Furlong is suspected of being one of many local buildings designed by Irish settler Daniel Jordan, who settled in Queanbeyan in the 1840s and was soon in demand as both builder and architect.

The two-storey, terrace-style brick building was an early example of Victorian Georgian style architecture in Queanbeyan, and was bought by the town’s first mayor, John James Wright in the 1880s.

It’s ornate, iron lace balcony railings were added in 1926, sourced from the Royal Hotel.

But for many years the once-stately colonial homestead has been a dilapidated heap sitting within the developing CBD.

However, a new residential development planned for the site is set to restore the front half of Furlong House, and open it to new commercial tenants.

Local historian and heritage consultant Brendan O’Keefe welcomed the restoration work, but said it was a shame some of Queanbeyan’s colonial heritage had been lost in the process.

“It’s not an ideal result, particularly since they knocked off the back half of the building, which was one of its most interesting features," Mr O'Keefe said.

“A lot of buildings have been knocked over in the Queanbeyan CBD.

This is one of the oldest remaining heritage buildings left in the city, and if we have any interest or feeling for our local heritage we should be trying to hold on to these buildings."

Nevertheless, he said heritage buildings needed to be kept in use if they were to be retained.

“It’s important to have a new use for these old buildings, or they’re at risk of being demolished,” he said.

“There’s been a very detailed conservation report conducted at the site by Eric Martin Architects, and if the new developers follow it to the letter then it could become quite an attractive heritage building that could add a lot of prestige to a new business,” he said.

Construction work begins at the site in March.