History of the St. Lawrence Market

In 1803, Governor Peter Hunter issued a proclamation, following recommendations made as early as 1796, that all the land north of Front, west of Jarvis, south of King and east of Church street was to be designated officially as the "Market Block."

Since 1901, the South St. Lawrence Market has been known primarily for its fruits, vegetables, meat and cheese. For many years, few people realized that Toronto's original City Hall had been incorporated into today's south market. The history of the South St. Lawrence Market also includes the north "farmer's market" and St. Lawrence Hall as well.

In March 1979, The Market Gallery of the City of Toronto Culture Division opened as the official exhibition centre for the display and storage of the City's art and archival collections. Located inside the South St. Lawrence Market on the south-west corner of Front Street East and Jarvis Street, The Market Gallery is on the second floor in the original council chamber which was part of Toronto's City Hall from 1845 to 1899.

The Market Story in Depth

The following pages provide more detail on the history of the Market complex. A single plain text page is available for printing.

Toronto's Original City Hall: 1845-1899
The South St. Lawrence Market: 1899-Present
The North St. Lawrence Markets: 1803-Present
The Market Gallery
Selected Photographs
Printable History (Plain Text)