▁The ▁original ▁ 1 8 ▁acres ▁of ▁the ▁property ▁had ▁been ▁reserved ▁by ▁the ▁Government ▁for ▁the ▁future ▁site ▁for ▁the ▁Governor ' s ▁country , ▁however , ▁the ▁exp enses ▁of ▁ere ct ing ▁Government ▁House ▁in ▁Melbourne ▁were ▁so ▁great ▁that ▁the ▁idea ▁of ▁ere ct ing ▁a ▁country ▁house ▁for ▁the ▁Governor ▁near ▁the ▁top ▁of ▁Mac ed on ▁was ▁delayed ▁for ▁many ▁years . ▁Sir ▁George ▁Feder ic ▁Ver don ▁purchased ▁the ▁land ▁in ▁ 1 8 7 4 ▁and ▁through ▁purchase ▁of ▁neighbour ing ▁hold ings , ▁en larg ed ▁the ▁property ▁to ▁its ▁current ▁size ▁of ▁ 2 6 ▁acres . ▁The ▁current ▁Al ton ▁House , ▁named ▁after ▁Al ton ▁Tower ▁in ▁England , ▁was ▁built ▁after ▁a ▁bush fire ▁destroyed ▁the ▁previous ▁ 1 8 7 2 ▁built ▁tim ber ▁c ott age ▁and ▁initial ▁garden ▁improvements ▁in ▁late ▁ 1 8 7 6 . ▁The ▁property ▁included ▁a ▁nine - te e ▁golf ▁course , ▁tennis ▁court ▁and ▁cro quet ▁la wn . ▁The ▁garden ▁includes ▁ 2 4 ▁National ▁Trust ▁recogn ised ▁trees . ▁Bra em ar ▁House , ▁ 1 4 9 9 ▁Mount ▁Mac ed on ▁Road , ▁Wood end ▁currently ▁occupied ▁by ▁Bra em ar ▁College , ▁this ▁her itage - list ed ▁substantial ▁two - store y ▁tim ber ▁m ansion ▁on ▁brick ▁and ▁stone ▁found ations ▁with ▁high ▁pitch ed ▁roof s , ▁intr icate ▁g ables ▁and ▁asym metric ▁features , ▁was ▁constructed ▁as ▁a ▁" first