A rare 154-year-old heritage-listed home on a block described as a “little farm in the city” is up for sale in Albany.

Located at 250 Middleton Road in Mira Mar, Matthew Cull’s House has been listed for sale by Merrifield Real Estate for $1.375 million.

Matthew Cull and his wife Sarah began building the two-storey home with stone from the nearby reservoir in 1870, completing the Victorian Georgian style cottage for 1872 for the couple to live with their 12 children.

The house remained in the the Cull family for four generations before being sold to Wendy Faithfull in 2012.

“It was pretty derelict when we bought it — most people who walked in left screaming — but my ex was very good at transforming pigs ears into silk purses and we worked for two years to make it liveable,” she said.

“We retained all its charm, the old quirks, the string from old Christmas decorations hanging from the ceiling.

“You can almost hear the echoes of the steps of the people who lived there and if the walls could talk I’m sure they would have lots to say.”

The ground floor of the characterful home comprises a cosy lounge, an airy dining room, a study and the restored kitchen, complete with a scullery and connected to an enclosed veranda and mud room area with a steep timber staircase — made of recycled ladder and steps from a ship — leading upstairs.

Of the five bedrooms, two are kings sized and, tastefully renovated in line with modern life while still boasting vintage touches such as fireplaces and character windows.

The renovated bathroom features a clawfoot bath from the original house, a walk-in shower and separate toilet.

An avid gardener, Ms Faithfull said she had loved spending the past 14 years tending to the half-acre plot, which has fruit trees, a veggie patch, chicken coop and an old well that is dug deep enough to water the garden.

She uses the two-room settler style cottage, made of reclaimed materials from older structures on the land, to house her gardening tools, but said her grandchildren used it to play “pioneers”.

“It’s like a little farm in the city centre,” she said.

“I’m retired now, so the house needs someone a bit younger and enthusiastic to keep up maintenance and manage the garden, but I’ve loved it.”

Selling agent Kyle Sproxton said the opportunity to buy a home of such a vintage was “extremely rare”.

“You do sell the odd early 1900s listing, but nothing to this calibre,” he said.

“It’s not something that just anyone can buy, but it is a hugely unique, wonderful property and something really special.”