A group of dedicated volunteers have spent more than a year nursing one of the ACT's most celebrated historical artefacts back into good condition.
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Just a few years ago, the historic homestead built by George Campbell of Duntroon in 1880 at Kowen Forest was damaged by heavy rainfall and rodents.
But the homestead became the focus of a group of volunteers known as the Friends of Glenburn, who formed in 2008 and have since worked to restore the site and a trail running through the Glenburn and Burbong districts.
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services Shane Rattenbury visited the site on Friday morning and praised the work of the volunteers and government's park rangers.
"The ACT Parks and Conservation Service and the Friends of Glenburn are dedicated to ensuring these sites of historic and heritage significance can still be enjoyed for many years to come," he said.
"A lot has been achieved in the Glenburn and Burbong historic precinct since the last time I visited in October 2013."
Friends of Glenburn convenor Colin McAlister said the group of volunteers had been cutting grass, blackberries and painting fences near the historical sites and were proud of their work.
"It's important to look after this area as early European relics are not common in the ACT and small rural communities are even less so," he said.
"There was a school out there and it was a vibrant community but poor soils, small blocks, bad economic conditions and rabbits and pests tool their toil and it died."
Mr Rattenbury said he was excited to see changes in the area including the capping of the walls at the Colliers Homestead and new fences around the relic.
"It took three days to cap the walls at Colliers and we had a team of about 10 people carrying the mortar and helping to lay the bricks," Mr McAlister said.
"We've also been involved with the rabbit proof fence at Colliers which was pretty expensive exercise and we contributed $3300 towards that cost."
The work capping work was overseen by ACT senior ranger Dean Darcy who was a professional bricklayer for six years before changing careers.
It is hoped the work will stop rain washing through the rocks, damaging the structure and causing erosion.
Mr McAlister said the small team of dedicated volunteers would continue restoring the area, including the improvement of a 14-kilometre walking track from Kings Highway to improve access to the homestead.
In 1895, the Colliers Homestead hosted a ball for 15 couples who reportedly partied until close to 4am.
