The fate of the now former 1414 Gregory Street Caretakers Cottage was in limbo for years as successive councils debated what to do about the house.

Despite being rundown, its historic value was confirmed in at 2006 Ballarat heritage precincts study.

Ballarat City Council workers loaded the house onto the back of a flatbed truck on Tuesday morning ahead of its big move.

It was then taken to its new home a short distance away at Lake Wendouree.

A relative of the gardens’ caretaker had lived in the cottage at Gregory Street until her death three years ago.

The property remained privately owned following he death, however the cottage was gifted to the Friend of the Ballarat Botanic Gardens.

Council infrastructure and environment director Terry Demeo said council will also restore the building once its move was completed.

“The owners were committed to the heritage of the site and wanted to see the cottage was returned and placed in the gardens,” he said.

Design firm Balance Architecture has worked on the project to move the house.

Balance architect Andrew Fedorowicz said despite the appearance from the outside, the building was structurally sound and could stand for another 100 years.

“We have discovered a lot of decay in the basis of the wall frames,” he said.

“But generally speaking it is okay.

“There is a whole mix of weatherboard timber types, so we are going to support replacing all the weatherboard.”

The property’s owners applied to council to demolish in July 2015, however council imposed an interim heritage protection on the property.

A permanent heritage overlay would have prevented the property from being moved.

Council estimates in 2016 put the cost of moving the house at $30,000 to $40,000.

This was disputed by Ballarat mayor Cr McIntosh who said she moved a property further for just $15,000.