Have you noticed the charming little structure nestled here? This is the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse. It is also known as the Fleet Street Lighthouse. Some even call her Little Red. This octagonal building has quite the story to tell.
Originally, the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse was one of two lighthouses. They were built in 1861 at Queen’s Wharf. The first lighthouse stood a mere 16 feet tall and was built in 1838. This 36-foot wooden structure is one of only two surviving 19th-century lighthouses in Toronto. The other is the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse.
Kivas Tully designed the lighthouse that projected a red light. A second larger lighthouse projected white light. Together, they marked the entrance to Toronto Harbour. These lights helped guide ships into the harbor. The channel was narrow and shallow. It was only 14 feet deep.
The lighthouse wasn’t intended as a dwelling. The lighthouse keeper lived in a nearby cottage. The harbour master’s residence was also close.
In 1885, the red light lighthouse was moved. The deep-water channel to Toronto Harbour shifted. The lighthouses became unnecessary in 1912. A new western channel opened with new range lights. These new lights were destroyed by fire in 1918.
By 1925, landfill surrounded the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse. It was 1400 feet from the water. The other lighthouse was torn down. The Toronto Harbour Commission moved the remaining lighthouse. It was moved to its current location on Fleet Street in 1929. The city of Toronto then took ownership.
Today, the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse sits at the eastern edge of Gore Park. It is one block north of the shoreline. A Toronto Transit Commission streetcar loop encircles it. The building was listed on the Toronto Heritage Register in 1973. The Historical Board of Toronto restored the lighthouse in 1988. The light is no longer functional.
The Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse has seen a lot. It has been an integral part of the city’s waterfront. The recent restoration ensures it will remain a cherished landmark.