Geoffrey Rush's childhood home hits the market

MORE than a decade ago, as David Spear set about piecing together his farming property Lyra Views, he unknowingly bought a piece of Australian movie history.

HOLLYWOOD LINKS: David Spear with a The Chronicle article from 2008, out the front of his home at Wyberba. The home was originally located at 9 Robertson St, South Toowoomba, and was the childhood home of (inset) Geoffrey Rush. Picture: Liana Walker

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MORE than a decade ago, as David Spear set about piecing together his farming property Lyra Views, he unknowingly bought a piece of Australian movie history.

In the market for a home to place on his grazing land at Wyberba, south of Ballandean, Mr Spear purchased the old cottage at 9 Robertson St, South Toowoomba, which was being moved to make way for the city's growing developments.

He was shocked to later discover during a phone call with a journalist that he had purchased none other than Oscar-winning actor Geoffrey Rush's childhood home.

FILE - In this May 18, 2017 file photo, Geoffrey Rush arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales" at the Dolby Theatre. Rush announced Saturday, Dec. 2, hes stepping down as president of Australias screen industry academy, days after a theater company revealed it had received a complaint against the Oscar-winning actor of inappropriate behavior. Rush has denied any inappropriate behavior at the Sydney Theatre Company. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File). Picture: Jordan Strauss

Now, because of health reasons, Mr Spear is putting the 39 hectare property and historic home on the market.

Three and a half years ago surgeons found an "incidental tumour" while Mr Spear underwent a routine operation.

"They found it while they were after my appendix. I woke with a 40cm scar up my belly," he said.

The upshot of the surgery is that now Mr Spear says he can't lift a bale of hay, let alone run cattle, so the property has to go.

The property - both the house and land - is already listed on the market.

But Mr Spear said that if somebody wanted to buy the house separately, he would be open to offers - subject to his bank's approval.

He said the property had been renovated over the years, and had been re-wired and had a new roof installed.

But it retains its old-world charm, like the original slow-combustion stove and 1950s style kitchen cabinets.

"It's a good, old house with good, old hardwood bones," he said.

For more information on Lyra Views, contact Stanthorpe Real Estate's Logan Steele on 4681 3311.

Originally published as Geoffrey Rush's childhood home hits the market