Distillery District in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Gooderham and Worts Distillery Complex
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La Distillerie Gooderham and Worts
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
1. Gooderham and Worts Distillery Complex/ La Distillerie Gooderham and Worts Marker
The seeds of Canada's largest 19th-century distilling firm were sown in 1837 when a still was set up on this site to convert surplus grain from an 1832 grist mill into whisky. Exploiting new technologies and commercial opportunities; Gooderham and Worts grew steadily, parallelling Toronto's rise as a manufacturing centre. With the large stone distillery erected in 1859-61 and brick malthouse, kilns, warehouses, shops and offices built before 1900, this complex is an outstanding example of Victorian industrial design in terms of integrity, historical associations and aesthetic qualities.
L'origine de la plus grande distillerie canadienne du XIXe siècle remonte à un moulin érigé en 1832 et auquel on ajouta un alambic en 1837. Exploitant des techniques nouvelles et de nouveaux débouchés, Gooderham and Worts connut un rythme constant de croissance, parallèle à celui qui éleva Toronto a rang de centre manufacturier. L'édifice de pierre, érigé en 1859-1861 pour les alambics, et les bâtiments de brique construits avant 1900 pour les malteries, fours, entrepôts, ateliers et bureaux, forment un ensemble industriel victorien remarquable par son intégrité, son esthétique et ses liens avec l'histoire.
Erected by Historic
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Historic Sites and Monuments Board series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 43° 39.038′ N, 79° 21.585′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in the Distillery District. It is at the intersection of Trinity Street and Mill Street, on the right when traveling south on Trinity Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 Trinity St, Toronto ON M5A 3C4, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto and on the Golden Horseshoe. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: David Roberts Senior & David Roberts Junior (here, next to this marker); Fitting Shop (a few steps from this marker); Stables (within shouting distance of this marker);
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
2. Gooderham and Worts Distillery Complex/ La Distillerie Gooderham and Worts Marker
Also see . . . Gooderham & Worts Distillery (Don River Valley Historical Mapping Project).
By the 1850s, the Gooderham and Worts distillery had expanded to include flour mills, a wharf, the distillery, a cooper shop and a dairy. The five-story limestone distillery building was constructed in 1859 on Mill Street east of Parliament. In 1869, a fire destroyed the wooded interior of the main distillery building but left the limestone exterior intact. Despite this financial setback, the company continued to grow. By 1871, the Gooderham and Worts Distillery produced almost half of Ontario’s total spirits and exported whiskey and spirits to markets across Canada, the United States and South America.(Submitted on April 18, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)
courtesy Toronto Public Library
3. Gooderham and Worts Distillery in 1896
Toronto Public Library digital collection
1918
4. The Stone Distillery, 1918
City of Toronto Archives
Photographed by Tim Boyd, April 12, 2025
5. Former Gooderham and Worts Distillery (now the Distillery District), 2025
Credits. This page was last revised on April 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 18, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 202 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 18, 2025, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
