Historic photos from around The Beaches, Toronto

The Beaches (or just 'The Beach') is a residential and tourist area along Lake Ontario east of downtown Toronto. The waterfront is divided up into four beach areas: Balmy Beach, Scarboro Beach, Kew Beach and Woodbine Beach (previously known as The Cut).

European development started in 1793 when Alexander Aitken divided the area into lots on behalf of Lieutenant Governor John Simcoe. By the 1870's the area was connected to Toronto by streetcars and boats in the summer, and it became a popular summer daytrip from the city with a number of amusement parks.

West of The Beaches is Leslieville with Fallingbrook to the east. To the north is the Upper Beach.

List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date. A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.

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1885		Beech Ave. - out for a walk amongst the trees 138 years ago - 1885 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1890		Streetcar tracks and paving stones on Queen St east of Lee Ave 133 years ago - 1890 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1890		Queen Street east of Lee Avenue in The Beaches 133 years ago - 1890 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1890		Looking down to the lake from Queen Street east of Lee Avenue 133 years ago - 1890 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1900		Balmy Beach Club, Balmy Beach Park, foot of Beech Ave. people out enjoying the canoes 123 years ago - 1900 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1904		KEW Beach Grocery and Smith - Queen Street west of Lee Avenue 119 years ago - Saturday, February 20, 1904 - The Beaches Max temp: -4.4°C - Min temp: -16.1°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1905		Kew Beach fire hall - construction - main storey being built - now Toronto Fire Station 227 118 years ago - 1905 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1905		Kew Beach Station 17 fire hall under construction - 1904 Queen St East 118 years ago - 1905 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908		Spectators watching water chute ride, Scarborough Beach Park 115 years ago - 1908 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908		Pond in Glen Stewart estate or park 115 years ago - 1908 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1908		At the end of the water chute ride at Scarboro Beach Park 115 years ago - 1908 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1910		Crowd watching lacrosse game, Scarborough Beach Park 113 years ago - Friday, July 1, 1910 - The Beaches Max temp: 33.9°C - Min temp: 18.3°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1911		Fascinating Women and Charming Gowns snapped at the Woodbine Racetrack 112 years ago - Sunday, June 4, 1911 - The Beaches Max temp: 23.9°C - Min temp: 11.1°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Winter storm and ice at Kew Beach 111 years ago - 1912 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Glen Stewart Park - water, railing, and horse drawn cart 111 years ago - 1912 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1912		Silver Birch Ave., looking north from the lakefront 111 years ago - Tuesday, September 24, 1912 - The Beaches Max temp: 15.6°C - Min temp: 14.4°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1919		Lake Ontario shoreline west from Munro Park Ave. - Erosion of the lakeshore 104 years ago - Monday, May 12, 1919 - The Beaches Max temp: 13.9°C - Min temp: 5.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1919		Entrance to the Cascades, Scarborough Beach Park 104 years ago - Thursday, August 28, 1919 - The Beaches Max temp: 22.8°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1919		Inside the Cascades amusement ride, Scarborough Beach Park 104 years ago - Thursday, August 28, 1919 - The Beaches Max temp: 22.8°C - Min temp: 10.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1920		Dr. Young Monument, Kew Beach, Toronto 103 years ago - 1920 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1922		A.S. Goss, wife and children, in garden of 53 Neville Park Boulevard 101 years ago - Monday, July 31, 1922 - The Beaches Max temp: 23.3°C - Min temp: 16.7°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1922		Kingston Rd, looking west, from Victoria Park Ave 101 years ago - Monday, October 16, 1922 - The Beaches Max temp: 18.9°C - Min temp: 7.8°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1924		Kew Gardens grass tennis courts between Waverley Rd. & Lee Ave. 99 years ago - 1924 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library)
1926		Bicycle race at Velodrome, Scarborough Beach Park 97 years ago - 1926 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1929		Kew Beach Park East - wooden groynes to reduce sand erosion along the beach 94 years ago - Tuesday, November 19, 1929 - The Beaches Max temp: 3.3°C - Min temp: -0.6°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1930		Homes on Lee Avenue north of Lake Ontario 93 years ago - Saturday, March 22, 1930 - The Beaches Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: -8.3°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1930		Leuty Avenue north of the beach with horse drawn wagon 93 years ago - Saturday, March 22, 1930 - The Beaches Max temp: 0.0°C - Min temp: -8.3°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1931		Colour sketch of a gate for the Kew Beach athletic field (Categorized under: Architectural drawings --- Ornamental gate ) 92 years ago - 1931 - The Beaches Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)