George R. Gardner began auctioning in London, Ontario in 1922. One of his early sales was selling horses for the City of London when they switched from horse-drawn to gas-powered trucks. Some of his major sales include "Tecumseh House", at one time the largest hotel in the British Commonwealth, and the contents of many of London's finest homes held on site. During the depression he sold several houses per week for the City of London and other foreclosures.

His son, Jason, joined his father shortly after serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force in World War II, the two operating as a partnership. With George Gardner passing away unexpectedly in the early 1950's, Jason carried on as an auctioneer and appraiser. He purchased his first permanent auction house at 2 Langarth Street West, London in the early 1960's. He sold for Fyfe's of Edinburgh throughout Canada, and made international headlines when he was hired by a Toronto syndicate to sell by auction antiques from Castro's Cuba.

In 1971, 186 York Street was purchased, an historic building in the heart of downtown London directly across from the Via Rail Station. With over twenty-five thousand square feet on five levels and two salerooms, the new location became the largest auction house in South-Western Ontario. Only the second owners since construction in 1908, the rare terra cotta exterior and most of the original interior have been preserved. Constantly updated however, including air conditioning, state of the art alarms, wireless internet and new restrooms have kept the Gardner Galleries as the leading auction house in the area.

Jason's son Grant joined the firm in 1975, and in 1978 they incorporated as a registered Ontario company specializing in fine art and estate auctions and appraisals. For over thirty years thousands of successful auctions have been conducted, including the contents of 'Castle Kilbride' in Baden, Ontario, the Law Estate Collections of Toronto whose antiques realized one million dollars, Marjorie Blackburn Estate of Canadian art including seven A.Y. Jacksons, an Arthur Elsley painting from a private collection which sold for $350,000 and many more.

James and Mark, Grant's sons, have joined the firm making it one of the very few businesses to reach the fourth generation. Brent Patroch, Jason's grandson, is another valued employee who along with being an auctioneer is in charge of I.T. Mark, James, and Brent have all graduated from Reppert's School of Auctioneering located in Auburn, Indiana.

By 1999 the York Street building was operating at full capacity, with at least one auction per week of general estate goods in addition to specialty and catalogued fine art sales. 401 Hamilton Road was purchased and became one of London's busiest auction centers. A former Loblaws supermarket just five minutes from downtown London with its own parking lot, this twelve thousand square foot building hosts the weekly estate auctions. In a short time these Tuesday evening auctions have become a regular attraction to dealers, collectors and the general public from throughout South-Western Ontario.

The Gardner Galleries combine over one hundred years experience, two locations, and four licensed auctioneers to give clients fast, efficient and quality service with proven results.