Lower Plenty: Soccer great John Yzendoorn’s long-time home for sale

A former Socceroo and Australian National Soccer League championship captain is selling his Lower Plenty home. See how much he might get for it.

The long-time home of Australian soccer player John Yzendoorn in Lower Plenty is for sale.

Former Socceroo and Australian National Soccer League championship captain John Yzendoorn is selling his Lower Plenty home.

He claimed the 1984 grand final as the leader of South Melbourne Hellas, a team that included a 19-year-old Ange Postecoglou — the main highlight from his two decades on the field across two continents.

Yzendoorn migrated to Australia after playing in English sides in the 1970s. In addition to Hellas, he played with Heidelberg United and Brunswick Juventus from 1979-1988.

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Yzendoorn’s international career included games with the Socceroos in 1979 and 1980, as well as joining the squad for the World Cup qualifier loss to New Zealand in 1981.

With his 6 Lakeside Drive home hitting the market for the first time since he bought it in 2003, he revealed the little-known piece of country Victoria surrounded by suburban Melbourne has been popular with a range of sporting superstars.

Fellow Socceroo Tim Cahill lived in the neighbourhood until 2018, while Essendon AFL star and Survivor contestant David Zaharakis was also around the corner until he sold in 2023.

Colourful underworld figure Mick Gatto also owned a home in the area until 2016.

The estate has a pool and tennis court on the premises.

South Melbourne Hellas with 1984 NSL Championship Cup. Picture: Supplied

But while they’ve come to love the area’s quiet, country lifestyle, Yzendoorn said when they bought it they had been living in Albert Park and “didn’t even know where Lower Plenty was”.

“The thing that enticed us to come and look at it in the first place was the way it looked like it was a 100-year-old home,” he said.

“But we came over a bridge into Plenty and it was like moving into the country. There were trees everywhere and there were not many houses.

“And it’s still a novelty to drive over the one-way bridge, where you have to wait if there are cars coming the other way. I can’t think of anywhere else that still has that so close to town today.”

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Inside one of the home’s lounge rooms.

While home prices and the popularity of the area have since risen, Yzendoorn said it still very much had that country atmosphere — though it was only about a 10-minute drive from major shopping centres in Doncaster and Greensborough.

The sprawling block was also perfect for their two dogs and four cats.

They’ve filled the four-bedroom home with older-style furniture to fit its unusual, double-storey recreation Federation style that showcases decorative cornices and ceiling roses.

While it came with a tennis court and extensive gardens, Yzendoorn added a swimming pool to the 4331sq m property and has landscaped parts of the garden.

Inside one of the home’s bedrooms.

The ground floor features multiple living areas, including an open-plan meals and kitchen area that opens to a covered veranda with a barbecue area beyond it.

Jellis Craig’s David Ferro is handling the $2.85m-$3.05m listing and said it was in one of the suburb’s top streets, surrounded by similar acreage homes.

“It’s a gorgeous family home with amazing street appeal,” Mr Ferro said.

“It would find a place very comfortable in some of Melbourne’s elite suburbs.”

He added that the home was built with bricks and floorboards sourced from the old Springvale Hotel and Spencer Street train station.

Yzendoorn added a pool to the grounds at the Lower Plenty property.

The agent said likely buyers would be families from bigger properties on the city’s fringe looking to move closer to Melbourne for schools, or others looking to upsize from more suburban blocks in the area.

Expressions of interest for 6 Lakeside Drive close at 5pm on April 22.

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Originally published as Lower Plenty: Soccer great John Yzendoorn’s long-time home for sale