Lady Gaenor Meakes v Bruce Lehrmann: ‘Damage’ caused to Balgowlah rental

Bruce Lehrmann’s ex-landlord tells a tribunal she can’t get in contact with the former Liberal staffer, claiming the Balgowlah property was damaged to the point she was unable to re-lease it.

Bruce Lehrmann pictured leaving his Balgowlah house in early April. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Bruce Lehrmann allegedly caused “extensive damage” to a multimillion-dollar Balgowlah property rented for him on the Seven Network’s dime, to the point where his former landlord was unable to lease the apartment to future tenants, a tribunal has heard.

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal on Thursday heard Lady Gaenor Meakes, the property owner who launched proceedings against the former Liberal staffer earlier this month, was unable to re-list the apartment when Lehrmann vacated it “because of the cleaning that had to be done”.

The tribunal also heard Lady Meakes has been unable to contact Mr Lehrmann in relation to the matter, despite reaching out to lawyers representing him in his failed defamation case against Network 10 and presenter Lisa Wilkinson.

Mr Lehrmann moved out of the Balgowlah property on Sydney’s northern beaches in early April. The Australian understands he left the property earlier than expected, cutting the lease short by about three weeks.

The Balgowlah property.

During Mr Lehrmann’s defamation trial, Mr Lehrmann revealed Seven paid his rent at the apartment for a full year in exchange for an exclusive interview on its flagship current affairs show, Spotlight. The rent cost the network $2000 a week, amounting to more than $100,000 total.

The NCAT on Thursday heard Lady Meakes has lodged two proceedings against Mr Lehrmann: the first, relating to property damage and the second to loss of rent.

The loss of rent matter was set down to be heard on June 12, but the tribunal heard the two proceedings would likely run together.

The NCAT also heard Mr Lehrmann had not been properly served in relation to the property damage matter, as Lady Meakes was unable to locate him and serve him documents.

“I have been trying to find where he is with no luck,” the landlord said, explaining that she had tried to serve him with his defamation lawyers.

NCAT Member Cathy Campbell said: “I don’t know whether he’s got a law firm acting for him in these proceedings or not.”

“(The application) has come back ‘return to sender’,” Ms Campbell said. “I’m not satisfied there has been service, obviously.”

Bruce Lehrmann has not been seen since he lost his defamation case against Network 10.

Lady Meakes is the wife of champion sailor Mark Richards – the long-time skipper of Wild Oats XI and nine times line honours winner of the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht race.

Seven has long been a primary sponsor of Wild Oats.

Mr Richards transferred the property to Lady Meakes after the couple bought it for $2.4m in 2019. It was granted a council permit for a renovation worth $98,654 in March 2020 before it was placed on the market for rent.

The Australian understands Mr Lehrmann’s name was on the lease, but the property was paid for through Seven’s finance department.

After Mr Lehrmann moved out of the Balgowlah property he moved into a home in North Sydney that was being rented by his friend Paul Farrell.

He shortly left the home, with neighbours complaining of loud karaoke and heavy partying throughout the night. During his stay, Mr Lehrmann was also seen leaving the property with a number of different women.

Lady Meakes on Thursday was granted permission to serve Mr Lehrmann via email.

Asked how long she would need to send him the application and supporting documents, she responded: “I have quite a lot of documents.”

Ms Campbell also granted Mr Lehrmann permission to attend the next hearing via and audio-visual link, because “I have no idea where he is”.

Mr Lehrmann is understood to no longer be in NSW, after Federal Court judge Michael Lee last month found the former Liberal staffer had, on the balance of probabilities, raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House.

Sue Chrysanthou SC and Lisa Wilkinson as they emerge from court after Justice Lee found Mr Lehrmann raped Ms Higgins.

Former Seven Spotlight producer Taylor Auerbach came forward with fresh evidence at the end of the defamation trial, alleging Seven reimbursed Mr Lehrmann for prostitutes and illicit drugs along with paying for the year of rent.

Seven has denied authorising the alleged payments for illicit activities.

Appeals silk Guy Reynolds SC is leading a new team to appeal Justice Lee’s landmark judgment, which found Ten and Wilkinson did not defame Mr Lehrmann when interviewing Ms Higgins on The Project in early 2021.

Criminal defence barrister Margaret Cunneen SC is also rumoured to have offered to lend her services to Mr Reynolds, due to extensive experience with sexual assault trials, most recently winning a case for ex-Wallaby Kurtley Beale.