During the 1960s, Rendall who hails from country Bathurst was a regular on the Sydney social circuit usually on the arm of Penfold wine heiress Rebel Penfold Russell.
He then decamped to London's Kings Road and set up home with Sydney Indigenous art dealer Ace Bourke, a descendant of the legendary NSW Governor Bourke.
When they bought a lion cub at Harrods- you could do that sort of thing then - the pair were often spotted tooling up the Kings Road in a Rolls Royce Corniche convertible with Christian, as the lion was named, hanging out in the back seat.John was also once married to British publicist Liz Brewer who featured in the TV reality series Ladette to Lady where Liz attempted to refine and introduce Bogan style young lasses to the cream of British society like Lady Georgia Campbell, a few Hooray Henries and the occasional Used Car dealer.
Fast forward to 2008 and someone attached a song to a grainy film of Rendall & Bourke in Africa where they had deposited Christian to live as he had become too big. Christian recognizes the pair and a Group Hug ensues and is seen around the world.Rendall's apartment is in World's End and a building Whispers knows well. We visited the infamous / famous courtesan Christine Keller twice to research a book. She lives on the lower floors but John's studio penthouse is right at the top and is yours for the measly sum of £675,000 or $A1169021
We've provided some snaps of the apartment and below, that famous film of Christian and that hug.
Rendall currently hosts Safari style tours to Africa while Bourke lives at remote Bundeena in southern Sydney.
