Mr Freeman advised on the current conservation project for the 1840s Sloane Street villa up until last April.

But his fascination with the colonial building prompted him to put pen to paper and compile the first comprehensive history.

The book, St Clair Villa: 175 years of Goulburn History, will be launched at Goulburn Library on Wednesday, August 28 from 2pm. The community is invited to attend.

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The villa is regarded as a testament to the design and building abilities of the Scot, James Sinclair. It has stood the test of time, though greatly enlarged.

A council spokesperson said it was also a testament to the city of Goulburn, its residents, and to municipal authorities and historical societies that the villa has been retained and nurtured.

"When the council acquired Saint Clair in 1969, the buildings were in a state of neglect. Since this time, members of the Goulburn and District Historical and Genealogical Society, now known as History Goulburn, have been passionate advocates for the conservation of Saint Clair for use as a museum and archives, and as the home of History Goulburn," he said.

"With a large Conservation project currently underway this publication is a timely celebration of this culturally significant building."

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The book tells the story, in text and image, of the life and times of the building by drawing on a vast array of historical sources held in state, national and local collections dating back to the 1830s.

The historical narrative has utilised published and unpublished material including manuscripts, archival material, newspapers, photographs, maps and parish plans, correspondence, objects, artworks and interviews.

The publication brings to light many little known historical sources, particularly items held in the Saint Clair Archives by History Goulburn.

"The use of (these) historical sources has resulted in a comprehensive and authoritative narrative about Saint Clair Villa, its occupants and place within Goulburn and regions' history over 175 years," the spokesperson said.

About the author

Peter Freeman, OAM, is a conservation architect, writer and illustrator, whose life has been dedicated to documenting the rural vernacular of Australia, and those significant places, buildings and people, which have enriched Australia.

This is the 16th book in the Freeman collection, which first commenced in 1978 with the publication by Rigby of a sketchbook about the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.

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