The Waterloo County Gaol and Governor’s House in Kitchener

Why Waterloo County Needed a Jail

In the early 1850s, Waterloo was part of a larger united county. To stand on its own, a county needed a courthouse and a jail. So the Gaol went up in 1852 and 1853 in the town of Berlin, as Kitchener was then called, and it was key to Waterloo becoming a separate county in 1853.

The site is at Queen Street North and Weber Street East. According to local history, hotel owner Frederick Gaukel donated the land, and the county hired a Brantford firm to design the jail and the first courthouse beside it.

What to Look For

The Gaol

The Gaol is a Classical Revival building with a granite, stone and brick patchwork front. Look for the symmetrical arched windows along the west side. It’s a plain, solid building, which suited its job.

The Governor’s House

The Governor’s House is the showpiece. Local architect David W. Gingerich designed it in the mid-Victorian Italian villa style, with a tall tower that gives it a sense of importance. It was built for the governor, the official who ran the jail, right beside the cells.

The Gaol and Governor’s House Today

Instead of being torn down, the buildings were designated as heritage properties and given new uses. That’s why they’re still here. The Gaol now houses Provincial Offences courtrooms, and the Governor’s House is used as offices.

• Address: 73 to 77 Queen Street North, Kitchener, near the Kitchener Public Library’s Central Library.
• Can you go inside? Not usually, since they’re working buildings. They have opened to the public during Doors Open Waterloo Region, so check that event each fall.
• Best way to see it: Walk by. The outside is the main attraction, and it’s an easy stop on a downtown history walk.

Make It a Downtown History Walk

The Gaol is a good starting point for a self-guided walk through old Berlin. Here’s an easy loop:

• Start at the Gaol and Governor’s House on Queen Street North.
• Walk south on Queen Street through the downtown core to King Street, where the Walper Hotel still stands.
• Continue down Queen Street South to Schneider Haus at 466 Queen St. S., an 1816 home that is now a museum.
• Finish at Victoria Park, Kitchener’s historic park, a short walk away.

The Gaol and Governor’s House sit in the Civic Centre area, a few minutes’ walk from King Street, Victoria Park and the ION light rail. It’s one of the most walkable parts of the city, with a mix of century homes and new condos. For more local history, read about the Walper Hotel. If you’d like to live close to it all, see homes and condos in Downtown Kitchener.

This guide was first written by Will Kummer in 2021 and fully updated by George Dmitrovic in 2026.