Memories of the “secret” cellar, climbing the old macadamia tree and countless of cups of tea on the veranda are flooding back with the sale of one of Sydney’s oldest homes.

Parramatta centenarian Dorothy May Moore has made the tough decision to sell her home at the age of 103.

The historic home at 4 Rosehill St was built more than 200 years ago in 1816 – a year after Napoleon was defeated in the Battle of Waterloo – and has hit the market for the first time in 133 years with huge potential for redevelopment.

The home, called Sherbrooke, was built on a section of 100 acres of farmland originally granted to James Meehan by Governor Lachlan Macquarie.

It was built 23 years after the oldest homestead in Sydney at Elizabeth Farm, and the same year as Cadman’s Cottage in the Rocks.

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Ms Moore moved into the home in 1942 when she married Thomas Allport Sheridan Moore and has lived there ever since.

Her daughter Rhonda Hahn said the decision to sell was tough.

“Mum originally didn’t want to sell until after she passed away, but she realises at nearly 104 years of age, it’s time,” she said.

“The home was never actually purchased by our family, it was bequeathed to my grandmother because she cared for the former owners.”

Ms Hahn said her family has watched Parramatta grow over the years.

“We have a view of all the high-rises going up, ‘sunrise over the high-rise’ we watch,” she said.

“The home is actually located in a little heritage pocket so we have no tall buildings around us.”

She said the family hoped the new owners would be willing to retain the slice of Sydney’s history.

“There’s a secret cellar in there and a huge 100 year old macadamia tree in the backyard we would climb in, we’ve enjoyed hundreds of cups of tea on the veranda over the years and there’s even room for a pony out the back,” she said.

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“We just want to see it being loved.”

The three bedroom Victorian style house, on a large undeveloped block, is expected to generate significant interest from developers for residential lots and also childcare.

Agent Brian Prabaharan, from Moxham Commercial, said the age of the house came with restrictions but there was “great capacity for redevelopment”.

“The likely outcome is that a developer will purchase the property,” he said.

“It’s a massive corner block, but it could also be bought by owner-occupiers who may wish to retain and restore this beautiful historic home on such a large block.”

He said there are several options for developers.

“There’s potential to convert the Victorian style home into a business, healthcare service or childcare centre,” he said.

“You could also retain the historic homestead and build two homes on the other two lots of land or combine those two lots and build from a blank canvas.”

He said the bones of the home were “beautiful” with a lot of hard work going into its maintenance over the years.

The property, which is zoned for redevelopment within heritage guidelines, is on 2229 sqm across three lots. It will go to auction on May 11.

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