Distillery Historic District

The Distillery Historic District at 55 Mill St in Toronto, Ontario, is a pedestrian-only neighbourhood in the former Gooderham and Worts distillery complex, east of downtown. The business began in 1832 as a windmill and grain operation founded by James Worts, with his brother-in-law William Gooderham joining soon afterward. It grew into a major distillery, and by the late nineteenth century it was among the largest distilleries in the British Empire. Production of spirits continued until 1990, and the complex was closed after more than 150 years. The district is a National Historic Site of Canada and is considered the best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture in North America. About forty-odd buildings remain, built mainly between the 1860s and 1890s from brick and stone, with heavy timber floors, cast-iron elements, tall chimneys and narrow lanes laid out among the former production and storage halls. The red brick stillhouse, tank houses and rack houses are the most notable buildings. After the closure, the site was used as a film location and was later redeveloped in the 2000s into a cultural and commercial district. Former industrial spaces now house galleries, theatres, restaurants, studios and shops, and the architecture has been conserved with adaptive reuse, so rail tracks, old signs and brickwork remain visible. The Case Goods Warehouse and the Young Centre for the Performing Arts are examples of reused buildings. The district is open to walk through, with no admission, and guided heritage walks are offered seasonally. The area hosts markets and festivals, including a winter Christmas market, which draws large crowds, so visitors who prefer a quieter look at the architecture are advised to visit on weekday mornings. The area lies near the Don River and the Corktown neighbourhood.