List of oldest buildings and structures in Toronto

This is a list of the oldest buildings and structures in Toronto, that were constructed before 1870. This corresponds to the first 75 years since the founding of York. The history of Toronto dates back to Indigenous settlements in the region approximately 12,000 years ago. However, the oldest standing structures in Toronto were built by European settlers. Remains of a Seneca settlement exist at the federally protected Bead Hill archaeological site, in eastern Toronto.

The first structure built by Europeans in Toronto was Magasin Royal, a French trading post established in 1720. In the 1750s, the French built several structures in the area (including Fort Rouillé), although the French would later destroy them in 1759, following their defeat at the Battle of Fort Niagara. In 1793, the government of Upper Canada arranged for the purchase of Toronto from the Mississaugas in order to settle newly landed British American colonists Loyalists, who were exiled from the United States of America after the Revolutionary War. Many of Toronto's oldest structures date back to this early period of British settlement, when it was known as York. The town of York was formally incorporated as the City of Toronto in 1834, with the passage of the Incorporation of the City of Toronto Act.

Surviving structures

The oldest intact structure of European settlement may be a piece of St Paul's Cathedral's courtyard railing dating from 1714, designed by Christopher Wren, that is now part of John Howard's tomb in High Park. Howard had it shipped from London in 1875.

The following list does not include structures where only the facade of the building has been preserved. It also does not include the collection of buildings and structures collected at The Village at Black Creek. Those are listed at List of Village at Black Creek buildings.

Town of York era: 1794 to 1833

Fort York was rebuilt after the original garrison was destroyed in the 1813 Battle of York. The site is a national historical site and its buildings, fortifications and cemetery are protected.

BuildingImageYear completedBuilderStyleAddressNeighbourhoodDistrictRef.Scadding Cabin1794John ScaddingLog cabinExhibition PlaceOld TorontoC, OTHLavinia Cottagec. 1800–181923 Jason Road ThistletownEtobicokeCoT, EHS, EYCPPJohn Cox Cottage1807Log cabin (renovated)469 Broadview AvenueRiverdaleOld TorontoOTH, THRGibraltar Point Lighthouse1809British marine architectureToronto IslandsOld TorontoOTHFort York Blockhouse #11813Royal Engineers19th century blockhouse100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBFort York Blockhouse #21813Royal Engineers19th century blockhouse100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBFort York Brick Officers Barracks and Mess Room1815Royal Engineers19th century military architecture100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBFort York Brick Magazine1815Royal Engineers19th century military architecture100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBFort York Stone Powder Magazine1815Royal Engineers19th century military architecture100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBFort York Brick Barracks1815Royal Engineers19th century military architecture100 Garrison Road (Fort York)Fort YorkOld TorontoBThe Grange1817D'Arcy BoultonGeorgian317 Dundas Street WestGrange ParkOld TorontoOTHRobinson Log House1820Round-log house83 Plymbridge RoadBridle PathNorth YorkACO, THRSamuel and Ann Mercer Housec. 1820–1830Samuel MercerGeorgian72 Old Burnhamthorpe RoadEringate – Centennial – West DeaneEtobicokeC, EHS EYCPP, THRCampbell House1822William CampbellGeorgian160 Queen Street WestGrange ParkOld TorontoOTH, THRWilliam Moore House, Hedman House1824-1840William MooreRegency Cottage171 Old Forest Hill RoadForest HillOld TorontoCoT, THRJohn Bales Housec. 1824John Bales4169 Bathurst Street (Earl Bales Park)Armour HeightsNorth YorkTHRGeorge S. Henry House (Oriole Lodge)c. 1824Stillwell Willson19th century bungalow17 Manorpark CourtHenry FarmNorth YorkTHR Todmorden Mills 1826 Industrial 67 Pottery Road Old East York East York THR, OTHBank of Upper Canada Building1827William Warren BaldwinNeoclassical (with later Second Empire roof)252 Adelaide Street EastOld TownOld TorontoTHRRichard Taylor House1827Farmhouse2 Elgar Avenue Eglinton EastScarboroughTHRSnyder Housec. 1828William SnyderRegency Cottage (later altered), Italianate744 Duplex AvenueLytton ParkC, THRDrumsnab House1830William Cayley, William Thomas (1856), Eden Smith (1908)Regency Cottage (later altered)5 Drumsnab RoadRosedaleOld TorontoTHRHart House, Jacob Snider Housec. 183035 Nelson RoadYork University HeightsNorth York ACO, THRParshall Terry Housec. 1830Regency Cottage67 Pottery Road (Todmorden Mills)Old East YorkEast York C,ACO29 Jarvis Streetc. 1830s–1840s29 Jarvis StreetOld TownOld TorontoTHRThomas and Catherine Snider Housec. 1831Thomas and Catherine Snider519 Glengrove Avenue WestGlen ParkNorth YorkTHRMontgomery's Inn1832Georgian4709 Dundas Street WestThe KingswayEtobicokeEHS, EYCPPOsgoode Hall1832John Ewart and William Warren BaldwinNeoclassical and Palladian130 Queen Street WestDiscovery DistrictOld TorontoOTHRoman Catholic Bishop's residence1832113 Jarvis StreetOld TownOld TorontoTHRBishop's Block Row Houses/Pretzel Bell Tavern1833192 Adelaide Street WestEntertainment DistrictOld TorontoM, THRFourth York Post Office1833James Scott HowardGeorgian260 Adelaide Street EastOld TownOld TorontoTHRDaniel Brooke Building1833Georgian150-154 King Street EastOld TownOld TorontoTHRC. W. Jeffreys Housec. 1833Ontario Cottage4111 Yonge StreetYork MillsNorth YorkTHRThomas Thompson Building1833David B. Dick185 King Street EastOld TownOld TorontoSLHCDUpper Canada College boarding housesc. 183320 Duncan StreetEntertainment DistrictOld TorontoTHR

Toronto The new City of Toronto came into existence on January 1, 1834.

1834-1849