Judith Durham enjoyed quiet life near Yandina in mid-80s

The legendary Australian singer passed away in palliative care on August 5.

Beloved lead singer of the Seekers, Judith Durham, lived in Kiamba near Yandina in the mid-1980s. Several local people have confirmed she had a house at the end of Hillcrest Road Kiamba.

The Australian singer passed away in palliative care on August 5 in Melbourne following complications from chronic lung disease.

With her death at 79, Australia lost one of its first global stars, and the voice to many songs that have been the soundtrack to countless lives.

Her admirers included Elton John, who once said she had “the purest voice in popular music”.

Ms Durham married her musical director, British pianist Ron Edgeworth, on 21 November 1969. They lived in the UK and Switzerland until the mid-1980s when they bought property at  Kiamba. It is believed Ms Durham moved to Kiamba to be nearer her mother who was in a local nursing home at the time. 

Local people have reported through the Gazette’s Facebook page that the famous singer wrote a book & many songs while living in a remote part of Kiamba.

On Facebook Ruth said: “I saw her once outside the old Franklins at Nambour. I was starstruck and just smiled at her and she smiled back. I also recall her husband singing at the Nursing Home where I worked. Her beautiful voice will live on.”

Susan said: “she owned land up Hillcrest Avenue in Kiamba ... up the back of Yandina. I owned house and land in the same street. Her original home is still there. It’s on 50 odd acres and mostly rainforest. She sold it years ago.”

Mark said: “Met her every week in Yandina. Grandfather had a little fruit stall under his house and she would come in there every week.”

In 2017 Ms Durham penned the following in a letter: “I have been lucky enough to find the song I composed when I lived on the Sunshine Coast with my late husband Ron Edgeworth. We had such happy times there, in the foothills above Yandina. The song is called ‘Sunshine Coast, You I Love’ and I hope to record it one day.”