See inside AFL great Jonathan Brown’s $8m Canterbury property

AFL great Jonathan Brown has placed his Canterbury family haven complete with its own vineyard on the market seeking offers of more than $8m. See the photos.

Jonathan and Kylie Brown are selling their Melbourne home in Canterbury. Picture: Jason Edwards

Footy great Jonathan Brown has placed his Canterbury family haven complete with its own vineyard in the back garden on the market seeking offers of more than $8m.

Fox Footy commentator Jonathan, his wife Kylie and their three children are relocating to Queensland to be closer to Kylie’s family and are parting ways with their cherished home of four years in the hope it will become another family’s dream estate.

Known as ‘Heyford’, the stately property, designed by architect Herbert Black, dates from 1908 and features five-bedrooms, four-bathrooms, substantial entertaining areas, a study, a large open plan living/dining area, expansive kitchen with natural stone benchtops and Miele/AEG appliances, a solar heated pool, guesthouse and tennis court.

Brown has placed his family haven on the market seeking offers of more than $8m. Picture: Jellis Craig

Fox Footy commentator Jonathan, his wife Kylie and their three children are relocating to Queensland. Picture: Jellis Craig

The substantial landscaped gardens by Andrew Laidlaw, include an olive and citrus grove and fruit trees as well as a vegetable garden.

Adding a rural tinge to the urban family oasis is a private vineyard of 88 vines of northern Italian grape varietals, Barbera and Dolcetto. The vineyard was established by previous owners with Jonathan embracing the art of tending the vines.

“I must admit I have had to quickly educate myself over the last couple of years. I would not say I am heading off to the Barossa to do my viticulture course, but I reckon I did OK,” Brown said.

“We get over 200 bottles a season. I have made it clear I am the farmer, and a friend of ours, Franco, who has Hoddles Creek Estate winery, has educated me and helped produce the wine.”

Brown said his daughter, Olivia, came up with the name for the wine they produce from their backyard.

Known as ‘Heyford’, the stately property is designed by architect Herbert Black. Picture: Jellis Craig

The property dates back from 1908. Picture: Jellis Craig

“It was previously called 88 Vines and I thought we could be a bit more original,” he said.

“I suggested Three Angels because the kids would pick the grapes and have friends over and do the stomping sessions.

“Olivia said ‘I’m not sure about Three Angels dad, what about Three Devils?’.

“I said, ‘that is perfect.’

“We have had so much fun with it (the vineyard). The memories you get sitting in the yard watching all the kids jumping and stomping the grapes; it is pretty funny.”

The Browns bought the home for $7.3m in 2019. It is being marketed with a price estimate of between $8.25m – $8.75m.

“We bought it just before Covid so it was our saviour in terms of kicking the kids outside into the garden during lockdown, it was a god send,” Jonathan said.

The private vineyard features 88 vines of northern Italian grape varietals, Barbera and Dolcetto. Picture: Jason Edwards

The home is spread across 3015 sqm of exquisite gardens. Picture: Jellis Craig

Added Kylie: “it is such a unique property and so beautiful and it has been a wonderful, happy family home, so it is hard to part with it, but it is such a special property that if we are up in Queensland it is a waste for someone not to be enjoying it.”

Located at 22 Chaucer Crescent, the sale of Heyford is being handled by Mike Beardsley at Jellis Craig.

“This property is one of the rarest and unique opportunities to hit the market in Melbourne this spring,” Mr Beardsley said.

“It hits 100 per cent of the key criteria that buyers are looking for.

“This is a home of extraordinary quality.

“Since the Browns acquired the home they have further upgraded it and it is pretty much faultless. It is a turnkey property.”

Mr Beardsley said he expected strong interest from buyers.

“A home of this calibre we are expecting to see buyers from all around Melbourne, interstate and internationally inquire, inspect and want to potentially acquire this property,” he said.

Expressions of Interest close Monday, October 30.