Cool items inside Lehmo’s secret mancave

Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann says there is one good reason why most of his possessions are hidden behind a closed door – and it starts with a K.

Comedian and actor Anthony "Lehmo" Lehmann in his Melbourne home. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann has garnered a huge following through his comedy acts and media commitments but says the adulation stops the moment he steps through his front door.

“If you walked through this house you could be forgiven for thinking I don’t even live here,” bemoans the funnyman.

“There’s no pictures of (beloved) Muhammad Ali or Hawthorn Football Club, no sports memorabilia or any of my books – nothing.”

Lehmo’s prized possessions, he says, are hidden is his “office-slash-mancave”, with wife Kelly insisting the door remains firmly closed.

Lehmo keeps most of his favourite stuff in his mancave. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

“She doesn’t want guests to see it,” he says. “There’s items in there that she says she can’t even bring herself to look at.”

Kelly, a TV presenter, has a knack for interior design and has created a delightfully warm, yet eclectic, home decorated in a style Lehmo describes as having a “Mexican art vibe with skeletons. We do have lots of skulls around the place.”

With the pair predominantly working from home, Lehmo likes to relax by playing chess. “Quite a few comedians are into chess,” he says.

“(Fellow comedian) Tommy Little is a very good chess player, believe it or not. I also play my son, although he bends the rules. He always wins – that’s his most important rule. It’s his rule for life.”

His two dogs Bunny and Panda are among his favourite things. Picture: Eugene Hyland.

Who Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann.

Where Fitzroy, Melbourne. I bought this place 10 years ago with my girlfriend at the time, Kelly, who is now my wife, and we live here with our son, Laddie, who’s six. Fitzroy is the smallest suburb in Melbourne and I think it has something like 40 pubs – I love that only one of them has betting facilities.

Favourite space I love my office. The other space I love is the loungeroom with its big TV. I watch a lot of sport on our really big modular lounge.

Home is just a happy, peaceful place that you can retire to with whatever is going on in your life or the world.

LEHMO’S FAVOURITE THINGS

LADDIE’S HAWTHORN FOOTBALL

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

My son’s a Hawthorn supporter. He never had any choice.

I got him a membership the day after he was born in July.

He hasn’t seen us win many games. We had a really good run before he came along – I’m not blaming him, I’m just saying that we had a really good run before that.

BUNNY AND PANDA

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

Our dogs have names of other animals.

This is very confusing for a child but that’s what we have done.

Bunny is a staffy (Staffordshire bull terrier) and she’s just an angel.

Panda’s a French bulldog that we fostered and then adopted.

CERTIFICATE FOR AUSSIE TROOPS PERFORMING

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

I’ve done gigs in Afghanistan for our war troops and it’s been a great joy for me.

The main difference (to performing at home) is the hecklers have guns – it really focuses your attention on your performance.

In a war zone, you have got to keep morale high because it’s a life-and-death game. There’s a real purpose to the gigs.

THIS SHIRT WON’T IRON ITSELF

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

When I look at it now, I can’t believe I ever wrote a book. A lot of the work I do on radio or whatever disappears into the ether but a book is a nice, physical thing to have.

There’s lots of funny stuff in it. I would love to write another book. It’s a fun process but it’s hard work.

BACKSTAGE PHOTO AT THE PALAIS THEATRE, ST KILDA

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

This was taken with Mick Molloy and Adam Rozenbachs at a benefit night for Russell Gilbert. There’s a really nice vibe about the picture – just three comedians hanging backstage before we go on stage.

UTOPIA HARD HAT

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

This is a connection to Jim, the character I play on (TV comedy series) Utopia.

I interviewed (casting manager) Jane Kennedy on radio about one of her books and then she messaged me and said, ‘Do you want to be in a series we’re making?’

URN AND ASHES

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

We lost a cat recently and so we have this little shrine on the kitchen bench for Tama.

The Bondi Vet, Dr Chris Brown, says there’s two types of people – cat people and people that haven’t met a cat yet.

I never considered myself a cat person – ever – but when I met Kel she had two cats and I fell in love with them.

RECORD PLAYER

Picture: Eugene Hyland.

There’s something quite comforting about putting on a vinyl and playing a record, in this day and age.

It’s also nice to pick up an album and play all the songs from start to finish.

I listen to a broad range of stuff – we’re big Elvis fans and Johnny Cash; Queen gets a run too, as well as Don McLean, the Rolling Stones and Bob Marley.

It’s all old school.