The 160-year-old home has retained many of its original features, including ornate fireplaces, and is now being sold.
But there is a catch: any buyer will have take the historic house away with them.
Andersons and Co planner Conrad Anderson said the current owners were wanting to develop the land at 56 Cargill St, as well as No70 next door.
However, Cargill St is an area with known geotechnical issues.
‘‘Any redevelopment of these sites requires good geotechnical investigation, which requires a drill rig ... but you can’t get the drill rig to do appropriate drill holes with the house there.’’
Mr Andersen said given the history of the house — which still retained its original floor plan and many original features — it would be a great shame if it was lost.
So in an effort to save it, the house is being sold on the condition that the buyer organises to have it transported to a new plot of land.
‘‘This is a little bit unique I suppose in terms of advertising it for removal ... we would love it to find a new home.
‘‘It would have its challenges to move, and it takes the right type of person, such as someone interested in having a house with a bit of history.’’
The house was estimated to have been built in the late 1860s, and was commissioned by Mr Alexander Livingstone, who was the first rector of Dunedin High School — now known as Otago Boys’ High School.
Mr Livingstone emigrated with his family from Kinross-shire, Scotland, to take up the school role.
He was appointed in 1856, however, he did not last long as the school had a difficult time attracting and retaining students.
By late 1861, the senior students started to catch the gold rush itch, and all left.
In December 1879, Mr Livingstone died, and in his will he left all of his property to his wife, Williamina (Annie) Livingstone.
In 1885, she sold the home to her son Alexander Robert Livingstone, for £765.
He did not have it for long, as he was declared bankrupt in 1888. The home was then sold.
In more recent times it served as a rental property.
The house has four fireplaces: one installed in the cold kitchen and dining room in the 2000s, and three more ornate fireplaces in what would have been the formal dining room, the sitting room and the downstairs bedroom.
Many of the windows are original, and the house has retained some of its original wallpaper.
The property has been recorded as an archaeological site, which means there is potential for evidence of past lives to survive beneath the ground.
Once removed, archaeologists will be given the chance to investigate the site and recover items buried there.
Mr Andersen said if the house was not sold, some original elements might still be salvaged for reuse, including floorboards and fireplaces.
The home is listed for sale by LJ Hooker Dunedin.
