Historic Alfredton home on the market

ALFREDTON'S historic Lauderdale is on the market after 44 years.The home, built by pioneer pastoralist Jock Winter in 1863, is currently listed with Doepel Lilley and Taylor for $880,000.The home was made from local bluestone with an English slate roof, surrounded by a large verandah.There is also a 74sqm cottage, the home's original kitchen.Both are listed on the Historic Building Register, National Estate and National Trust. Lauderdale was originally set on the outskirts of a 144 hectare sheep station, which extended from Sebastopol to Burrumbeet and up to Brown Hill. Today Lauderdale, in Prince St, is surrounded by homes.Owner Anne Smail said after 44 years of lovingly restoring the home, they had decided to downsize."When we bought it, we had to hose it out because it had been empty for three years; we made two rooms liveable plus a kitchen we could work in," she said."It's been a work in progress ever since _ we've painted everything, the ceilings have been replaced and the roof has been replaced."Mrs Smail said it had been a home they liked to share with people, including hosting five weddings and two funerals."Our children have grown up in it and it's always been a very comfortable place," she said. "We'd just like to feel that somebody loves it just as much as we do, would like to move in and enjoy it."