Legendary rockstar Freddie Mercury's R650-million home for sale
The Queen lead singer's home is on sale for the first time since he died in 1991.
Freddie Mercury is one of the most iconic and influential rock musicians to have ever lived.
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Just over three decades ago, the world lost a talented and inspirational artist, but just like Mercury's memory, Queen's music continues to live on.
Few songs get a crowd to sing at the top of their lungs quite like 'Bohemian Rhapsody', stomp their feet or clap their hands like 'We Will Rock You' or get a winning team to feel on top of the world like 'We Are The Champions'.
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Those who still want to feel close to Mercury may consider purchasing the late singer's home.
The Garden Lodge, a spectacular Kensington property in London, was Mercury's home up until his death.
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Since then, the house has been in the care of his friend and ex-fiance, Mary Austin.
She remembers the first time she saw the Lodge while accompanying Mercury, who was house-hunting.
It was a summer day, children were playing in the garden, and I was behind Freddie as we came in. It was so quiet and so peaceful, and that continued through the house.
He bought it that same day.
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The home was Mercury's escape in London, a place where he could create and work on his music in peace.
He was constantly being hounded by the media, who were pressuring him to come out as gay before he wanted to.
And this gave him the wonderful feeling that he could create and live and be private here.
Mercury had left the property to Austin after his death, and she has been living there ever since.
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She told Bloomberg News that she wasn't sure if that decision would be healthy for her in her time of grief, but she realised it was what she needed.
It was really only ever my house in name only. I had worked on the house with him and for him, and it will always be his. It was his dream, it was his vision.
Austin, 72, now knows the time had come to let go.
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The sale of the property follows a massively successful Sotheby’s auction of Mercury's belongings, which raised more than $50-million.
A portion of the proceeds went to the Mercury Phoenix Trust and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Her kids have now grown up and left the house, and she feels it's time for her to start a new chapter.
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The house features eight bedrooms, a Japanese-inspired garden, multiple living spaces, a drawing room, a bar, a kitchen equipped with modern appliances, a cloakroom, an art deco dressing room, and a utility room with a delivery area.
The dressing room also leads to two ensuite bathrooms, one with an FM engrave in the marble.
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The property has not been listed online, and the home's details have not been disclosed for security reasons.
Austin also has a very specific vision and hope for the sale of the house.
She won't just settle for any offer, no matter how much.
The last thing you want is for someone to say, ‘Yes, I’ll buy it,’ and exploit it, and demolish it. This is unique and has its beauty, and I know it has a purpose for someone—it did for Freddie. If it’s not another creative, it should be because it is; it has that atmosphere. There might be a buyer with a similar modus operandi to Freddie.
She does acknowledge that once it's sold, it's done, and she can't hold on to the past forever.
"I’ll be leaving with it very warm in my heart," - Mary Austin.
Have a look at the home here:
While many fans, collectors and critics would probably love to own the home of a star, there is one problem no one is considering.
Whether or not you believe in ghosts, what happens when you move into Freddie's home, only to find that he is also still chilling out there?
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Image: Bloomberg News/Barney Hindle