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Olivia Newton-John's friends and neighbours remember late Grease star in her 'happy place'

Lifelong friend Jillian McGrath spent time with Olivia in London when the singer was just 19. (Supplied: Jillian McGrath)

Legends of the music industry and lifelong friends have shared their memories of Olivia Newton-John and the many years she lived in the New South Wales Northern Rivers.

The screen and music star first bought a property in the Ballina hinterland in 1980, two years after the film Grease was released.

Her friend Jillian McGrath, who was by her side for the purchase, said Newton-John referred to the Northern Rivers as her "happy place". 

"She said, 'I just need to have something where I can put my foot on the ground and call it home,'" Ms McGrath said.

"[The real estate agent] had no idea who she was because she was incognito with a scarf and sunglasses."

The childhood friends drove past a property adjacent to a nature reserve on Victoria Park Road, Dalwood and knew it was the one.

"She stood under the avocado tree and just said, 'This is it, this is where it has to be,'" Ms McGrath said.

In 2005, Newton-John and three of her friends bought a rundown tourist property near Bangalow and renovated it to create the exclusive Gaia Retreat, which sold last year for $30 million.

Ms McGrath said Newton-John knew straight away that she had found her "happy place". (Supplied: Jillian McGrath)

Always an Aussie

Australian entertainer Normie Rowe, who worked closely with Newton-John, said she was part of the "gumnut mafia" in the United States.

"There was always this wonderful connection she had with her home country and she was highly, incredibly representative of us — she never let us down," he said.

"Physical was the biggest selling record in the world up until Michael Jackson released Thriller.

"Like Peter Allen, she still called Australia home too."

Newton-John and Ms McGrath were firm friends since childhood. (Supplied: Jillian McGrath)

Byron Shire resident and former Mi-Sex keyboardist Murray Burns met Olivia Newton-John by chance in the area in the early 1990s.

He said a few months she called and asked him to record her album.

"It was a magical time for her as she had never been able to record songs — she always had been coerced into doing other people's songs," he said.

"She didn't play an instrument, but she had perfect pitch — she could sing melodies beautifully.

"She taught me a lot about humility.

"She would cook food for us and when we stayed with her in Los Angeles she treated us like family."

Newton-John and Ms McGrath in London in the late 1960s, when the singer was 19 years old. (Supplied: Jillian McGrath)

Many Northern Rivers locals recall meeting Newton-John and being touched by her warmth, generosity and humility.

Rous resident Eoin Johnston said Newton-John in her daughter Chloe's school community.

"She got involved with the school quite a bit, came to the school concert," he said.

"She was just very down to earth and easy to get along with."

Visit ABC iview for our Remembering Olivia Newton-John collection.

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