1201/1 Francis St, Darlinghurst, was the home of the late Ken Horler and his widow Lilian Horler.
The Darlinghurst home of Australian theatre legend the late Ken Horler and his widow Lilian Horler is heading to auction on March 14.
The parents of AFI award-winning actor Sacha Horler, known for Home and Away, The Moodys and Ladies in Black, bought the two-bedroom apartment in 2011 for $880,000, according to records.
“They loved it because they were originally lawyers could walk to the city, but they could also go up to their original theatre in Nimrod St. Sometimes they’d go down to the STC and see me in a play,” Sacha said.
“When my kids were little, we’d all hang out at Bill and Tony’s in Stanley St around the corner and play pinball. We’d get spaghetti and give the kids dollar coins — that made them the best grandparents in the world.”
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![Company B present the opening night of Peribanez at The Seymour Center. Sascha Horler with father Ken Horler](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 768 1024"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Award-winning actor Sascha Horler with her late father Ken Horler at the opening night of Peribanez at the Seymour Centre in 2006. Sacha played the role of Ines.
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The home office at 1201/1 Francis St, Darlinghurst.
Although the Horlers first bought an off-the-plan apartment in the Lumina on level six, they later moved up to the 12th floor.
“Every single year we did the fireworks, you’d hear and see Mardi Gras, and the Christmas lights at St Mary’s and it was all pretty exciting.”
The Horlers also co-founded Sydney’s Nimrod Theatre Company in the early 1970s where many home grown thespians tread the boards for the first time. Ken juggled his day job as a barrister while running the theatre; he also became chairman of the Council of Civil Liberties in the late 1980s and was an acting judge. At the theatre, he directed a young John Bell in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and Germaine Greer in her first play.
Germaine Greer, pictured here with the late Barry Humphries in 2016, appeared in her first play at Nimrod Theatre Company in the 1970s.
The stone kitchen features Smeg gas appliances, a dishwasher, plus a library with integrated shelving.
An entertainer’s apartment, the Horlers home has welcomed an illustrious list of who’s who in Australian theatre over the years.
On the market with Chris Cantarella and Graeme Anderson of The Agency, the 106sq m apartment has price expectations of $2m.
From the 12th floor of the Marchese and Partners designed Lumina building at 1 Francis St, the residence has a postcard backdrop of Sydney’s most famous landmarks, including views over St Mary’s Cathedral, The Domain and harbour.
It features an open plan layout, a full-width balcony, a stone kitchen with Smeg gas appliances and dishwasher, plus a library with integrated shelving.
There is also a security car space and storage on title, a concierge, and gym access. Lumina is within a short walk to Stanley St’s eateries, Oxford St’s boutiques and bars, as well as Museum Station.
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