Bruce Lehrmann spotted in northern beaches hideaway home

Hidden in a quiet leafy street in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs is Bruce Lehrmann’s beachside hideout — the home Seven paid for to secure an interview with the ex-Liberal staffer.

This is the plush northern beaches pad Bruce Lehrmann scored rent free from Channel 7.

Nestled in one of Sydney’s most exclusive suburbs, Lehrmann has been hiding from the limelight in the multimillion-dollar home, until he was recently spotted by The Saturday Telegraph.

The Balgowlah property was advertised this year for rent at $1300 a week, and with Channel 7 footing the bill for 12 months that could equate to more than $67,000 for the broadcaster.

The unsuspecting three-bedroom home, nestled in bushland on a leafy suburban street, has some of the most enviable views in the city.

It has been the home of the former Liberal staffer since he moved out of a Maroubra apartment complex that was complete with an in-ground pool and spa, close to the beach.

Inside Lehrmann’s home on the northern beaches.

Channel 7 paid for a year’s worth of rent here.

The northern beaches property itself is owned by Lady Gaenor Meakes, who is the wife of champion sailor Mark Richards.

Mr Richards transferred the property into Ms Meakes’ name after the couple bought it for $2.4m in 2019.

Lehrmann, and a golden retriever, have been making themselves at home in recent weeks. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The former Liberal staffer received the rent-free home as part of a deal in exchange for an exclusive interview. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

They had renovated the exclusive beachside hideaway in 2020 before putting it on the market for rent.

Among the neighbouring properties to Lehrmann are palatial homes selling in the vicinity of five to six million dollars.

Lehrmann’s deal was exposed in his Federal Court defamation case against Lisa Wilkinson and Channel 10 this week, where the court heard the former Liberal staffer was given a year’s accommodation to deliver an exclusive interview with Channel 7’s Spotlight.

The water view from the home.

Lehrmann spent several days on the stand this week, where he was grilled about the deal.

“Umm, well, yes. For filming in those places,’’ Lehrmann responded when quizzed about why the home was provided to him by Channel 7.

When asked how much a year’s rent was in the home Lehrmann said he did not know because “the network handled the accommodation arrangements”.

The network had long claimed it had not paid for the interview with Lehrmann, and the Walkley Foundation this week said it was “considering its position” after the story was nominated for an award.

Under the body’s terms and conditions nominees have to declare if they have given any payments, gifts or benefits in exchange for the story.

Lehrmann’s criminal trial over the incident involving Ms Higgins fell over last year due to juror misconduct and he is separately facing another sexual assault allegation in his home town of Toowoomba in Queensland.

He has strenuously denied both claims and plans to defend himself at trial next year on the most recent one.

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