This December, the Town of Newmarket will begin renovations to restore and revitalize one of its most significant heritage properties, the historic Mulock House. The storied private residence has intrigued the community for generations and will soon be open to the public to enjoy as a key feature within Mulock Park. Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, the former home of the Mulock family will be preserved, updated, and re-imagined with a café, restored library, gathering spaces and an art gallery in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).
“The Mulock House has sparked interest in our community for generations and now, we’re transforming a beautiful private residence, which once hosted social parties and even Royalty and a Prime Minister, into a public space for everyone in the community to enjoy,” says Newmarket Mayor John Taylor. “We’re especially excited to partner with the Art Gallery of Ontario to feature exhibits from its Indigenous and Canadian collections within the Mulock House, and to establish a local art hub at Mulock Park.”
Located within the wooded 16-acre Mulock Park greenspace, the three-storey Mulock House will be thoughtfully restored and renovated into a spectacular 17,000 square foot community space including a gallery featuring works from the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Indigenous and Canadian collections, a café and verandah overlooking the great lawn and a full kitchen to support catered special occasions. There are also exquisite community spaces such as a public lounge in the Mulock Family’s historic library, and a few hidden gems that will bring history back to life!
Working with heritage design specialists at +VG Architects, the design restores and renews the historical character elements of the private home (owned by the Mulock family for 150 years), while creating new community spaces and reducing the energy use of the house by more than 50 percent. The project also makes all floors inclusive to people with disabilities, adding accessibility features such as an elevator, ramps, and universal washrooms. The building exterior and veranda will be fully restored. The existing foundation will also be underpinned, deepening the basement to meet modern headroom requirements. The renovation builds on prior state-of-good-repair roof and electrical work completed in 2023.
Constructed in 1871 with major renovations in 1881, the heritage house will be restored and renovated to become a key community space, welcoming guests from across Newmarket and beyond.
The Town has awarded the contract for the Mulock House Adaptive Re-Use project to Clifford Restoration Limited. Construction will take place from the end of 2024 through 2025.
The Mulock Park Project is the Town’s most significant capital project and will become one of Newmarket’s largest parks and public gathering spaces, delivering much needed greenspace and amenities to a growing community. As part of the overall project, in 2023 Council approved a $11.5 million budget for the renovation of the house. Previously state-of-good repair work, such as a new slate roof and copper works, along with electrical safety upgrades were completed. The Town conducted a competitive bid process and secured the best possible market price for the restoration and renovations. The Mulock House Adaptive Re-Use will continue to be funded through grants, development charges and a variety of reserve funds with no impact to property tax rates.
Construction of Mulock Park is well underway and the park and Mulock House are expected to open in 2026.
Stay connected
Residents can see what the Town is creating and stay up to date on the Mulock Park Project at heynewmarket.ca/mulockpark
About the Mulock House Contractor
Clifford Restoration Ltd. is a Toronto-based general contractor with specialty expertise in the restoration and preservation of heritage buildings. In addition to their team dedicated to project management, the firm employs skilled craftsmen in a variety of highly specialized areas. Each project they undertake reflects their dedication to preserving the integrity of historical structures while incorporating modern techniques. For over 50 years, Clifford has played a key role in restoring notable landmarks including Union Station, Casa Loma, St. Michael’s Cathedral, Toronto Old City Hall and Osgoode Hall.
About the Mulock House architects
+VG Architects (the Ventin Group Ltd). has offices in Toronto, Brantford, and Ottawa. They are a highly respected for their speciality expertise in restoring and renewing heritage buildings. Selected in 2022, they have partnered with the Town of Newmarket to lead a multi-disciplinary team of professionals in the design and construction administration of the Mulock House. Their past projects include rehabilitation of heritage properties including St. Michael's Roman Catholic Cathedral Basilica, Toronto Union Station, and the David Dunlap Observatory in Richmond Hill.
About Mulock Park
Mulock Park is a 16-acre multi-faceted green space nestled at the corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive, a high-density, urban area of Newmarket, just north of the GTA. The Mulock site contains layers of diverse histories, starting with the initial stewards of the land, the Indigenous First Nations. The Town of Newmarket purchased the property from the family of notable Canadian and Newmarket resident, Sir William Mulock. Thousands of community members were engaged in creating a vision for the park. Set to open in 2026, the four-season park will include a winter skate trail through the woods, two unique water features for summer cooling, a greenhouse conservatory connected to a studio space for a rotating artist residency, public art across the site, space for concerts and events and a network of paths for open exploration. The Mulock House is designated under the Ontario Heritage Act and will be preserved, updated, and re-imagined with a café, event space and an art gallery in partnership with the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO).
