Australian National Trust events and special promotions manager Hilary Keeley said she was pleased the board had taken a new approach to the estate's management.

"We really want to encourage the community to bring their families here," Mrs Keeley said.

"People can go inside, sit on the furniture, we know they will respect it — they can bring their dogs, you might even see a few horses up there."

She said the home was often treated as a private and exclusive house of the national trust.

"People were reluctant to use it and be there," Mrs Keeley said.

"Cox, who built Clarendon, was an entrepreneur, he was into show — that's why it looks the way it does.

"We want it to be used and loved by the community."

She said a series of events would be held at the building in an effort to familiarise people with its grounds and to raise funds for repairs.

"We need a new roof on Clarendon, that's going to cost a bit of money," Mrs Keeley said.

"Once we've done that, we need to start looking at repairing the floor."

A Fabulous Frocks at Clarendon event tomorrow, including charcuterie paired with wine from Leaning Church vineyard will be the first of the series.

The lunch will run from midday to 3pm, at a cost of $50 a person.

For more information, or to book, call 6344 6233 or email events@nationaltrusttas.org.au.