Sunnyside House Registered Heritage Structure

70 Circular Road, Sunnyside House, has been designated a Registered Heritage Structure because it holds aesthetic, historic and environmental values.

70 Circular Road, Sunnyside House is aesthetically valuable because it is an excellent surviving example of a mid to late 19th-century estate located in old St. John’s. The main dwelling house is situated on a large country-like piece of land with mature trees and amongst other related structures. It is constructed of wood and feature typical Victorian Gothic Revival Cottage elements. The dwelling house, located at the western end of the property, was built in three parts. The central portion is a gable roofed building with a 5-sided porch at the main entrance, and it was built first in 1846. The next owners extended this building by adding east and west wings in the 1880s. This house maintains most of its original fabric and features wooden, double hung, multi-paned windows, peaked dormer windows and glass roof bay windows, as well as multiple chimneys and bargeboard in the gables. It maintains a high state of preservation which can be seen throughout the house, both inside and out.

Sunnyside House has historical value because of its associations with its notable owners. The original owner, John O’Mara, came to Newfoundland sometime between 1831-1845 from Waterford, Ireland and established an extensive mercantile firm. Like many of his peers at the time he became heavily involved in politics. In 1847 O’Mara was Commissioner of Roads for St. John’s, the District Health Warden, and he was Justice of the Peace for the central district of the city in 1853.

Sunnyside was purchased by Scottish born James Murray in 1872 and it was Murray who made additions to the property as it stands today. James Murray operated one of the largest fishery supply firms in Newfoundland and he, too, was involved in Island politics. Murray died at his St. John’s residence, Sunnyside, on January 16, 1900. Sunnyside is owned and lived in by members of the Murray family today.

Sunnyside House has environmental value because it stands amongst other original structures on a large area surrounded by mature trees. It has maintained its original country-like setting in the heart of old St. John’s and is representative of an earlier time in the City’s history.