Harry Kewell reportedly kicks off Brighton rental

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Soccer champion Harry Kewell has reportedly taken a $3,250 a week newly built Brighton rental property as his Melbourne base.

The Nicholas Day-designed property was briefly marketed by Hocking Stuart as the "finest fusion of style, space and quality", with a $3.3 million asking price.

But the three-level house has been withdrawn and reportedly the Kewell family will move into the rental residence, according to The Sunday Age.

It would reflect a 5% yield if the undisclosed, unconfirmed figures are correct.

The Brighton suburb was identified as the location in an earlier Herald Sun report.

Since his arrival last month to play for the Melbourne Victory, Kewell has been staying at Crown.

The couple, Kewell and his wife, the soap star Sheree Murphy, had inspected more than a dozen properties in exclusive neighbourhoods starting in Toorak and then in the bayside suburbs.

The neo-Georgian style house comes with a mix of the contemporary and classic elegance.

With three children and a fourth due in February, the couple will appreciate the four large living zones, plus four bedrooms, and huge retreat.

It was built by former St Kilda defender Max Hudghton's Maxton Constructions for a development syndicate headed by the former St Kilda champion Fraser Gehrig.

Buyers agent Mal James gave it a 604 rating out of 1,000 when he reviewed the property on its sale listing.

He noted it was the big, wide one of the recently built pair.

"The kitchen is grand and in logical possie for dining and outdoors,” James noted.

"The pool is in the smart position to get sun (south-facing rear) and allow entertainment.”

James noted it was of a high quality throughout but lacked a clothes line.

There is an excellent rear children's wing plus a good downstairs basement with big garage and additional entertainment rooms suitable for a home cinema.

James concluded that a lift would have taken it to the next price level.

It comes with a church spire in the background.