2 days ago
The Block Star's landscaping behind $4.85m Aberfeldie sale
A glamorous Aberfeldie home straight out of The Block has topped the suburb's sales charts this year, changing hands for $4.85m.
The five-bedroom residence at 38 Aberdeen St combines bold architectural form and resort-style landscaping by The Block's long-serving garden guru Dave Franklin.
Mr Franklin, who has worked across more than a dozen seasons of the renovation series, is known for creating high-impact outdoor spaces that blend dramatic structure with lush plantings.
He has also co-hosted the lifestyle series The Garden Hustle, helping everyday Aussies transform their gardens.
For 38 Aberdeen St, Franklin Landscape & Design delivered a backyard oasis featuring a fully tiled lap pool, architectural trees and a Goalrilla basketball half court, framed by manicured hedging and mature greenery for privacy.
The home's interior was crafted by design firm Studiomint and showcases luxury across three lift-connected levels.
Each of the five oversized bedrooms includes a deluxe ensuite, while the main suite boasts a walk-in robe, gas fireplace, freestanding bath and private balcony.
Matthews Moonee Valley director John Matthews said the home had previously been listed with another agency before he was engaged to reposition it with a high-impact digital campaign.
'It was definitely one of the more memorable sales I've done recently,' Mr Matthews said.
'The seller had purchased it in 2022 for $4.7m and, despite the tougher market conditions, we were able to secure a result above that.'
Mr Matthews said the relaunch included cinematic video, twilight photography, a 3D tour that leaned into the property's glamorous style.
'It felt like a rockstar's pad,' he said.
'It was bold, indulgent, think moody designer finishes, full smart automation, a dumbwaiter, and a home cinema that wouldn't look out of place in Beverly Hills.'
The chef's kitchen is fitted with Gaggenau cooking appliances, Liebherr fridge and freezer, and a butler's pantry with dual Bosch dishwashers.
An alfresco terrace with built-in barbecue flows seamlessly from the main living space, while a glass-walled wine cellar, custom study, and four-car garage add to the home's functional luxury.
The Matthews Moonee Valley director estimated it would cost about $6m to replicate the home today, factoring in around $4m in construction and $2m in land value.
'You simply couldn't rebuild this for what it sold for,' Mr Matthews said.
'There was no compromise anywhere in the design.'
It is the fourth Aberfeldie property to sell for more than $4m this past year, and the highest so far in 2025, following other results around $4m-$5m.
Mr Matthews said the sale reflected renewed confidence in the inner northwestern prestige market as buyers increasingly looked beyond the traditional eastern suburbs for quality family homes.
'This area offers value that's hard to beat, proximity to the CBD, airport, schools, and more space for your money,' he said.
