The village of Waverley developed over the course of the nineteenth century. In the beginning, Waverley was established when the Penetanguishene Rd. was put through from Barrie to Penetanguishene. A stop was put in Waverley for mail to be delivered and for travellers to stop and rest. Many of the first settlers to Waverley were retired soldiers who had travelled the Penetanguishene Rd. to the Naval Establishment in Penetanguishene and found Waverley as an excellent place to settle.