Historic photos from around Distillery District, Toronto

The Distillery District is centred around the Gooderham & Worts Distillery which was in continuous production for 153 years - from 1837 to 1990. In 1831 James Worts emigrated to Canada and started a grist mill on the site. He was joined by his brother-in-law William Gooderham, and in 1837 they add a distillery. Eventually they had a flourmill, their own wharf, an icehouse, and a dairy.

It remains one of the largest and best preserved set of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America. For more information, see the Distillery District Heritage webpage



List of all areas in Toronto or take a look at the historic photos by date. New! You can now access the photos by street address A subset of the photos have also been arranged by subject.
1834 Historic photo from 1834 - General View of Toronto (featuring the windmill of Worts and Gooderham, Millers) in Distillery DistrictGeneral View of Toronto (featuring the windmill of Worts and Gooderham, Millers)
190 years ago - 1834 - Distillery District
Link to archive record - Map location
1907 Historic photo from 1907 - Parliament St., looking north across Mill St. and the railway crossing in Distillery DistrictParliament St., looking north across Mill St. and the railway crossing
117 years ago - 1907 - Distillery District
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024)
1907 Historic photo from 1907 - Parliament St., looking south across Mill St. in Distillery DistrictParliament St., looking south across Mill St.
117 years ago - 1907 - Distillery District
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024)
1907 Historic photo from 1907 - Cherry St., looking north from n. of Mill St., across C.P.R. tracks towards Front St. E. in Distillery DistrictCherry St., looking north from n. of Mill St., across C.P.R. tracks towards Front St. E.
117 years ago - 1907 - Distillery District
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024)
1912 Historic photo from Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Old houses - northwest corner of Trinity and Fronts Streets in Distillery DistrictOld houses - northwest corner of Trinity and Fronts Streets
112 years ago - Saturday, February 3, 1912 - Distillery District at 346 Front Street East
Max temp: -7.2°C - Min temp: -15.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1916 Historic photo from Thursday, November 30, 1916 - Original staff of British Acetones in Distillery DistrictOriginal staff of British Acetones
108 years ago - Thursday, November 30, 1916 - Distillery District at 19 Trinity Street (approximately)
Max temp: 9.4°C - Min temp: 1.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1917 Historic photo from Friday, November 9, 1917 - Condemned Houses - Southeast corner of Eastern Avenue and Trinity Street in Distillery DistrictCondemned Houses - Southeast corner of Eastern Avenue and Trinity Street
107 years ago - Friday, November 9, 1917 - Distillery District at 43 Eastern Ave
Max temp: 12.2°C - Min temp: -1.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918 Historic photo from Monday, November 11, 1918 - In Flanders Field - parade float - Victory Loan Parade, November 11th, 1918 in Distillery DistrictIn Flanders Field - parade float - Victory Loan Parade, November 11th, 1918
106 years ago - Monday, November 11, 1918 - Distillery District
Max temp: 7.8°C - Min temp: 3.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918 Historic photo from Tuesday, November 12, 1918 - Ground floor mill showing machinery for driving millstones and rolls in Distillery DistrictGround floor mill showing machinery for driving millstones and rolls
106 years ago - Tuesday, November 12, 1918 - Distillery District at 19 Trinity Street (approximately)
Max temp: 8.9°C - Min temp: 2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918 Historic photo from Tuesday, November 12, 1918 - Groundfloor mill, showing machinery for driving millstones and rools in Distillery DistrictGroundfloor mill, showing machinery for driving millstones and rools
106 years ago - Tuesday, November 12, 1918 - Distillery District at 19 Trinity Street (approximately)
Max temp: 8.9°C - Min temp: 2.8°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918 Historic photo from Tuesday, November 19, 1918 - View looking south on Trinity Street, showing to the right the M. E. K. still and tank houses in Distillery DistrictView looking south on Trinity Street, showing to the right the M. E. K. still and tank houses
106 years ago - Tuesday, November 19, 1918 - Distillery District at 55 Trinity Street n.e. corner at Mill Street
Max temp: 9.4°C - Min temp: 5.0°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1918 Historic photo from Thursday, November 21, 1918 - View of the plant from the west, showing the butyl tank, capacity 1.4 million gallons; boiler house, with distillery and mill in the distance in Distillery DistrictView of the plant from the west, showing the butyl tank, capacity 1.4 million gallons; boiler house, with distillery and mill in the distance
106 years ago - Thursday, November 21, 1918 - Distillery District at 19 Trinity Street (approximately)
Max temp: 5.6°C - Min temp: 1.7°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1954 Historic photo from 1954 - Cherry St. Hotel, then Eastern Star Hotel ca 1904, with Tippet Richardson sign in Distillery DistrictCherry St. Hotel, then Eastern Star Hotel ca 1904, with Tippet Richardson sign
(Categorized under: Hotels )
70 years ago - 1954 - Distillery District at 453 Front Street East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library Still not back as of March 2024)
1981 Historic photo from Monday, May 18, 1981 - Palace Street School, Canary Restaurant, Cherry Street Hotel in Distillery DistrictPalace Street School, Canary Restaurant, Cherry Street Hotel
(Categorized under: Hotels --- Schools )
43 years ago - Monday, May 18, 1981 - Distillery District at 453 Front Street East
Max temp: 14.8°C - Min temp: 4.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1981 Historic photo from Monday, May 18, 1981 - Cherry St, ws, south of Front St E. One of the last originally residential structures left by 'collations' Patrick Cummins in Distillery DistrictCherry St, ws, south of Front St E. One of the last originally residential structures left by 'collations' Patrick Cummins
43 years ago - Monday, May 18, 1981 - Distillery District
Max temp: 14.8°C - Min temp: 4.2°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1982 Historic photo from 1982 - Cherry St. Hotel - as the Canary Restaurant (previously Eastern Start Hotel) in Distillery DistrictCherry St. Hotel - as the Canary Restaurant (previously Eastern Start Hotel)
42 years ago - 1982 - Distillery District at 453 Front Street East
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)
1983 Historic photo from Wednesday, July 13, 1983 - Mill St looking west, from east of Trinity St. to the CN Tower in Distillery DistrictMill St looking west, from east of Trinity St. to the CN Tower
41 years ago - Wednesday, July 13, 1983 - Distillery District at 60 Mill Street
Max temp: 29.5°C - Min temp: 18.3°C (weather details)
Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream)
1995 Historic photo from 1995 - Barbwire gate for a movie set - Distillery District in Distillery DistrictBarbwire gate for a movie set - Distillery District
29 years ago - 1995 - Distillery District
Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives)