Hawthorn East: Musical family’s San Francisco House listed

Jazz musician Mal Sedergreen (left), his daughter, opera singer Maya Charles-Sedergreen (top right) and father Bob Sedergreen (below right), have all performed at 64 Auburn Pde, Hawthorn East.

A Hawthorn East house which could easily be Melbourne’s most musical residence is seeking a sale to the tune of $1.645m.

The two-bedroom pad has been home to jazz musician Mal Sedergreen, his wife and their opera singer daughter Maya Charles-Sedergreen for the past 18 years.

Built in 1886, the abode is known as San Francisco House, because it was constructed within the same time frame and a similar style to the Victorian-era residences of San Francisco in California.

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For almost two decades, the two-storey block-fronted house at 64 Auburn Pde has echoed with the melodies played by saxophonist and music teacher Mal.

He’s the son of Australian jazz royalty Bob Sedergreen, now 82, who was inducted into the Australian Jazz Hall of Fame in 2018.

Mal’s daughter Maya Charles-Sedergreen, 22, is studying a Bachelor of Music (Honours) in Classical Voice at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music.

In 2024, she debuted in the Melbourne-based BK Opera’s contemporary adaptation of Mozart’s Don Giovanni, in the role of Zerlina.

The dining room, featuring shelving and a fireplace, opens to a courtyard.

Jazz musician Mal Sedergreen plays on the banks of the Yarra at dusk.

Mal’s daughter, classical vocalist Maya Charles-Sedergreen, performed in the home when eisteddfods began to host competitions online, during the pandemic.

The kitchen is set below conservatory-style windows and opens to the outdoors.

Maya said her favourite memories of the house included the parties and gatherings which would come alive with impromptu performances.

“My favourite memory of all is our family Christmases – after Christmas lunch my granddad would play the piano, Dad would play the saxophone and I would sing Christmas carols,” she said.

When the Covid pandemic hit and eisteddfods began taking place via online live videostreaming, she would perform to a computer screen in the home’s formal rooms featuring a bay window and an Italian marble fireplace.

Maya said the house had been renovated by a former resident, an architect, about 25 years ago.

The kitchen has a walk-in pantry and a dishwasher.

Jazz music icon Bob Sedergreen is Mal’s father and Maya’s grandfather, and has joined in with jams at the house.

Her parents have renovated the bathroom, installed a new roof and painted the house’s exterior in recent years.

Other new additions included built-in bedroom wardrobes for her growing collection of stage gowns and costumes.

These days, San Francisco House features an arched hall with 3.35m-high ceilings and Baltic pine floors.

A dining room, showcasing library-style shelving and a second open fire, opens to a jasmine-draped courtyard.

It’s all about making music with a double bass that can be seen in the mirror.

A Melbourne CBD view from one of the windows.

Upstairs, one of the bedrooms has a fireplace and window seat.

“I think my favourite part of the house is the master bedroom and the window that overlooks the city skyline, and so you wake up to the city skyline and you go to sleep with the city skyline,” Mal said.

“Then there’s those fun times where you can watch the fireworks especially on New Year’s Eve.”

The house is close to Camberwell Junction, Camberwell train station, Auburn Village and schools.

Mal and his wife are selling the property now that Maya has moved out.

Marshall White’s Andrew Gibbons has the listing.

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