Dominion Seed House. 1940s
Dominion Seed House was a legendary company in Georgetown. Founded by William Bradley in 1928, it became known across Canada as the largest mail-order seed and plant store. The company sold seeds, cuttings and bulbs of flowers and vegetables.
The business specialized in mail-order sales of flower and vegetable seeds, as well as cuttings and bulbs, and grew to become one of the largest and most well-known mail-order seed suppliers in Canada. For much of its history, it operated primarily as a mail-order business, though it later included some on-site elements, such as a garden centre.
After William Bradley’s death in November 1953, his daughter, Margaret Bradley Harding, took over as president and led the company for decades.
In 1993, Margaret Harding sold the business to W. H. Perron (a Quebec-based company). Operations in Georgetown wound down: the garden centre closed around 1994, and the iconic mock-Tudor style building (a local landmark and tourist draw) was eventually demolished in 1999 after the property was sold for redevelopment.
Perron Seeds continues the Dominion Seed House name and tradition in some form today, with the postal address still listed in Georgetown. The company put Georgetown “on the map” nationally through its success and distinctive presence.
Dominion Seed House 1940s
Dominion Seed House 1940s
William and Margaret Bradley
The site has since been transformed into the Old Seed House Garden, a 1.8-acre public civic garden at the corner of Maple Avenue and Guelph Street in Georgetown (now part of Halton Hills). It honours the company’s legacy with formal gardens, pathways, a pond, and features that incorporate remnants of the original property, such as old barn foundations. The garden serves as a community haven for people and wildlife.