Human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson: Inside his childhood home in Longueville

Geoffrey Robertson QC says the only sounds to disturb the serenity of Longueville in the 1960s were “a flash of lorikeets in the evening and a tinkle of masts in the bay when it was windy”.

Recalling his teenage years at Lucretia Avenue, the barrister, author and human rights champion says what he loved most was the sense of calm and quiet.

“I did all my studies there for the leaving certificate and for university … and I think the calm probably helped me study, so I’ve got entirely happy memories of it.”

The two-storey residence at 20 Lucretia Avenue is set on a corner block with a wide street frontage and tree-framed views over boat-studded Woodford Bay from the upper level. The day Domain visited it was every bit as peaceful as Robertson described.

From the entry landing, head upstairs to the eat-in kitchen and separate living room, which opens onto a balcony capturing the lovely water views. There are two bedrooms on this level and two more bedrooms downstairs alongside a rumpus room. The laundry leads to a covered terrace with access to a one-bedroom granny flat.

Robertson says a “rather adventurous architect” worked with the glorious north-easterly aspect and blended the house well with the leafy environment.

“It’s not an obtrusive house,” he says. “And I remember how warm it was in winter – I got dappled sunlight through my bedroom window and upstairs in the family room was always very warm. The rumpus room was great for teenage parties.”

Robertson flew from the Longueville nest in 1970, heading to Oxford University on a Rhodes scholarship, but used to come back home four to five times a year to reconnect with his parents.

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He has fond memories of playing tennis at the Longueville Tennis Club and swimming in the tidal pool in Woodford Lane, and he enjoyed the demographic mix in the suburb.

“We had John Newcombe round the corner, Nicole Kidman was born up the road and Brett Whiteley lived next door at one point.”

Now it’s time to sell his family home and let a new family enjoy the serenity.

Tavis Standen, of Standen Estate Agents, expects to sell for between $3.3 million and $3.6 million at the April 14 auction. 

“The new owners can choose to move in and enjoy or enhance and capitalise on this great property,” says Standen.