The late Australian stage actor Richard Hughes has bequeathed the full sales proceeds of his childhood home in Clovelly to the Starlight Children’s Foundation, a charity that supports seriously ill children and young people.
The property, located at 24 Park Street, will go up for auction on Saturday, 5 Aug 2023, with all funds raised being donated to the foundation.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom semi-detached house, situated on a 280-square-meter block with picturesque views of the water, has a price guide of $3 million to $3.3 million, according to Colliers agent Nelson Dueza, a long-time friend of the late actor. The property has remained in the family for an impressive 83 years since Mr Hughes’s parents, Dick and Beryl, purchased it around 1940.
Mr Hughes, who passed away at the age of 77 in late 2022, had a remarkable career in the theatre, appearing in productions with Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre. He was known for his playful and witty nature, often entertaining his loved ones with puns and jokes.
In his retirement years, Mr Hughes focused on family, caring attentively for his mother, Beryl, and his aunt June, until they both passed away in their nineties. He was also the organiser of regular family reunions, strengthening the bonds among his extended family.
The childhood home holds cherished memories for the actor, who grew up there as an only child, enjoying the stunning views of Coogee and Wedding Cake Island, which are just a short distance from Clovelly Beach. The property’s location is one of its standout features, as it offers breathtaking ocean views from multiple rooms.
The Starlight Children’s Foundation, the chosen beneficiary of the auction’s proceeds, creates over half a million Starlight experiences for sick children annually through their various programs. These experiences provide a much-needed respite from the challenges of illness, allowing the children and their families to laugh, play, and connect during difficult times.
Clovelly, an idyllic beachside suburb located 8km southeast of Sydney’s CBD, is highly sought after, with Domain’s House Price Report for the March 2023 quarter showing a median house price of $3.8 million.
The sale of this beloved childhood home is not only an opportunity for a new chapter in the property’s history but also a chance to make a significant impact on the lives of seriously ill children, thanks to Richard Hughes’s heartfelt bequeathment to the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Published 26-July-2023
