Rare home with rich WWII history hits market
A historic home that was once used as the headquarters of the US central Bureau has hit the market, becoming one of the rarest properties available.
Nyrambla, a stunning, antique hillside estate built in 1885 at 21 Henry Street, Ascot, was owned by Brisbane socialite Andree Daws.
Mrs Daws, who was married to acclaimed artist Lawrence Daws, Kemp the historic property in pristine condition until she died in August.
The home was first bought by Mrs Daws’s grandfather George Willoughby Whatmore in the 1920s.
It eventually was converted into flats after he died in 1929.
Computers were set up in Nyrambla’s garage, are were used to crack enemy codes during the war.
Remarkably enough, in April 1943 these computers intercepted and decoded a Japanese signal that lead to the ambush and death of Admiral Yamamoto, who oversaw the attack on Pearl Harbour.
The bureau stayed in situ at Nyrambla until 1945.
Mrs Daws married Lawrence, her fifth husband, in 2013 and went on to turn a part of Nyrambla into an art studio for him.
His works hang in public collections around the world, including at the National Gallery of Australia, Tate Gallery inLondon and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh.
Some of his paintings also adorned the stunning coloured walls of Nyrambla.
The home is being sold through expressions of interest.