Olympics legend’s home up for sale for only second time in history
The home of Freddy Lane, Olympic gold medallist, is now up for grabs.
Built for the legendary swimmer in the 1920s, the residence is three-levels and has long been registered with the National Trust as it remains an example of work by acclaimed architect Leslie Wilkinson.
Lane won two gold medals at the 1900 Olympics in Paris and is known now for building the MacCallum Pool located in the eastern side of Cremorne Point.
The home has the classic 1930s arches and columns that were typical throughout expensive, stylish homes of that era.
Lane’s home was also dubbed the “skyscraper” as it was three-levels and resembled The Astore located in the CBD.
Lane died in 1969 and the house was passed on to his daughter Jean Rosalind Rubensohn, who sold it in 1979 for $230,000 to former Vogue Entertaining executive editor Sue Fairlie-Cuninghame and her husband David Fairlie-Cuninghame.
The home has maintained its gloriously perfect original finishes, including detailed picture plates and hanging staff bells on the kitchen wall.
However, the cellar where Rees worked is now a 5000-bottle wine cellar.
The self-contained studio above the garage that was once called home by the family’s chauffeur still sits, along with the bedroom behind the kitchen that had been built for the maid.
The couple have listed the Cremorne Point home during on the strongest housing markets in Sydney as they plan to downsize on their Mudgee cattle farm and vineyard permanently.