The Nordheimer Ravine also cuts through the area, which is surrounded by Sir Winston Churchill Park.

The first settlers of York, Upper Canada, divided the area that would become South Hill into concessions in 1793.

These included Senator John Macdonald's Oaklands, the Eaton family's Ardwold, Samuel Nordheimer's Glenedyth, James Austin's Spadina, Senator William McMaster's Rathnelly, and most prominently Sir Henry Pellatt's Casa Loma.

It has remained an expensive residential area, though most of the large manors have today either been demolished or converted to other uses.

[2] During the celebration of Canada's centennial on July 1, 1967, the Rathnelly neighbourhood declared itself an independent republic.