Situated halfway between Newmarket and Bradford, the community of Holland Landing was for centuries a canoe launching place for native Indians, and a post for traders of the Northwest Fur Company. In 1793, Governor John Graves Simcoe discovered what would be the future site of Holland Landing, originally known as St. Albans, and believed this area would make an ideal shipping and defense point between York (now Toronto) and Georgian Bay.

In 1797, Yonge Street was completed to Holland Landing, providing an overland route from York. During the war of 1812, a pine fort is said to have been built by Simcoe near Soldier's Bay to protect against a possible American attack from the north. Although the first settlers had lived on the site since 1802, the beginnings of the village did not occur until about 1820. Growth continued through the 1830's and 1840's and included the establishment of sawmills, a large Inn and tavern, a brewery, a distillery, a tannery, a foundry, grist, flour and woolen mills, hotels, professional offices, stores and churches. By 1853 the trade in grain and lumber, the bustling activity on Yonge Street and the Holland River and the building of the new railway made Holland Landing one of the busiest centres in the watershed.

Taken from The Town of East Gwillimbury's web site.

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