace. Neighbourhood landmarks include the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail and the Highland Gate Trail, Aurora High School. Regency Acres Public School, Aurora Shopping Centre, Confederation Park, Case Woodlot and Theatre Aurora.
The former Highland Golf Course which occupied a large swath of land in the south part of the neighbourhood is currently being redeveloped into a luxury new home development called Allegro.
History of Aurora Highlands
The original Crown land grants in Aurora Highlands were as follows:Lot 80 granted in 1805 to William Tyler, Lot 79 granted in 1803 to William Kennedy, Lot 78 in 1806 to John Dean Fisk, Lot 77 in 1802 to Henry Harman, and Lot 76 in 1799 to Alex Gardiner.These men had varying influences on the early settlement of the area. Among the more prominent were William Tyler who donated land for the first Methodist Church and William Kennedy who operated a Tannery and whose son became the public school board chairman and built the first school in Aurora.
The family of Charles Irwin were the primary landowners by the the 1860s according to the authoritative Tremain map. The Irwin’s established a prominent grist mill on the banks of the creek that flowed through their property. The creek did not generate a high water flow but did generate enough water to support a handful of small mill complexes in addition to the Irwin mill. Aurora Highlands remained largely rural with some light industry until 1931 when the Aurora Highlands Golf club opened. In the ensuing years residential pockets would develop around the golf course which remained a neighbourhood landmark until it was sold in 2014. It is now slated to become a luxury new home development.
Homes in Aurora Highlands
Aurora Highlands offers homebuyers a diverse mix of housing options. The Regency Acres community located around Regency Acres Public School located on Murray Drive features a mix of quaint homes built in the 1960s and 70s including: detached 2-storey, semi-detached, and split-level houses as well as bungalows.
The most recent development in the neighbourhood is Allegro an executive style collection of luxury 4 and 5 bedroom homes. Allegro is located on a former golf course property. These high-end homes are situated on premium 52 and 61 foot wide lots and are surrounded by mature trees.
Many Aurora Highlands homes back onto greenspace and parkland.
Arts in Aurora Highlands
Theatre Aurora (founded in 1958) is a member of the Association of Community Theatres – Central Ontario (ACT-CO), and a member of Theatre Ontario. The organization has received many nominations and awards at the annual ACT-CO festival and has been honoured with an invitation to remount a production for the Theatre Ontario Festival. With a strong mandate for education, especially for young members. Theatre Aurora provides the talent resources, through volunteer members and professionals in the field, to enhance this work. Theatre Aurora’s volunteers currently produce five shows each season (September – June).