51 Stuart St
Hamilton Customs House
Is it a heritage property?
Yes. 51 Stuart St, Hamilton is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, Part IV (as an individual property).
Designation is the strongest protection under the Act and is not affected by the January 1, 2027 deadline. Source: City of Hamilton — Heritage Properties, as of October 12, 2026.
At a glance
- Year built
- 1858
- Architectural style
- Renaissance Revival architecture, Italianate architecture (Wikidata)
- Also recognized as
- Ontario Heritage Trust easement; National historic site of Canada
- Designation
- Part IV (individual property)
- By-law
- 79-218
- Ward
- Ward 2
- Location
- Matched to the municipal address
The Custom House ranks as a heritage building of prime importance to the city and the province. Commissioned by the United Province if Canada Legislative Assembly, it was built in 1858-1860 as a Custom House, a relatively uncommon building type in nineteenth century Ontario. It is the oldest and now the only major public building in the city of Hamilton that has survived relatively unaltered from the past century.…Statement of cultural heritage value, from City of Hamilton — Heritage Properties · full text at the source
Building details from the municipality's register unless marked otherwise.
Elsewhere on the record
Canadian Register of Historic PlacesWikidata
Matched by address from Wikidata (CC0). Community-edited: check it against the municipality's records. The Canadian Register often has a statement of significance and character-defining elements.
Condition on the ground
No condition reports yet.
A vacant or neglected heritage building can be reported to the municipality's property standards or by-law office (311 in most cities). Photos must be taken from public property and must not show people.
Community collection
No historic photos, documents or recollections yet. Do you have one?
Development applications
- Site Plan · filed May 5, 2023 · In ProcessAbout 36 m away, at 41 Stuart St · DA-22-016ETo construct a ten storey, 102 unit multiple dwelling with 78 parking spaces.
- Site Plan · filed November 22, 2021 · In ProcessAbout 35 m away, at 41 Stuart St · DA-22-016Lapsed - To construct a ten storey, 102 unit multiple dwelling with 78 parking spaces.
- Official Plan Amendment · filed in 2017 · ApprovedAbout 35 m away, at 41 Stuart St · UHOPA-17-008Change zoning to commercial-residential to allow 11 storey mixed use building - LPAT APPROVED
- Zoning Amendment · filed in 2017 · ApprovedAbout 34 m away, at 41 Stuart St · ZAC-17-019Change to mixed use land use to allow an 11 storey mixed use building with 2 storeys of underground parking - LPAT Approved
- Formal Consultation · filed in 2013 · ApprovedAbout 34 m away, at 41 Stuart St · FC-13-101To demolish portions of the existing building and construct building additions between 2 and 6 storeys tall for a mixed use building with a parking garage, retail on the ground floor, offices on second floor, 5 storeys of residential dwelling units.
- Condominium · filed in 2011 · In ProcessAbout 45 m away, at 50 Murray St W · 25CDM-201115Plan of Condominium, Witton Lofts.
- Site Plan · filed in 2011 · ApprovedAbout 48 m away, at 50 Murray St W · DA-11-054To construct a 3 storey addition to the top of the existing former school building for a 36 unit multiple dwelling and construct a 1 storey accessory covered parking garage.
- Formal Consultation · filed in 2010 · ApprovedAbout 45 m away, at 50 Murray St W · FC-10-084To convert an existing three storey building and expand an additional three storeys in order to accommodate up to 36 apartment dwelling units, together with 37 surface parking spaces.
From municipal open data (City of Hamilton Open Data Licence). An application is a proposal; it doesn't change the property's heritage status. Nearby means within 50 m.
History on this site
- First recorded as designated
Other heritage properties on this street
Source: City of Hamilton — Heritage Properties, as of October 12, 2026.
Contains public sector Data made available under the City of Hamilton's Open Data Licence.
Not legal advice. Confirm status with the municipality.