List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto (1850–1859)

This is a list of the oldest buildings and structures in Toronto, that were constructed between 1850 and 1859 and still surviving. This list is composed of buildings that are heritage-designated structures or are notable in some way.

Surviving structures

The following list does not include structures where only the facade of the building has been preserved.

1850 to 1859

Building	Image	Year completed	Builder	Style	Address	Neighbourhood	District[note 1]	Ref.
80 Church Street		1850			80 Church Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Bake Oven		1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Charles Irvine Weaver Shop		1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Devonsleigh House		1850			4125 Steeles Avenue East	Steeles	Scarborough	TN
St. Lawrence Hall		1850	William Thomas	Renaissance Revival	157 King Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	THR, PC[3], McArthur Szamosi 1996[4]
St. Lawrence Galleries		1850		Georgian Revival	142 King Street East	Old Town	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Snider Drive Shed		1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	THR
Temperance Hall (later Printing Shop)		1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Toronto Baptist Seminary (Samuel Platt House)		1850			337 Jarvis Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	CoT[5]
Apple Storage Cellar		c. 1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Fire House		c. 1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Mackenzie Farm		c. 1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Taylor's Cooperage		c. 1850			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Tinsmith Shop and Masonic Lodge		c. 1850		Gablefront	1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
William Goodwin House		c. 1850			355 Lesmill Road	Graydon Hall	North York	CoT[6]
William Gray Second House		c. 1850			1413 Don Mills Road	Don Mills	North York	ACO
151 King Street East		1851			151 King Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
231 King Street East		1851			231 King Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Forest Home		1851			42–44 Macklingate Court	Agincourt	Scarborough	C
Gibson House		1851	David Gibson		5172 Yonge Street	Willowdale	North York	THR
LaRose House		1851	Daniel LaRose		322 La Rose Avenue	Richview	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
Melville Church		1851			70 Old Kingston Road	West Hill	Scarborough	ACO
Richard and Lucy Newborn Farm		1851		Farmhouse	28 Daisy Avenue	Long Branch	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
191–197 Church Street		1852		Georgian Revival	191–197 Church Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	C
Adelaide Street Court House		1852	Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout	Greek Revival	57 Adelaide Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Consumers' Gas Building		1852	Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout	Renaissance Revival	17–25 Toronto Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Herod & Mary Noble's Market Garden		1852			35 Daniels Street	The Queensway – Humber Bay	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
Jacob P. Ross House		1852	Jacob P. Ross		108 Stayner Avenue	Glen Park	North York	OHT[8]
Moore House		1852	John Moore		18 Great Oak Drive	Princess Gardens	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
Neurologic Rehabilitation Institute of Ontario		1852		Georgian Revival (front portico and siding added after 1939)	59 Beaver Bend Crescent	Eringate – Centennial – West Deane	Etobicoke	OTH[9]
185 Adelaide Street East		1853			185 Adelaide Street East	Old Town	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
106 King Street East		1853			106 King Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Benjamin Parker House		1853			66 George Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
William Galbraith House		1853			37 Maitland Street	Church and Wellesley	Old Toronto	ACO[10]
William Hannah House		1853			36 Metcalfe Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Little Trinity Church Rectory		1853			417 King Street East	Corktown	Old Toronto	ACO
Alexander Muirhead Farm House		1853		Farm house	179 Old Sheppard Avenue	Pleasant View	North York	THR
Cathedral Church of St. James		1853, additions 1874	Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout	Gothic Revival	65 Church Street	Old Town	Old Toronto	THR, SLHCD
Thomson Manse		1853[note 2]			St. Andrews Road	Bendale	Scarborough	TN
Toronto Street Post Office		1853	Frederick William Cumberland and Thomas Ridout	Greek Revival	10 Toronto Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
39 Colborne Street		1854			39 Colborne Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Ashbridge Estate		1854			1444 Queen Street East	Leslieville	Old Toronto	ACO
Clairville Tollhouse		1854			2095 Codlin Crescent	Clairville	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
Jacob Stong House		1854	Jacob Strong	Victorian	4700 Keele Street	York University Heights	North York	ACO, OTH[11]
Jacob Stong Barn		1854	Jacob Strong		4700 Keele Street	York University Heights	North York	ACO, OTH[11]
Paul Kane House		1854	Paul Kane		56 Wellesley Street East	Church and Wellesley	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
Thomas Clark House		1854		Upright and Wing	9 Barberry Place	Bayview Village	North York	THR
5 Old Yonge Street		1854			5 Old Yonge Street	York Mills	North York	ACO
62–66 Gerrard St. East		1854[note 3]		Georgian Revival	62–66 Gerrard St. East	Garden District	Old Toronto	M[12]
399–403 King Street East		1854			399–403 King Street East	Corktown	Old Toronto	ACO
Esten House		1854	James Grand		106 Beverley Street	Grange Park	Old Toronto	ACO
Hutchison Building		1854			36–42 Wellington Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
The Warehouse		1854			11 Wellington Street East	Financial District	Old Toronto	THR
Emporium and Post Office		1855			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Harness Shop and Saddlery		1855			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
181–183 King Street East		1855		Georgian Revival	181–183 King Street East	Old Town	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
O'Keefe House		1855			137 Bond Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	THR
Rowland Burr House		1855			56 King Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
Shaw House		1855			8 William Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
Samuel Stong House		c. 1855			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
64–66 Shuter Street		1856			64–66 Shuter Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	ACO
68–70 Shuter Street		1856			68–70 Shuter Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	ACO
Allandale		1856	Enoch Turner		241 Sherbourne Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	C
Fisherville Church		1856			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2] H
William Wall House		1856			77 Seaton Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	THR
Auberge du Pommier Restaurant (formerly Hogg's Hollow Cottage)		1856			4150 Yonge Street	Armour Heights	North York	THR
Northfield Estate (presently a part of Canada's National Ballet School)		1856	Joseph Sheard		372 Jarvis Street	Church and Wellesley	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
St. Basil's Church		1856	William Hay		50 St Joseph Street	Discovery District	Old Toronto
University of St. Michael's College		1856	William Hay		50 Saint Joseph Street	Discovery District	Old Toronto	[13]
St. Michael's Mortuary Vault		1856			1414 Yonge Street (St. Michael's Cemetery	Deer Park	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
Salvation Army Rest Home (former)		1856			297 George Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	[14]
Weston CNR bridge		1856	Sir Cazimir Gzowski for Grand Trunk Railway		Over the Humber River (west of Weston Road and St. Phillips Street)			[15]
Rose Blacksmith Shop		c. 1856			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
85 Winchester Street		1857		Georgian Revival	85 Winchester Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Davis House (also Geary House "Caverhill")		1857	James Boyd Davis		124 Park Road	Rosedale	Old Toronto	C, ACO, SRHCD
William Devenish House		1857			1355 Victoria Park Avenue	Clairlea	Scarborough
Mackenzie House		1857	William Roger		82 Bond Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	[9]
Miller Tavern		1857			3885 Yonge Street	York Mills	North York	THR
John B. Reid House		1857	John Tully	Greek Revival	24 Mercer Street	Entertainment District	Old Toronto	ACO
Ritchie/Forneri House		1857			283–285 Sherbourne Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	M
Henry Scadding House		1857			6 Trinity Square	Downtown Yonge	Old Toronto	ACO
Hiram Piper & Brother Building		1857[note 4]	Joseph Sheard		83 Yonge Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	ACO, THR[16]
James Small House		1857			281–283 Sherbourne Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Peter Hutty House		1857			69 John Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
Toronto Magnetic and Meteorological Observatory		1857	Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm		12 Hart House Circle	Discovery District	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
Armoury Hotel		1858	William Cayley		10–12 Market Street	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Daniel Stong's Piggery		1858			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	CoT[17]
Felix Kent House		1858			51 Church Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
Mary Curts House		1858			57 Church Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
McCowan's Log Cabin		1858		Log cabin	1007 Brimley Road (Thomson Memorial Park)	Bendale	Scarborough	Samuel 1998,[18] THR[19]
Rev. Samuel Boddy House		1858			21 Winchester Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Thomas Clarkson Building/John Hallam Building		1858[note 5]		Renaissance Revival	85 Front Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Cornell House		1858		Upright and Wing	1007 Brimley Road (Thomson Memorial Park)	Bendale	Scarborough	THR
Culloden		1858			291 Sherbourne Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	M, ACO
Flynn House		1858			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Francey Barn		1858			201 Winchester Street (Riverdale Farm)	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Green House		1858		Georgian Revival	78–80 Gerrard Street East	Garden District	Old Toronto	M
Thomas Helliwell Block		1858		Georgian Revival	81 Front Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
Hughes Terrace		1858			319–325 King Street West	Entertainment District	Old Toronto	ACO
John Kestevan House		1858			56 Rose Avenue	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	ACO
Edward Leadlay Company		1858[note 6]		Georgian Revival	87 Front Street East	St. Lawrence	Old Toronto	SLHCD[1]
St. James The Less Chapel		1858	Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm	Gothic Revival	635 Parliament Street	Cabbagetown	Old Toronto	THR
St. Stephen-in-the-Fields		1858			103 Bellevue Avenue	Kensington Market	Old Toronto	ACO
H. S. Strathy House		1858[note 7]		Second Empire	342 Adelaide Street West	Entertainment District	Old Toronto	ACO
Wilmot Township Hall		1858			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV,[2] T
Daniel Flynn Boot and Shoe Shop		c. 1858			1000 Murray Ross Parkway (The Village at Black Creek)	York University Heights	North York	BCPV[2]
Bain House		1859	Robert Sargant		14 Dingwall Avenue	Riverdale	Old Toronto	C
Brick House		1859			64 King Street	Weston	York	EYCPP[7]
Cherry Street Hotel		1859	Joseph Sheard		409 Front Street East	West Don Lands	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
Thomas Meredith House		1859			305 George Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	ACO
Robertson Cottages		1859			703–705,711–721 Richmond Street West	Niagara	Old Toronto	THR, ACO
University College Main Building		1859	Frederick William Cumberland and William George Storm; David Dick (1892)	Norman Romanesque Revival	15 King's College Circle (University College)	Discovery District	Old Toronto	THR
University College Croft House		1859	Frederick William Cumberland		15 King's College Circle (University College)	Discovery District	Old Toronto	THR
Workers' Cottages		1859			7–9 Government Road	The Kingsway	Etobicoke	EYCPP[7]
Applewood, The Shaver Homestead		c. 1850s			450 The West Mall	Eatonville	Etobicoke	TN
Newtonbrook Store		c. 1850s			5926 Yonge Street	Newtonbrook	North York	TN
191–197 Church Street[note 8]		c. 1850s	John Tully		191–197 Church Street	Garden District	Old Toronto	OTH[20]

Reference keys

ACO: Architectural Conservancy of Ontario (Toronto) - TOBuilt - SEARCHABLE TOBuilt DATABASE

B: Benn 1993^[21]

BCPV: Black Creek Pioneer Village - Black Creek Pioneer Village Historic Building List

C: Cruikshank2003^[22]

CE: Canadian Encyclopedia

CNHCD: Cabbagetown North Heritage Conservation District - Cabbagetown North Heritage Conservation District

CoT: City of Toronto - Heritage bylaw citations

CRHP: Canadian Register of Historic Places - HistoricPlaces.ca

EHS: Etobicoke Historical Society

EYCPP: Etobicoke York Community Preservation Panel - Etobicoke York Pre-Confederation Architectural Treasures

GO: Government of Ontario

M: McHugh Bozikovic 2017^[23]

NRHCD: North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District - North Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Study

OHT: Ontario Heritage Trust Ontario Heritage Trust

PC: Parks Canada - National Historic Sites

SLHCD: St Lawrence Heritage Conservation District - Archaeology -St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District Plan

SRHCD: South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District - South Rosedale Heritage Conservation District Study

THR: City of Toronto Heritage Register - "City of Toronto's Heritage Property Search". secure.toronto.ca. City of Toronto.

TN: Toronto Neighbourhoods - Toronto Neighbourhoods

TPL: Toronto Public Library - Digital Archive

WHCD: Weston Heritage Conservation District - Weston Heritage Conservation District Plan - Phase I

OTH: Other - see citation

See also

• Architecture portal
• Canada portal

• List of historic places in Toronto
• List of lost buildings and structures in Toronto
• List of oldest buildings in Canada
• Toronto landmarks

Notes

1. Districts in this instance refers to the lower-tier municipalities of Metro Toronto, an upper-tier municipality that was dissolved in 1998. The City of Toronto was formed after the six lower-tier municipalities of Metro Toronto amalgamated into a single entity in 1998. The City of Toronto government does not formally organize areas of the city by "districts."
2. Remodelled in 1896
3. additions in 1875
4. 1895 addition by C.J. Gibson; altered 1910 by Hand, Harris & Merritt; altered 1914 by Hand, Harris & Merritt
5. Mansard roof added in 1871
6. Modified in 1917 and 1973
7. mansard roof added in 1876; street level store added in 1912
8. A fire destroyed 195 Church Street in 1981, although the building was rebuilt based on the building's original design.

References

1. "Archaeology" (PDF). St. Lawrence Neighbourhood Heritage Conservation District Plan. City of Toronto. 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
2. "Black Creek Pioneer Village Historic Building List" (PDF). Request for supplier qualifications (RFSQ) for vendors of record heritage building specialist: Black Creek Pioneer Village. Toronto and Region Conservation Authority. 6 June 2018. p. 6. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
3. "St. Lawrence Hall National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
4. McArthur & Szamosi 1996, pp. 48–51.
5. "Intention to Designate Under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act - 337 Jarvis Street (Samuel Platt House) (Downtown)". City of Toronto. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
6. "North York Community Preservation Panel" (PDF). City of Toronto. 27 November 2007. p. 3. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
7. "Etobicoke York Pre-Confederation Architectural Treasure" (PDF). pvhs.info. Etobicoke York Community Preservation Panel. 2017. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
8. "IN THE MATTER OF THE ONTARIO HERITAGE ACT R.S.O. 1990, CHAPTER 0.18 AND 108 STAYNER AVENUE CITY OF TORONTO, PROVINCE OF ONTARIO". Ontario Heritage Trust. Government of Ontario.
9. "Local History / Places". Etobicoke Historical Society. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
10. "William Galbraith House". Architectural Conservancy Ontario. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
11. "Home - York University". York University. Archived from the original on 20 October 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
12. McHugh & Bazikovic 2017, p. 165. sfn error: no target: CITEREFMcHughBazikovic2017 (help)
13. Cook, Wayne. "Historical Plaques of Toronto". Archived from the original on 12 January 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2025.
14. "Intention to Designate Under Part IV, Section 29 of the Ontario Heritage Act – George Street Properties" (PDF). City of Toronto. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 12, 2016. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
15. "TO10 - Weston CNR Bridge". TRCA. Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
16. "City of Toronto Heritage Property Detail". secure.toronto.ca. City of Toronto. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
17. "1000 Murray Ross Parkway". City of Toronto's Heritage Property Search Details. City of Toronto. 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2019.
18. Samuel 1998, p. 217.
19. "City of Toronto Heritage Property Detail". secure.toronto.ca. City of Toronto. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
20. "Background Research" (PDF). Heritage Impact Assessment for 193-201 Church Street, Toronto ON. GBCA Architects. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
21. Benn 1993.
22. Cruikshank 2003.
23. McHugh & Bozikovic 2017.

Bibliography

• Bell, Bruce (2006). Toronto: A Pictorial Celebration. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 1-4027-2389-X.
• Benn, Carl (1993). Historic Fort York, 1793-1993. Dundurn. p. i. ISBN 1-5548-8190-0.
• Boyle, Terry (2014). Haunted Ontario 3: Ghostly Historic Sites, Inns, and Miracles. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-1766-4.
• Gutsche, Andrea; Bisaillon, Cindy (1999). Mysterious islands: forgotten tales of the Great Lakes. Lynx Images. ISBN 1-8940-7311-8.
• Chadwick, Andrew; McCowan, Bruce (1997). The Scots Kirk: An Oral History of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Scarborough. Dundurn. ISBN 1-8962-1926-8.
• Cruikshank, Tom (2003). Old Toronto Houses. Toronto: Firefly Books.
• Denby; Kilbourn (1986). Toronto Observed: Its Architecture, Patrons, and History. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
• Fairburn, M. Jane (2013). Along the Shore: Rediscovering Toronto's Waterfront Heritage. ECW Press. ISBN 978-1-7704-1099-2.
• Filey, Mike (1995). Toronto Sketches 4: The Way We Were. Dundurn. ISBN 1-5500-2248-2.
• Goddard, John (2014). Inside the Museums: Toronto's Heritage Sites and their Most Prized Objects. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-4597-2376-4.
• Kalman, Harold D. (1994). A History of Canadian Architecture. Toronto: Oxford University Press.
• Lundell, Liz (1997). The estates of Old Toronto. Boston Mills Press. ISBN 1-55046-219-9.
• McArthur, Glenn; Szamosi, Annie (1996). William Thomas, Architect: 1799-1860. McGill-Queen's University Press. ISBN 0-7735-9607-0.
• McHugh, Patricia; Bozikovic, Alex (2017). Toronto Architecture: A City Guide. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart Inc. ISBN 978-0-7710-5989-6.
• Mika, Helma; Mika, Nick; Thompson, Gary (2000). Black Creek Pioneer Village: Toronto's Living History Village. Dundurn. ISBN 1-5548-8100-5.
• Palmisano, Richard (2011). Ghosts of the Canadian National Exhibition. Toronto: Dundurn Press. ISBN 978-1-55488-974-7.
• Redway, Alan (2018). East York 1924-1997: Toronto's Garden of Eden.
• Richards, Larry Wayne (2019). University of Toronto: An Architectural Tour (The Campus Guide) 2nd Edition. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-1-6168-9824-3.
• Ricketts, Shannon; Hucker, Jacqueline; Maitland, Leslie (1992). A Guide to Canadian Architectural Styles. Peterborough, Ontario: Broadview Press.
• Samuel, Alan (1998). Treasures Of Canada. Dundurn. ISBN 1-4597-1124-6.
• Taylor, Dave (1994). Algonquin Park: Excursions With a Photographer. Dundurn. ISBN 1-5548-8070-X.
• Thomas, Christopher (September 15, 2006). "Canadian Architecture: 1867-1914". The Canadian Encyclopedia.

External links

• Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada  – biographies of Canadian architects and lists of their buildings from 1800 to 1950.
• The Former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital
• Colborne Lodge and buildings associated with surveyor John Howard
• TO Built
• University of Toronto Capital Projects