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Freddie Mercury's house up for sale for P2.1 billion

By NICK GARCIA Published Mar 04, 2024 1:48 pm

The house of the late iconic singer Freddie Mercury, which he bought during the ‘80s, just hit the market for over £30 million (P2.1 billion).

USA Today reported that real estate consultant Knight Frank listed Garden Lodge for sale.

Built in Neo-Georgian style in 1907, Mercury had Garden Lodge redesigned to fit his unique style.

Knight Frank in a press release said it “offers grand proportions yet a comfortable homely feel."

It has a two-floor drawing room with grand windows where he kept his piano, an intimate dining room painted with his favorite color, and a garden secluded from the busy city streets.

Upstairs, the principal suite is accessible through a dressing room mirrored from floor to ceiling, which Knight Frank said is "in itself a stage set."

"With huge enthusiasm for entertaining his close circle of friends,” the real estate consultant said, “Freddie designed the house to be a memorable, inviting place that reflected his vibrant personality and eclectic vision.”

Mercury left the house and its possessions to Mary Austin, his ex-girlfriend turned closest friend, when he died in 1991.

In 2023, Austin moved on from the role as the keeper of Mercury’s possessions, which were sold at an auction later that year.

And it’s now the house’s turn.

"This house has been the most glorious memory box, because it has such love and warmth in every room," Austin said in a press release. "Now that it is empty, I’m transported back to the first time we viewed it.”

She described it as a “place of peace” and “a true artist’s house.”

“[N]ow is the time to entrust that sense of peace to the next person,” she added.

Last year, some of his possessions—including a gilt-tooled leather-bound "dinner party guest and menu book," signature crown and cloak ensemble, and musical manuscripts, among others—were auctioned off by Sotheby's.

Mercury was part of the rock band Queen. It's known for the hits Bohemian RhapsodyI Want to Break FreeWe Will Rock YouAnother One Bites the Dust, and We Are the Champions.

Mercury died of pneumonia on Nov. 24, 1991. He had HIV/AIDS symptoms as early as 1982 and was diagnosed with AIDS in 1987.