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A landlord has left her former tenant a historic mansion, which is now expected to fetch $50 million.
Ted Smith, now 80, inherited Cottesloe’s historic 'Tukurua', situated in Perth, when it was left to him by long-time friend and landlord Dorothea Cass in 1994, as reported by News Limited.
He is now selling the property, which is expected to fetch $50 million.
Mr Smith met Ms Cass when he rented a room in Tukurua in 1971 - he was 37 and she was 63, but the two struck up an instant friendship.
Mr Smith told News Limited he’ll never be entirely sure why she chose him, but believes that “she knew she could trust me to truly care for her home”.
“She couldn’t take it with her and I think she knew it would be in safe hands with me,” he said.
Mr Smith, originally born in Ireland, set about restoring the property in 2003.
The home had been ravaged by salt and wind, and he felt his former landlord would want to see the iconic mansion returned to its former glory.
Mr Smith now feels he is “ready to downsize”.
Since putting it on the market he has received media interest from all around the world.
“Dorothea was a journalist herself, so she’d love it - I'm sure she is very amused,” he said.
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