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A Short history of The Block

Here’s everything you need to know about Australia’s longest-running reality TV series

 
How long has The Block been running?
The Block started way back in 2003 when four teams renovated an apartment block in Sydney’s Bondi Beach. At the time, all contestants were still required to work their day jobs and were only allowed to renovate after hours and on weekends. Since then, there have been 16 seasons of the show, each more challenging than the last (and yes, the contestants no longer have to work their normal jobs too - we’re not THAT mean)! Over 67 properties have sold so far.

Block Auctions History
Block auctions are a rollercoaster of emotions. Do you recognise all of these faces?

Have all the homes sold?
Nup! By no means! There have been several seasons where homes have failed to sell at auction and have been passed in. However, as auction results go, The Block ALWAYS punches above its weight and has a far better auction clearance rate than average. Records also show that Block homes have an incredibly high buyer retention rate, meaning – most of the original bidders are still listed as owners of the properties. How’s THAT for buyer satisfaction?!

The Block For Sale

The Gatwick apartments all sold in 2018 with Hayden and Sara walking away as winners with $645,000 profit.

Who buys them?
All properties for sale through The Block are put up for public auction - meaning absolutely anyone can bid! Over the years a number of corporations like Crazy Johns Mobiles and Sydney’s The Sun Herald newspaper have purchased homes, but private investors, normal families and even a few celebs have successfully bid on the day (comedian Dave Hughes picked up Josh and Elyse’s home back in 2017 for $3.067 million - $447,000 over reserve)!

Dave Hughes with Josh and Elyse Knowles

Comedian Dave Hughes picked up Josh and Elyse’s home back in 2017.

The Block 2022 buyers
Buyers from The Block 2022, Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli ended up in a bidding war on Omar and Oz's house and supplied an ending not even the producers saw coming, giving contestants the realisation this is infact a reality show, thankfully the two buyers both operate charities, with Kevin and his wife Andrea later winning The Block House 3 from Adrian's Charity LMCT+


What sold for what, when? 
The Block Season One 2003 Auction results: 67 Roscoe Street, Bondi

  • Unit 1, Adam and Fiona: $751,000. * WINNERS with $256,000 profit * 
  • Unit 2, Warren and Gavin: $670,000
  • Unit 3, Phil and Amity: $655,000
  • Unit 4, Paul and Kylie: $747,000.


The Block Season Two 2004 Auction results: 77 Whistler Street, Manly

  • Unit 1, Jason and Kirsten: $872,000. It sold again in 2008 for $882,000 and then again in 2014 for $1.14 million.
  • Unit 2, Andrew and Jamie: $868,000. It resold in 2009 for $890,000. * WINNERS with $178,000 profit *
  • Unit 3, Matt and Jane: $795,000. In 2007, it sold at a loss for $720,000, then sold again in 2012 for $785,000 and then in 2016 for $1,435,000.
  • Unit 4, Steven and Richard: $800,000. It resold for the same price in 2009.

Whistler Street, Manly - The Block
Throwback to season two of The Block in 2004 at Manly, NSW.

The Block Season Three 2010 Auction results: 107 New South Head Road, Vaucluse

  • Unit 1, Josh and Nisha: $1,105,000. * WINNERS with $305,000 profit *
  • Unit 2, Mark and Duncan: $907,000. It resold in 2014 for $1.19 million
  • Unit 3, Erin and Jake: $997,500
  • Unit 4, Chez and Brenton: $970,000, passed-in and sold after Auction. Sold again in September 2015 for $1.42 million


The Block Season Four 2011 Auction results: 37-41 Cameron Street, Richmond
The Block moved to Melbourne in 2011

  • Number 37, Josh and Jenna: $1 million. Sold post-auction.
  • Number 39, Polly and Waz: $855,000. The only home to sell at auction. * WINNERS with $115,000 profit * Listed for sale the following year with an upper limit on its price guide of $880,000, but didn’t sell.
  • Number 41, Amie and Katrina: $860,000. Sold post-auction.
  • Number 43, Rod and Tania: $922,000. Sold post-auction.


The Block Season Five 2012 Auction results: 401-407 Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

  • Number 401, Dale and Sophie: $1.33 million
  • Number 403, Mike and Andrew: $1,400,001.01. It resold in 2016 for $1.73 million
  • Number 405, Brad and Lara: $1.62 million. * WINNERS with $606,000 profit 
  • Number 407, Dan and Dani: $1.44 million


The Block Season Six 2013 Auction results: 6-12 Tasman Street, Bondi (All-Stars)

  • Number 12, Phil and Amity: $1.67 million. * WINNERS with $395,000 profit *
  • Number 10, Mark and Duncan (and Dale): $1.37 million. It resold in 2016 for $2.55 million.
  • Number 8, Josh and Jenna: $1,575,000.
  • Number 6, Dan and Dani: $1,575,000.


The Block Season Seven 2013 Auction results: 142 Park Street, South Melbourne (Sky High)

  • Unit 101, Alisa and Lysandra: $1,435,000. * WINNERS with $395,000 profit *
  • Unit 201, Matt and Kim: $1,455,000. This apartment resold in 2017 for $1.9 million
  • Unit 301, Bec and George: $1,507,000. It resold in 2016 for $1,725,000
  • Unit 401, Madi and Jarrod: $1,601,000. It resold in 2017 for $2 million
  • Unit 501, Johnno and Trixie: $1,605,000

Alisa and Lysandra Design Duo
Winning The Block: Sky High, “completely changed our lives,” says policewoman turned professional designer Alisa Fraser who took out the series with twin sister Lysandra in 2013. “We’ve got our own business, it’s allowed us to do our own flip, and we’ve created our online series. Nothing is the same.”  (Photography: Lisa Cohen)

The Block Season Eight 2014 Auction results: 47 O’Grady Street, Albert Park (Fans V Favourites)

  • Unit 1, Steve and Chantelle: $2.47 million. * WINNERS with $736,000 profit *
  • Unit 2, Kyal and Kara: $2.44 million
  • Unit 3, Alisa and Lysandra: $2,375,000
  • Unit 4, Brad and Dale: $2.31 million


The Block Season Nine 2014 Auction results: 121-127 High Street, Prahran (Glasshouse)

  • Unit 1, Michael and Carlene: $1.39 million
  • Unit 2, Chris and Jenna: $1.81 million
  • Unit 3, Max and Karstan: $1.71 million
  • Unit 4, Simon and Shannon: $1.9 million * WINNERS with $435,000 profit *
  • Unit 6, Darren and Deanne: $1.38 million
  • Unit 5, the challenge apartment:  Sold for $1,725,000 in 2014 and again for $2,275,000 in 2017

Shannon and Simon The Block
Winning The Block: Glasshouse completely changed Simon and Shannon Vos’s lives. In 2014, their apartment sold for $335,000 over its reserve. And it’s been nonstop for the design, construction and adventure duo ever since.

The Block Season 10 2015 Auction results: 27 Darling Street, South Yarra (Triple Threat)

  • Unit 1, Josh and Charlotte: $2.2 million.
  • Unit 2, Tim and Anastasia: $2,175,000
  • Unit 3, Ayden and Jess: $2 million
  • Unit 4, Darren and Deanne: $2.29 million. * WINNERS with $935,000 profit *


The Block Season 11 2015 Auction results: 1a Affleck Street, South Yarra (The Blocktagon)

  • Unit 2, Kingi and Caro: $1,735,000. Resold in 2016 for $1,722,000
  • Unit 3, Andrew and Whitney: $1.79 million. Resold in 2018 for $2.05 million
  • Unit 4, Suzi and Voni: $1,829,000. Resold in 2017 for $2.21 million
  • Unit 5, Luke and Ebony: $2.2 million
  • Unit 6, Dean and Shay: $2.3 million. Resold in 2018 for $2,365,000. Failed to sell at auction in September 2019 with a price guide of $2.3 million to $2.45 million. * WINNERS with $755,000 profit *
  • Unit 1, The Challenge Apartment: Sold 2015, for $1.67 million

The Blocktagon
The 2015 contestants in front of the Blocktagon, pre Block transformation.

The Block Season 12 2016 Auction results: 164 Ingles Street, Port Melbourne

  • Unit 1, Will and Karlie: $2.6 million. * WINNERS with $815,000 profit *
  • Unit 3, Dan and Carleen: $2.3 million
  • Unit 4, Andy and Ben: $2.25 million
  • Unit 5, Julia and Sasha: $2.59 million
  • Unit 6, Chris and Kim: $2,305,000
  • Unit 2, The Challenge Apartment: Sold 2017, for $2.2 million


The Block Season 13 2017 Auction results: 46 Regent Street, Elsternwick

  • Number 46A, Jason and Sarah: $3,067,000
  • Number 46B, Hannah and Clint: $2.65 million. Resold in 2018 for $2.83 million.
  • Number 46C, Ronnie and Georgia: $2,781,000
  • Number 46D, Sticks and Wombat: $2,615,000
  • Number 46E, Josh and Elyse: $3,007,000. * WINNERS with $547,000 profit *

The Elsternwick 2017 The Block
Judge Neale Whitaker admits he was blown away by the overall standard of the Elsternwick houses in 2017 “I love the fact the houses have been transported into Elsternwick from other parts of Melbourne, and I love the backstory of the houses themselves. The fact they are ‘same-same, but different." 

The Block Season 14 2018 Auction results: 34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda (The Gatwick)

  • Unit 102, Kerrie and Spence: $2.85 million
  • Unit 201, Hans and Courtney: $2.77 million
  • Unit 202, Hayden and Sara: $3.02 million. * WINNERS with $645,000 profit *
  • Unit 301, Norm and Jess: $2,859,000
  • Unit 302, Bianca and Carla: $2,991,000
  • Unit 101, The Challenge Apartment: Sold as part of the Monopoly contest. Resold in March 2019 for $2.5 million.


The Block Season 15 2019 Auction results: 38 Grey Street St Kilda (The Oslo)

  • House 1: Mitch and Mark: $3.374 million
  • House 2: Tess and Luke: $3.620 million *WINNERS with $730,000 profit*
  • House 3: Andy and Deb: $3.420 million
  • House 4: Matt and El’ise: $3.450 million
  • House 5: Jesse and Mel: $3.378 million

 

2020 Block Winners
The 2020 Block contestants.

The Block Season 16 2020 Auction results: 360 New Street, Brighton

House 1 Harry & Tash
Reserve $3,350,000. Sold for $4,000,000 ($650,000 profit)

House 2 Sarah & George
Reserve $3,350,000. Sold for $4,000,002 ($650,002 profit)

House 3 Daniel & Jade
Reserve, $3,340,000. Sold for $3,800,000 ($460,000 profit)

House 4 Luke & Jasmin
Reserve $3,350,000, sold for $3,856,00 ($506,000 profit)

House 5 Jimmy & Tam
Reserve $3,290,000. Sold for $4,256,000 ($966,000 profit, PLUS $100,000 prize money =  a Block record breaking $1,066,000)

 Jimmy and Tam Block winners

 

Let’s take a look at the emotional roller coaster that was The Block 2021 Auction day.

2021 Block auction photo highlights

The Block Season 17 2021 Auction results: 

House 1 Ronnie & Georgia
Reserve $3,400,000 Sold for $3,696,000 ($296,000 profit)

House 2 Mitch & Mark
Reserve $3,400,000 Sold for $4,044,444.44 ($644.444.44 + $100,000 prize money = $744.444.44 profit) 

House 3 Tanya & Vito
Reserve, $3,400,000 Sold for $3,800,000.01 ($400,000.01 profit)

House 4 Josh & Luke
Reserve $3,400,000 sold for $3,930,00.00 ($530,000 profit)

House 5 Kirsty & Jesse
Reserve $4,100,000 Sold for $4,401,523.67 ($301,523.67 profit)

Mitch and Mark Block winners pop the champagne

 

One things for sure just when you think what can happen next.....? In came The Block Treechange 2022. What a ride, right until the end.

The Block 2022 cast

The Block Season 18 2022 Auction results: 

House 1 Tom and Sarah-Jane
Reserve $4,080,000 sold for $4,100,000.99 (to Danny Wallis), profit $20,000.99 

House 2 Ryan and Rachel
Reserve $4,080,000 Originally passed in but sold in a post-auction negotiation for $4,249,999.50 (also with Danny) Profit $169,000.50.

House 3 Sharon and Ankur
Reserve $4,080,000 Originally passed in but in a Block Twist sold after auction for $4,250,000 Profit $170,000.

House 4 Dylan and Jenny
Reserve $4,080,000 still on the market.

House 5 Omar and Oz
Reserve $4,080,000 sold for $5,666,666.66, $1,586,666.66 above their reserve price + $100,000 prize money = $1,686,666.66 Profit and a new Block record.

 

Omar and Oz with Scott Cam The block 2022Not only the bathroom kings, the boys made themselves The Block Kings, taking out the win and receiving record breaking prize money for their efforts.

 

 

We take a look back at some of the best reactions on Scotty's auction couch over the past Block seasons HERE




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