Vacant for many years, the humble weatherboard abode – known as Daly Kidd Cottage – has stood at its current location for more than 60 years.

But now the building – once home to those who worked for Myrtle and Marguerita Curtis of Tocal Homestead – is about to be returned to its original site at the homestead.

“The cottage was moved from the homestead to its current location in the 1950s, apparently to allow for more privacy for the Misses Curtis who were then living in Tocal Homestead,” principal of Tocal Agricultural College Dr Cameron Archer said.

“And it is in remarkably good condition despite its looks but following relocation the cottage will be fully conserved.”

The cottage was constructed in 1916 during the time of the marriage of Leslie Earle (Daly) Kidd to Alice Chambers. Daly Kidd worked on Tocal and had also driven coaches for the Fry family of Paterson.

In 1911 Daly Kidd drove the last coach from Maitland to Paterson.

“Daly was the only person to remain working on Tocal at the time of the sale of the property to Alexander family,” Dr Archer said.

The Alexander family consisted of Jane, Isabella, Robert and Charles. By 1939 only Charles remained and he invited Myrtle and Marguerita (his two nieces) to live with him at Tocal.

Following Charles’ death in 1947, the ­sisters lived at Tocal until their death just five days apart in 1985, at the ages of 95 and 97 respectively.