With a population of around 250, Congo, NSW, isn’t the first place you’d expect to find one of the world’s most famous musicians spending their downtime, but that’s exactly where one legendary guitarist has owned a holiday home for the last thirty years. Michael Balzary, better known as Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, has enjoyed the south coast since he bought the home back in 1992, but will put the property up for sale just as the band begin their tour of Australia and New Zealand.
The small coastal town, situated around half an hour’s drive south of Bateman’s Bay, is sure to offer some much-needed peace and quiet as a retreat from the hustle and bustle of Malibu, where Flea currently lives in the coveted 90210 postcode. He moved there only last year, following the sale of his unique heptagon-shaped residence located in the hills of East Los Angeles for $14 million where he lived since 2018.
Flea’s Congo beach house also boasts an unusual shape, with elegantly curved roof lines that represent a cuttlefish that the rock star incorporated into the plans when he designed the residence with architect Malcom Cheadle. Designed with a deliberately laid-back and Californian feel to it, Flea then enlisted the assistance of local builder Phillip Smith to bring the vision to life, which spans two levels and sits on a 2,946m² block.
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The home features five bedrooms and three bathrooms, with the ground level dominated by a large open-plan living and dining space, as well as a music room that doubles as a bedroom. The upper level is accessed via a large central spiral staircase that acts as the pivot point of the unusually shaped structure, which leads to the four other bedrooms that are each accessed via an external walkway or deck.
It’s a fascinating design that remains true to the humble roots of the true Australian beach house while emphasising seclusion and privacy for all residents. The sale of the property will happen via auction on the 11th of February at 10am, meaning fans of the Flea and the ‘Chili Peppers will need to compete to secure a piece of Australian musical history.
