Work will start to restore and revitalize Historic Mulock House
This December, the Town 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 three-storey Mulock House will be thoughtfully restored and renovated into a spectacular 17,000 square foot community space including a satellite gallery of the Art Gallery of Ontario, 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 house and park are expected to open together in 2026.
The Mulock House Adaptive Re-Use is one part of the Mulock Park Project. The 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 in 2023. The Town conducted a competitive bid process and secured the best possible market price for all restoration and renovation work. 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.
Check out the progress made on the park this past year and what’s to come!
Read 🚧 Construction Update: Mulock Park Progress Report | Mulock Park News and Updates | Hey Newmarket
