Magasin Royale

Magasin royal ("royal store") was the name given to a trading station under the purview of the King of France. It also applied specifically to two trading stores built along the Humber River by French fur traders in 18th century Toronto.

The first trading store was built in 1720 as Fort Douville near present day Baby Point along the Humber River at Old Mills. It was built by Philippe Dagneau dit Douville, sieur de la Saussaye. The wooden magazine was similar to the one built in Lewiston, New York (likely the French forts or trading post located now in Fort Niagara).The two storey wood structure had a barricade and was home to three traders from June to July 1750. The lack of other records suggest that there was no permanent settlement in the Toronto area between 1730 and 1750.

In fall of 1750 to April 1751 a larger royal store was built along the Humber, this time in the mouth of the waterway with Lake Ontario called Fort Portneuf. It was named after the French military officer who had been instructed to build the fort, Pierre Robineau de Portneuf (1708-1761).

Between 1750 and 1759, Fort Rouillé another and larger trading post was built by the French on the shores of Lake Ontario, to the east of Portneuf.

All three forts disappeared and only the last fort, Fort Rouillé is still remembered today.