Archaeological site, marine history.
Details of Site Location: The foot of Bathurst Street adjoining Old Fort York at the southeast corner of the grounds.
PDM: TBA
Boundary History: The wharf was quite large and, like others, grew larger over the years.
Current Use of Property: The site is covered with road and rail routes and construct¬ion, and a vacant lot used for parking.
Historical Description: This wharf was the eighth to be built on the original shoreline, and the third wharf built by the military. Its names in history vary from “The New Wharf” to “The King’s Wharf” and finally “The Queen’s Wharf”. Bonnycastle’s map of 1833 shows it as a pier 42 feet long extending out into water 15 feet in depth. At that time, the shoreline was weedy and muddy, and Garrison Creek, which ran along the east side of the old fort, emptied into the lake on the east side of the pier. In 1837 it was extended, and by the 1870s had been substantially enlarged and a wide platform had been increased at the south or lake side. The wharf was buried in 1917 when the Toronto Harbour Commission decided to begin closing the Western Gap. That year, infilling of the shoreline began in this area. The old lighthouse, built in 1855, was moved and is marooned on a boulevard amidst a tangle of fast-moving traffic.
Relative Importance: The latest and largest of military-built wharves, the Queen’s Wharf had many later uses, including the railways. It is a symbol of the naval importance of Fort York and New Fort and of the importance of controlling access to Toronto Harbour.
Planning Implications: A plaque should be mounted on the west side of the Bathurst Street Bridge at the pedestrian walk so that all may learn about the position and function of the Queen’s Wharf. A readable sign should also be placed at the old lighthouse so that motorists can understand why marine equipment is placed there in the midst of roadways. Such a sign is a poor alternative to moving the lighthouse to a more appropriate location, where visitors can examine it in more than the few seconds it takes at present to pass it in moving traffic. In its present location, the Queen’s Wharf Lighthouse is a good example of what not to do with a heritage asset moved away from its original location. A permanent map, preferably at the pedestrian walk across the bridge would help to explain where everything was in the beginning.
Reference Sources: Richard Bonnycastle, No 1 Plan of the Town and Harbour of York, Upper Canada (1833); Cane’s map (1842); Miles’ Atlas (1878); Goad’s Atlas (1884, 1890, 1910).