Sandstone-clad Colebrook House ‘not touched for a 100 years’

Built in 1872, the sandstone-clad Colebrook House is on the market for more than $750,000.

Colebrook House was built in 1872.

Built in 1872, the sandstone-clad Colebrook House, about 15 minutes from Hobart, is on the market for more than $750,000.

Captain David Cowan built the single-storey house laying it out in the style of a ship with a series of cabins or bedrooms leading off from a large central reception area. The 325sq m house has four bedrooms, a formal dining area, formal lounge area, sitting room, and two bathrooms leading off a courtyard. Plus there are stables.

Selling agent Sean Kerr, of LJ Hooker Hobart, said the beauty of Colebrook House is that it has not undergone a “horrendous” 1960s or ’70s renovation.

“The advantage of this is it has not been touched for 100 years,” Kerr says.

Positioned on the brow of a hill, the house has eight owners, all descendants of a relative who bought the property 95 years ago. The death of an uncle who lived in the house has prompted the sale.

“It needs a ton of work; it has never had a ton of work,” Kerr says.

“You would look comfortably at spending $300,000 but with these sorts of properties you don’t know until you are half way through the renovation.

“I have been selling property for 25 years I have never seen anything like this property.”

One easily fixed problem could be persuading the local council to remove a disused water tank in the back yard, which is on a separate title.