Mosman Federation mansion Alma undergoing $2 million restoration

From the outside it looks like a grand Federation home but inside, there’s a long way to go before this Mosman property’s mansion status can be restored.

WHILE from the outside it looks beautifully grand, step through the front door of Alma and you will find the new owners are “camping”.

Nick and Linda Roberts, who have four children and a dog Mango, paid $3.7m for the Victorian manor in 2010.

Linda Roberts is in the midst of a major renovation of her historic home.

They are now in the throes of a full refurbishment.

“We were living in the US when I first spotted Alma online — even then I knew it was the one,” Mrs Roberts said.

“When we moved back to Australia we rented for a couple of years and when we finally looked for a place to buy, there she was.

“I was destined to live here, it really was fate.”

The 600sq m home was built in 1896 by a wealthy merchant.

The restoration process started a month ago.

Used as a commercial premises since the 1950s, the Roberts family are turning back into a home.

Yet “living” doesn’t exactly describe what the family has been doing since they moved in.

“We call it camping, we’re all sleeping together downstairs at the moment,” she said.

“My husband said he wouldn’t move in until we had finished renovating, but it’s now four years and we’re only just getting started.

“We’ve got a lot to do.”

Heritage features include the wrought-iron verandah.

The historic facade and gardens are largely intact.

Stained glass adds character and charm to the heritage-listed house

The Roberts family will spend $2million — and the next four years — turning the heritage-listed house on Belmont Rd into their home.

“We will be sitting on beanbags at the end because we won’t be able to afford any furniture,” she said.

“But we really love it here, we are completely respectful of the (home’s) cultural significance and are committed to preserving its integrity.”

The National Trust-listed home requires significant renovation work.

The first stage of restoration is expected to take a year.

Beautiful heritage tiles surround one of the fireplaces.

■ HISTORY: Entrepreneur and mason Frederick Smith built the home in 1896, living there until his death in 1914

■ USES: Part of the property was converted into flats, with the bottom floor used as a nursery. Alma was used as office space until 2010

■ PLANS: A refurbishment will see Alma restored to its former glory, with a new roof, window upgrades, repairs to the veranda and fireplaces, and a pool, built-in trampoline and wine cellar being added