BYLAW - Heritage Designation 17 Wellington St E (Henry Machell House) - 20230523 - 6504-23The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
By-law Number 6504-23
Being a By-law to designate a property to be of cultural heritage value or
interest (?7 Wellington Street East l'The Henry Machell House").
Whereas under subsection 29(1) of the Ontario Heritage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. 0.18, as
amended, the council of a municipality may, by by-law, designate a property within the
municipality to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas on June 28, 2022, the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora
(the "Town") approved the recommendations contained in Report No. PDS22-042 to
designate the property municipally known as 17 Wellington Street East, as described on
the attached Schedule "A" (the l'Property") to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
And whereas the Town Clerk caused notice of the intention to designate the Property to
be served on the owner of the Property and the Ontario Heritage Trust and published in
a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality;
And whereas there were no objections to the proposed designation of the Property
served on the Town, or a person who has served a notice of objection has withdrawn
the objection;
And whereas the Council of the Town deems it necessary and expedient to enact a by-
law to designate the Property to be of cultural heritage value or interest;
Now therefore the Council of The Corporation of the Town of Aurora hereby enacts
as follows:
1.The Property, as described on the attached Schedule I€A", be and is hereby
designated to be of cultural heritage value or interest.
2.A statement explaining the cultural heritage value or interest of the Property and
a description of the heritage attributes of the Property are set out on the attached
Schedule "Bl'.
3.The Town Clerk shall serve a copy of this by-law on the owner of the Property and
the Ontario Heritage Trust and publish notice of this by-law in a newspaper
having general circulation in the municipality.
4.A copy of this by-law shall be registered against the Property in the appropriate
land registry office.
Enacted by Town of Aurora Council this 23rd day of May, 2023.
AMrakas, Mayor
Michael de Rond, Town Cierk
By-law Number 6504-23 Page 2 of 4
Schedule “A”
Description of Property
All and singular those certain parcels or tracts of land and premises situate, lying and
being in the Town of Aurora, in the Regional Municipality of York, municipally known as
17 Wellington Street East, and being composed of LT 147 PL 246 Aurora, PT LT 1 E/S
Yonge Street PL 68 Aurora as in B24407B, except PT 4 65R7040, being all of PIN 03651-
0008 (LT), including the primary building thereon.
By-law Number 6504-23 Page 3 of 4
Schedule “B”
Statement of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest
17 Wellington Street East is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest based on its design
and physical value, historical and associative value, and contextual value.
Design and Physical Value:
The property is a representative example of a 2 storey Georgian dwelling constructed
circa 1861 as a very early example of the building form and architectural style in Aurora.
The building has unique craftmanship and design due to its symmetrical façade
oriented to Wellington Street East. Further artistic merit is exemplified through the front
elevation with 3-bay façade and central entrance including wood framed window
openings, louvered wood shutters, and the central door opening with pilasters,
entablature, and wood framed transom and sidelights. The property is considered one
of the best original examples of the Georgian style in Town.
Historical and Associative Value:
The building was constructed for Henry Machell in circa 1861, who resided in the house
until his death in 1901. Members of the Machell family are important in the settlement
and development of Aurora in the early to mid 19th century. What is now Aurora was
originally known as “Machell’s Corners” until it was renamed Aurora in 1853. Henry
Machell (b. 1825, d. 1901) was the son of Richard Machell (b. 1793, d. 1868), who was
an early Euro-Canadian settler and original merchant for Aurora. Henry Machell took
over the family business after the death of his father, and was invested in several
businesses in the area including a hotel, livery, and general store. This early
establishment of the area as a destination for commerce and activity was instrumental
in shaping the establishment of Aurora.
Contextual Value:
The property is integral in supporting the character of the Aurora downtown and the
original Machell’s Corners. The building itself has a visual link with the other buildings
along the south side of Wellington Street East, namely 21 and 25 Wellington Street East,
which share a similar scale, massing, orientation and style and collectively add
contextual value as part of establishing the heritage built form and streetscape of the
area. The building is physically, functionally, visually and specifically historically linked
to its surroundings within this downtown core area.
Description of Heritage Attributes
The following provides a description of heritage attributes for the property which
contribute to the reasons for which the property is of Cultural Heritage Value or Interest.
Important to the preservation of the property are the original key attributes of the
building that express its value, which include:
Exterior Elements
• overall 2 storey scale and massing with side gabled roof and return eaves
• All original window and door openings including the louvered shutters and front
elevation 3-bay façade and central entrance as part of the Georgian architectural
style
By-law Number 6504-23 Page 4 of 4
• Red brick chimney at the west end of the roof peak (note that any original
cladding that is uncovered should also be recognized as important to the
preservation of the property)
• Central door opening moulding and trim including pilasters, entablature and
wood framed transom and sidelights