Nearly a century ago, Canberra's first independent architect Kenneth Oliphant designed a two-building, two-storey complex in the mock-Tudor style in response to the new capital's rapidly growing population.
Completed in 1934, Barton Court, with its tall red brick chimneys and decorative half-timbering, was the territory's first privately built residential apartment building.
Since apartment six was listed for sale earlier this month, Steve Whitelock from Belle Property said there had been plenty of interest, both from those hoping to have a look around a piece of Canberra's history, but also from people working in the nearby Parliamentary Triangle.
Many of the residents in the building walk to work each day, Mr Whitelock said.
"You've got Barton, cafes and restaurants and all the amenity nearby as well, so that you don't really need a car to be driving too far," he said.
The apartment has been slightly modernised inside, with updates to both the bathroom and kitchen, but Mr Whitelock said it had maintained its period character and charm through the original hardwood floors, high ceilings and sash windows.
"Its common grounds associated with the building are just as beautiful, with mature trees and grasslands," Mr Whitelock said.
The open fireplace in the living room is also original, Mr Whitelock said, although modern hydronic heating managed through the strata makes the apartments "just really cosy, nice to walk into, because the hydronic ambient, radiant heat is on the whole time through the winter".
Both bedrooms in the ground-floor apartment face east, and include built-in robes. Additional storage can be found in two more cupboards in the hallway, and in the bathroom.
A large kitchen, and separate living and dining areas, are among the other features unlikely to be found in newer apartment buildings.
In June, Barton Court was nominated for heritage listing as a "rare, early example of speculative private development in the Federal Capital Territory following the Great Depression".
The nomination said Barton Court was notable for its "inter-war Old English (Tudoresque) architectural style, well-preserved original layout, and significant landscaped courtyard embodying Garden City planning principles," which had been designed in response to the housing shortages associated with the establishment of Canberra as Australia's capital city.
"It makes an important contribution to the understanding of Canberra's early development and urban history, and remains a landmark element of the historic Barton precinct alongside other heritage-listed buildings and places," the nomination said.
"I can't believe it wasn't heritage before now," Mr Whitelock said.
The apartment will go to auction on Saturday, September 5. While Mr Whitelock could not put an exact price he expected, he said other apartments in the complex had sold for about $900,000.
"To own a piece of Canberra's history - something really special that you could feel proud of to invite people to - I think that would be a fair price tag for it," he said.
"It's something that once you have ownership of, you never really want to relent."
