A peek behind the gates of the home of former Liberal party leader, Dr John Hewson is coming up this weekend.
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Dr Hewson and his wife, Jessica are auctioning off more than 1200 lots from their property in Exeter.
Sydney-based auction house Vickers & Hoad will host the auction on site at 'Invergowrie', an estate built in the 1930s by Sir Cecil Hoskins that has been owned by the Hewson family since the early 2000s.
While the Hewson’s have enjoyed raising their two daughters, Eliza and Amelia, in the Southern Highlands, the logistical realities of school-aged children have necessitated a need to move closer to Bowral.
"Between the two girls, there are seven ballet classes a week. Exeter is a beautiful place, a dreamy little village, but unfortunately we're spending far less time here," Ms Hewson said.
"Having two girls running around changes your life and to accommodate an increasingly busy life with kids, we've had to move closer to town," she said.
The auction is a three-day event that has attracted attention from across the region, as well as Sydney and Canberra.
Vickers & Hoad director Colin Vickers said the company had received a considerable volume of interest in the auction and that hotels and guesthouses in the area had seen an increase in bookings for the weekend of the auction.
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"We’ve had a lot of phone calls and interest in the auction. It will be a major weekend coming up,” he said.
Ms Hewson said she hoped to breathe new life into the home, moving away from it's Tudor style to a more modern reimagining.
"I'd like to restyle it. I want it to be lighter, brighter. I'm a person that's almost frightened of clutter, though, John said it was more a case of me 'de-Johning' the house," she said.
Much of Mr Hewson's political and historical collection is up for sale this weekend, an ecclectic mix of political caricatures, WWI posters and 20th century political art from around the world.
The ballroom where John and Jessica hosted their wedding more than a decade ago has been transformed into a showroom for the auction event and features everything from armschairs, cushions and bed frames to Christmas decorations, sporting collectables and a vintage car from the early 20th century.
"There are a lot of interesting things for sale. I have always said if you haven't loved or admired something for a couple of years, it's time to let it go and let someone else enjoy it," Ms Hewson said.
"We've kept things that remain special, but it's the start of a new chapter for us."
For more information about the auction, visit http://www.vickhoad.com/
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