Summerhill Estates

History:

Since 1880 the most prominent landmark in this neighbourhood has been the Mulock Farm which occupies the high profile northwest corner of Yonge and Mulock Streets. This farm was founded in 1880 by Sir William Mulock who had a decorated career as Postmaster General of Canada, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ontario, and elected representative to the House of Commons as a Liberal Member of Parliament where he served from 1882 to 1905, during which time he became Canada’s first Minister of Labour

Mulock Farm in its heyday occupied 400 acres of land. It was considered a model farm and was especially known for its beautiful flowers, apple orchards, prized cattle and Shetland ponies. The philanthropic Mulock made sure a portion of the farm was set aside for students from the Ontario College of Agriculture so that they could engage in leading edge agriculture advancements.

The Mulock Farm was gradually parcelled off over the years with real estate development encroaching all around it, however the original estate home surrounded by 11.6 acres of property remained intact and unspoiled. The estate has been lovingly maintained and occupied by six generations of the Mulock family.

In 2018 the Mulock family sold Mulock Farm to the Town of Newmarket for $24 million. Soon all the residents of Newmarket will be able to enjoy the Mulock Farm which will be repurposed into a grand community park and greenspace. William Mulock was a man of the people. He believed strongly in community and the common good. The fact his beloved farm and estate would have survived all these years and is set to become a fixture in the community would no doubt make him smile.

Overview:

Summerhill Estates is situated in the southwest section of Newmarket. It is bordered by Yonge Street on the east and Bathurst Street on the west. Formal stone entranceway markers etched with the name Summerhill are located off Mulock Drive at Doubletree Lane and at Sawmill Valley Drive. Summerhill Centre, a small shopping plaza off Yonge Street and Whipper Watson Park off Clearmeadow Boulevard are popular neighbourhood destinations. The landmark Mulock Farm located at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Mulock Drive has been purchased by the Town of Newmarket and will eventually become a prized community park and greenspace.

Lifestyle:

Summerhill Centre is a small shopping plaza conveniently located off Yonge Street at Clearmeadow Boulevard. This neighbourhood landmark is anchored by a Rexall drugstore and includes a dentist, optometrist, a walk- in family clinic, a fitness studio, a jeweller and restaurants.

Upper Canada Mall located on the northwest corner of Yonge Street and Davis Drive is a regional shopping centre and a community hub. There are over 100 stores on this indoor shopping centre anchored by Hudson’s Bay. The mix of shops includes athletic and sporting goods, beauty and health, hone furnishings, footwear and fashion, gift stores, and a food court.

Homes:

Summerhill north of Mulock Drive and Summerhill South are marked by formal stone entranceways along Mulock Drive. Most of the houses were built in the early 2000s and include a mix of detached and semi-detached homes as well as townhomes. The houses are all brick and include one or two garages built in garages. This is a high density neighbourhood with houses situated in close proximity to one another however; the streetscapes are very pretty with long and winding roads, a network of sidewalks, and lots of parks and greenspace that create nice open vistas.

Recreation:

Whipper Watson Park off Clearmeadow Boulevard is a pretty park in a forest like setting. Amenities include a children’s playground and a splash pad as well as a baseball diamond. In the wintertime this park has a popular outdoor community ice rink. The John F. Smith Trail located on the south side of Mulock Drive is a popular spot for joggers and cyclists.

Newmarket