News Corp Australia
First published 7 May 2025, 5:00am
It wasn’t love at first sight when Anna Francis and her late husband – legendary radio announcer Bob Francis – pulled up at the North Adelaide townhouse they would soon call home but that changed the moment they stepped over the threshold.
“I didn’t even want to go in,’’ said Mrs Francis, recalling the day she and her then-fiance inspected the three-bedroom home at 153 Buxton St in 2005.
“It was my daughter, who was with us, who said, ‘Well, we’re here now, let’s just go and have a look’, so I agreed but I was very grumpy.
“Looking at the front door, I thought it was too small but I didn’t realise that when you went in it just goes back and back and back.
“I ended up being very grateful to my daughter – she was right to push us (to look inside) because we never looked at another place.
“As soon as we walked in we just loved how spacious it actually was.
“It’s been the most wonderful house I have ever lived in. It’s a happy home and it’s got very good vibes. I’ve been very comfortable here.’’
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It features lightfilled living spaces.
SA radio announcer Bob Francis at home in North Adelaide with wife Anna.
The couple made a few cosmetic changes to the home shortly after moving in, replacing tired carpet with blonde timber flooring, retiling the large swimming pool and – indulging Mrs Francis’s “fettish for chandeliers’’ – installing new lighting.
When the radio shock jock died suddenly in 2016, aged 77, Mrs Francis said she “Anna- fied’’ the home, getting rid of the dark, heavy furniture, wall tapestries and floor rugs favoured by her husband in favour of a softer, more feminine interior.
“Bob’s sister-in-law used to say it was an eclectic collection (of décor previously)…which was a nice way of saying nothing matches because we had blended modern with antique pieces,’’ Mrs Francis said.
“I’ve made (the home) lighter now and more feminine. It’s much more to my tastes.’’
Mrs Francis said the configuration of the townhouse had been perfect for the couple, with one of the upstairs bedrooms overlooking the pool formerly serving as her husband’s home office.
A rear, downstairs bedroom, sunroom and bathroom offered independent living space to one of her daughters during her university study, while a chef’s kitchen and spacious lounge, as well as a central courtyard and stainless-steel outdoor kitchen, were invaluable for “fabulous parties’’ and entertaining.
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The home is ideally suited to entertaining.
The kitchen is spacious and will easily impress.
Radio announcer Bob Francis on air at 5AA in 1987.
Mrs Francis, who has stage 4 inoperable cancer, said after two decades in her home, including almost 12 years with her beloved Bob, the time had come to downsize.
She said she would miss the peacefulness of her home’s surroundings, the sunny mornings enjoying a coffee in the courtyard, her wonderful neighbours and the close proximity to North Adelaide’s cafes, restaurants and shopping.
“I’m in a good place (physically) now. I’m in remission and my doctors are very happy and that’s why we have decided this is a good time to sell the home, while I have the energy,’’ Mrs Francis said.
The home, which is listed with Booth Real Estate without a price guide, will be auctioned on Saturday, May 17, unless sold prior.
English (US) · 