Dame Olivia Newton-John spent much of her life in the spotlight, but she seemed happiest escaping it. The English-born, Australian-raised singer found solace in wide-open green spaces and the company of animals.
Her rise to fame began at 17 when she left Australia for London after winning a televised singing contest. With what one 1960s journalist dubbed “one of those very pretty toothpaste-ad faces,” Newton-John’s sweet-as-pie image proved irresistible. By the early ’70s, songs like “If Not for You” had made her a rising star. But it was her role in 1978’s Grease, with hits like “You’re the One That I Want” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” that catapulted her to global superstardom.
From London to Malibu: A Life Surrounded by Nature
By then, Newton-John had purchased a Malibu ranch where she lived for nearly 18 years. In the early ’80s, she acquired a sprawling Australian retreat, which she held on to for almost four decades. These peaceful surroundings became her refuge after her 1992 breast cancer diagnosis, a battle she fought on and off for 30 years.
Newton-John channeled her energy into research and wellness advocacy, maintaining the signature positivity that defined her career. “I’m not a victim and I don’t want to be one,” she once said. “I feel what has happened to me has happened for a purpose.”
Her love for animals was evident throughout her life. She even hosted an Australian television series called Human Nature, where she explored animals and their habitats around the world. “My biggest expense, more than clothes or anything, is the care of the animals,” she once said.
Newton-John’s homes reflected her love for nature. Her Malibu ranch featured a pool, tennis court, barn, and meandering pathways, all surrounded by lush vegetation. Her Australian retreat, near Byron Bay, offered expansive views, a pond, creek, and even a natural waterfall.
A Life Well-Lived, Remembered Through Photos
From her early days in London with friend and fellow singer Pat Carroll, to her sun-soaked days in Malibu, and her tranquil retreat in Australia, Newton-John’s life was a sign of her love for simplicity and nature.
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She passed away in 2022 at her Southern California ranch, leaving behind a legacy of music, advocacy, and a deep connection to the natural world. These photos offer a glimpse into the private life of a pop icon who found her happiest moments away from the spotlight.
Newton-John’s Malibu ranch was a haven for her animals, including her favorite horse, Judge, and several dogs and cats. “It’s like a zoo,” she once said of her menagerie.
The Retreat in Byron Bay
Newton-John bought 187 acres of land in a rural area near Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia. The property was located 40 minutes from the beach town. She built a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home there. This residence was her escape from the pressures of fame. The hilltop setting offered expansive views of the neighboring Victoria Park Nature Reserve.
The property included a tennis court and a pond. It also featured a creek and two dams. A natural waterfall flowed through the environment. Newton-John later added 5,000 trees to the land. She transformed the interiors into a rustic, French-inspired retreat. The decor included salvaged gothic church doors and pine floors.
She designed the rooms with wood-beam ceilings and gothic-style benches. A wall in the home was covered with stones and seashells. Gregg Cave, her business partner, described the style. Newton-John eventually sold the Byron Bay house in 2019. She spent more time at Gaia, a nearby wellness retreat she founded in 2005.
At the Malibu ranch, the singer was finally able to indulge her childhood fantasies of living with a multitude of animals. “I was always bringing home strays,” Newton-John once told Ladies Home Journal about her childhood, “But Mum wasn’t crazy about animals and I wasn’t allowed to keep them.” Her love for animals was so intense, the Xanadu actor gave serious thought to becoming a vet when she was a child.
Within Newton-John’s Malibu brood, there were also the Great Danes named Zargon, Domino, and Gretchen, as well as her Irish Setter Jackson. “I have four cats, nine dogs at the moment, and five horses. They’re fabulous. I ride them all at once,” she said in 1977. Judge, shown in this 1976 photo, was the singer’s favorite horse. She also owned a Tennessee walker named Copy Jay, an Appaloosa filly called Eloise, and other horses named George, Alex, and Pipes.
