In an even more unusual situation, two historic properties in Stawell with more than 100 years of history each are on the market for sale.

17 Leslie Street and 1 Byrne Street, Stawell are currently listed for sale by Ararat Ballarat Real Estate and Monaghan's Real Estate respectively.

While those address numbers might not mean much, they were of great significance to the Stawell community in the late 19th century.

The house at 17 Leslie Street was built as the home for Stawell's first police superintendent in 1869.

Despite being built 150 years ago, the home has retained many of its original features.

As Pleasant Creek and Stawell grew in the mid to late 1800s, construction of buildings such as the house on Leslie Street was necessary.

Heritage Victoria records indicate despite a number if police quarters built across Victoria at a similar time, the house in Stawell is the only purpose built superintendent's residence in the state.

The fire station on Byrne Street followed not long after the superintendent's house.

It too carries with it more than a century of history, with the tower erected in 1880 and the two storey station following in 1883.

The Pleasant Creek Fire Brigade was formed in 1866 following a "disastrous fire" on Main Street.

It later became incorporated as the Stawell Fire Brigade in 1873.

Despite the town continuing to grow, in 1879 the council and fire brigade could not come to an agreement on the construction of an "engine house" and bell tower. In January 1880, Stawell Fire Brigade members raised funds for the construction of the bell tower.

It came to earn the name 'the lady of Stawell' with a significant amount of money raised "a result of the efforts of lady collectors".

Council granted 300 to the project which was completed in December 1880. Fundraising continued for construction of the engine house, with the building opened in September 1983. The project was believed to have cost 500.

"The building will be a credit to the place and all the more creditable to the architect, Mr Inskip, when it is remembered how he was cramped in his design through the want of funds," a statement from 1883 read.

Both properties have been heritage listed. Despite their original purposes to serve as properties for emergency services, both are now private residences.

Monaghan's Real Estate director Terry Monaghan said the interest in the Byrne Street property has been "extraordinary".

"We have had inquiries from all over Victoria, even some from Tasmania, and we are only in the second week of the campaign," he said.

"It has only changed hands twice since the 1880s - first when it was sold by the CFA in 1991 and then in 2009."

Mr Monaghan said the building is "iconic" to Stawell.

"It is only one of half a dozen buildings in town that you would say its name and everyone knows where it is," he said.

"At the top of the tower would be one of the highest points in Stawell too. It's been really interesting for me to hear the ideas people bring with them for the place."

There is an existing planning permit for a four lot residential subdivision. That includes two new apartments in the current structure as well as a two-storey townhouse in the neighbouring land.

Ararat Ballarat Real Estate senior sales consultant Ross Matthews said he has been privileged to have the chance to sell the Leslie Street property.

"It is not very often an agent gets to sell a property of this significance," he said.

The Leslie Street house is listed for sale with a price between $465,000 and $505,000 while the Byrne Street building and land will go up for auction on May 4.

Stawell Historical Society secretary Greg Robson said it is good to see both buildings being cared for.

"If they aren't being used they will fall into disrepair real quick," he said.

"That happened with the superintendent's house a while ago, it was nearly a wreck but has since been restored."

Mr Robson said having buildings of their age is important to telling the history of Stawell.

"It is vitally important to preserve as many of the old buildings in town so the next generation can see what things were like years back," he said.

"If they are gone they can't be rebuilt, they are gone forever.

"They would be among some of the oldest buildings in town so hopefully they will continue to be cared for."

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