The singer, whose birth name was Farrokh Bulsara, purchased the home on the spot in 1980 and lived there until his death in 1991
The Neo-Georgian-style estate, called Garden Lodge, is located in London’s exclusive Kensington neighborhood. Mercury considered the home to be a sanctuary and an escape from the hectic rockstar lifestyle.
Last year, Austin auctioned off $50.4 million worth of the musician’s possessions she inherited via Sotheby’s. The Sotheby’s sale, called Freddie Mercury: A World of His Own, was the first-of-its-kind glimpse into the musician’s personal and professional life. Other notable items, in addition to the piano, included a silver Tiffany mustache comb that sold for £152,000, or $192,500.
Freddie Mercuy's 'love of my life' Mary Austin spoke emotionally of the final days by his side, caring for the Queen star, sitting with him and brushing his hair: "It was like a marriage, in sickness and in health." - Freddie died the 24th November 1991.
He (Freddie) said: "You can be loved by so many thousands of people but still be the loneliest person. And the frustration of that makes it worse because it's hard for people to understand that you can be lonely.
"Can you imagine how terrible it is when you've got everything, but you're still desperately lonely? That is awful beyond words...
"I can only name one really dear person who I can actually open up to and feel really happy with..."
Mary dated the Queen star for six years but remained by his side for the next 15 years as his devoted friend. He left her his West Kensington mansion and the bulk of his fortune. Although he moved on and dated men, ending up with Jim Hutton, Freddie and Mary's bond was unbreakable and she was one of the very few people he trusted to care for him in his final days.
Austin was more than just a fling or a beard for Mercury, however.
“All my lovers asked me why they couldn’t replace Mary, but it’s simply impossible,” Mercury said in a 1985 interview. “The only friend I’ve got is Mary, and I don’t want anybody else. To me, she was my common-law wife. To me, it was a marriage. We believe in each other, that’s enough for me.”
“I remember saying to him, ‘No, Freddie, I don’t think you are bisexual. I think you are gay,’ ” Austin told the Daily Mail in a rare interview in 2013.
