As reported in the Weekly, 'Cottage 12' was granted heritage protection last July.

Now a popular YMCA recreation camp, the property was established in 1937 as a 'farm school' to provide orphaned or underprivileged British child migrants with an education in the ways of the land.

Only four of the original 12 cottages remain. Many were sold and then demolished over the years.

The group behind the heritage campaign, the Old Northcotonians Association, now plans to re-roof, replace gutters and external weatherboard and fix up ruined joinery.

The group is made up of locals who were raised at the farm and have maintained their connection to the site.

"[The grant] is mainly to make the house weatherproof so we can have it as a museum," president Mal Rogers said.

"It'll be up to scratch and watertight and weatherproof. We've already started getting some artefacts and bit by bit we'll get it done."

The group has plans to use the building as an education centre, with interactive displays and videos of its history.

"It's important to keep this piece of heritage alive as the shire grows," Mr Rogers said.

He said planning to preserve the historic building had taken a lot of hard work.

"It started with the Lady Northcote reunion five years ago and it's taken this long to get this stage ... we're a patient lot."

Western Victoria MP David O'Brien said the funding and volunteer assistance from Bacchus Marsh Lions Club and local tradesmen would help preserve the building for future generations."

For more details on the Old Northcotonians, phone 0427058714.