House is fit for a King
Regal Edge Hill address set to go under the hammer
A teenage King Charles stayed in a house built by Sir Sydney Williams OBE in Edge Hill and the superbly positioned property on a sprawling block of land is set to go under the hammer on April 18.
Sir Sydney Williams, who died aged 83 in 2003, was a pioneer in the automotive, machinery, tourism and aviation industries and is remembered in Cairns as the founder of the Cairns Amateur Racing Carnival 64 years ago.
He founded Willtrac Corporation, which sold to Toyota Material Handling, and was a board member of companies including Air Queensland, Lizard Island Lodge, Cairns Port Authority, Placer Pacific Ltd, Reef Casino, Queensland Films Commission, and the Australian Tourist Commission.
He won 2001 World Tourism Award for outstanding contribution by an Australian individual.
His son Brian Williams, 78, said his father put the road Bellevue Crescent in and created the home to make the most of its elevated position, in 1953.
He said influential architect Ted Orchard designed the home and then built opposite it for himself.
The late Mr Orchard has state heritage registered homes on Sydney’s north shore and he designed Tobruk Memorial Pool and St David’s Anglican Church at Mossman among many projects.
Mr Williams said he was serving in Vietnam when a young Charles, who was a student at Timbertop, the rural campus of Geelong Grammar, came to visit, but met the prince when he visited Australia with Princess Diana in 1983.
“He visited Lizard Island,” Mr Williams said.
“He was very friendly and open and enjoyed a chat and a laugh.”
He said his father was
Lieutenant Colonel of the 51st Battalion and it was through military connections in Canberra that the young prince’s stay in Edge Hill was arranged.
During the visit a secret fishing trip was arranged near Fitzroy Island with the Bransford family, and the prince visited Malanda.
King Charles has visited Australia 16 times and he visited Cairns again in 2018, with an itinerary including a trip to Mossman Gorge for a Dreamtime Tour and a visit to HMAS Cairns.
The home has timber floors and a ‘Hampton white’ style, a large, secluded pool and beautiful mountain and city views. Owner Rampai Harrison said she had loved living there.
“Our family has treasured living here, the 260 degree view of Cairns and the Esplanade and extreme privacy is what we have enjoyed most,” she said.
“It’s now time for us to downsize and let another family call this property home.”
It is being marketed by RE/ MAX agent Ray Murphy and will be auctioned at 5.30pm on April 18.
Mr Murphy said it was a rare opportunity to buy an elevated executive home in Edge Hill.