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.

 
 

1885 Historic photo from 1885 - Beech Ave. - out for a walk amongst the trees in The BeachesBeech 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 Historic photo from 1890 - Streetcar tracks and paving stones on Queen St east of Lee Ave in The BeachesStreetcar 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 Historic photo from 1890 - Queen Street east of Lee Avenue in The Beaches in The BeachesQueen 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 Historic photo from 1890 - Looking down to the lake from Queen Street east of Lee Avenue in The BeachesLooking 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 Historic photo from 1900 - Balmy Beach Club, Balmy Beach Park, foot of Beech Ave. people out enjoying the canoes in The BeachesBalmy 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 Historic photo from Saturday, February 20, 1904 - KEW Beach Grocery and Smith - Queen Street west of Lee Avenue in The BeachesKEW 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 Historic photo from 1905 - Kew Beach fire hall - construction - main storey being built - now Toronto Fire Station 227 in The BeachesKew 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 Historic photo from 1905 - Kew Beach Station 17 fire hall under construction - 1904 Queen St East in The BeachesKew 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 Historic photo from 1908 - Spectators watching water chute ride, Scarborough Beach Park in The BeachesSpectators 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 Historic photo from 1908 - Pond in Glen Stewart estate or park in The BeachesPond 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 Historic photo from 1908 - At the end of the water chute ride at Scarboro Beach Park in The BeachesAt 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 Historic photo from Friday, July 1, 1910 - Crowd watching lacrosse game, Scarborough Beach Park in The BeachesCrowd 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 Historic photo from Sunday, June 4, 1911 - Fascinating Women and Charming Gowns snapped at the Woodbine Racetrack in The BeachesFascinating 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 Historic photo from 1912 - Winter storm and ice at Kew Beach in The BeachesWinter 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 Historic photo from 1912 - Glen Stewart Park - water, railing, and horse drawn cart in The BeachesGlen 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 Historic photo from Tuesday, September 24, 1912 - Silver Birch Ave., looking north from the lakefront in The BeachesSilver 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 Historic photo from Monday, May 12, 1919 - Lake Ontario shoreline west from Munro Park Ave. -  Erosion of the lakeshore in The BeachesLake 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 Historic photo from Thursday, August 28, 1919 - Entrance to the Cascades, Scarborough Beach Park in The BeachesEntrance 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 Historic photo from Thursday, August 28, 1919 - Inside the Cascades amusement ride, Scarborough Beach Park in The BeachesInside 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 Historic photo from 1920 - Dr. Young Monument, Kew Beach, Toronto in The BeachesDr. Young Monument, Kew Beach, Toronto
103 years ago - 1920 - The Beaches
Link to archive record - Map location (From Archives of Ontario)
1922 Historic photo from Monday, July 31, 1922 - A.S. Goss, wife and children, in garden of 53 Neville Park Boulevard in The BeachesA.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 Historic photo from Monday, October 16, 1922 - Kingston Rd, looking west, from Victoria Park Ave in The BeachesKingston 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 Historic photo from 1924 - Kew Gardens grass tennis courts between Waverley Rd. & Lee Ave. in The BeachesKew 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 Historic photo from 1926 - Bicycle race at Velodrome, Scarborough Beach Park in The BeachesBicycle 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 Historic photo from Tuesday, November 19, 1929 - Kew Beach Park East - wooden groynes to reduce sand erosion along the beach in The BeachesKew 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 Historic photo from Saturday, March 22, 1930 - Homes on Lee Avenue north of Lake Ontario in The BeachesHomes 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 Historic photo from Saturday, March 22, 1930 - Leuty Avenue north of the beach with horse drawn wagon in The BeachesLeuty 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 Historic photo from 1931 - Colour sketch of a gate for the Kew Beach athletic field in The BeachesColour 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)