North Melbourne defender and former co-captain Luke McDonald, who recently signed another 12-month contract with the Kangaroos, is selling his much-loved Kensington home.
The two-bedroom Victorian terrace at 1 Albermarle Street is just one kilometre from North Melbourne’s Arden Street home, and is set to be auctioned on October 10. The asking price is between $900,000 and $990,000.
McDonald told The Age he bought the home in 2018. It was his first home, and first he shared with wife Brooklyn who he married in 2022.
He bought the home as it was so close to the club, with both falling in love with the suburb.
“It’s just like a little country town with the local shops and we just sort of loved the area straight away,” McDonald said. “There are a couple of older ladies that lived down the street that would dog sit for me all the time – so it was just an awesome place to live.”
McDonald lived in the home for six years, before he and Brooklyn moved to Hampton and rented it out.
“The tenant we had in there is moving out because they bought a place a couple of months ago, we just felt like it’s the start of spring so it’s a good time to test the market,” McDonald said. “It’s not an ideal time, but the house is unique.”
The main bedroom of the home has an en suite which was unusual in a smaller terrace house, he said, and had a perfect entertainment area used to entertain friends, family and McDonald’s teammates.
“It will always be special,” McDonald said.
The couple decided to sell the house despite Melbourne’s property downturn, with Melbourne’s home values falling 4.7 per cent over the 12 months to August, on Cotality data.
House prices are expected to take another hit if interest rates rise again in September, with the RBA decision on interest rates due next week.
However, the local market in Kensington is starting to warm a little in spring, property consultant at Nelson Alexander Flemington Toby Nathan said, with more potential buyers inspecting single-fronted homes like McDonald’s.
“Out of nowhere we’ve seen a bit of life injected into the market with these types of homes,” Nathan said. “I think buyers are now sensing an opportunity to get in.”
Buyers had already shown interest in the property, with upsizers, downsizers and first home buyers all inspecting the home.
McDonald said he was nervous about the upcoming auction, mainly because there was little he could do to influence the outcome.
“In footy you’re in control because you’re out there playing, but with an auction, it’s just so out of your control.”
McDonald has played more than 230 games with North Melbourne and was co-captain of the team in 2023 and 2024. He is now contracted to play until the end of 2027.
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