Surprise twist for The Block 2022 revealed

Just when you thought you’d seen it all over 17 seasons of The Block, season 18 promises to take the reality show in a direction you never expected.

With 17 seasons of The Block already under the (tool)belt, viewers might think they’ve seen it all – but they’d be wrong. Because The Block is going bush.

For the first time, the reality home renovation show is heading out of the city, and The Block Tree Change promises to throw everything – including the fluted Belfast country kitchen sink – at this year’s renovators.

And as host Scott Cam and the latest crop of Blockheads set off for regional Victoria, here is what we know so far about this year’s unique season of the show.

Gisborne is a 45-minute drive from central Melbourne. Picture: realestate.com.au/buy

1. It will be filmed in Gisborne, Victoria

After renovating houses and a hostel in various locations around metro Melbourne and Sydney, the reno series is going country – to the town of Gisborne in the picturesque Macedon Ranges. And contestants will have plenty of land to play with.

As the Great Relocation saw thousands of Aussies set off for pastures new throughout the height of the pandemic, it seems producers of The Block have cottoned on to the tree change trend.

So the task for this year’s contestants is to create luxury rural escapes on a massive 32-hectare site at 207 McGeorge Rd, Gisborne, which is said to have been carved into seven 4-hectare lots and has a creek running through it.

Clearly they’re taking ‘biggest Block ever’ literally.

2. Filming has started

It’s understood the Omicron outbreak delayed the start of production on this year’s series but sources say that production for The Block Tree Change has now commenced, with crew spied on set at the Gisborne location.

Weatherboard homes, non-permanent dwellings and construction equipment have also been spotted on the site.

Once the competition kicks off, contestants are expected to be available for 10 to 12 weeks for filming.

3. Contestants have been chosen

We can’t wait to learn all we can about the new Blockheads, once they’re announced (watch this space), who will have their work cut out for them with a truly mammoth job of creating idyllic country homes worthy of multimillion-dollar prices come auction day.

Longtime-host Scott Cam posted on his Instagram that he was having a beer with executive producer Julian Cress while they “go through the new cast”.

4. Scott Cam will be renovating his own property

The big news of the season is that host Scott Cam will be renovating his own Block property for the first time.

Is his style on point? Will he make any blunders? Or have all the years hosting the show taught him exactly what it takes to make a showstopping home?

We can’t wait to find out.

5. The site cost $11 million

Back in September 2021, the 32-hectare property sold for a whopping $11 million, approximately 10 times the area’s median price of $1.08 million.

The listing describes the property as an outstanding rural-zoned location close to both Sunbury and central Gisborne. It is a 45-minute drive to central Melbourne.

6. Houses have come from as far as Queensland

Given it’s still The Block, which is after-all a show about renovating, the homes need to be there already.

So, with just one existing cottage on the site, most of the properties have been bought as houses for removal.

There is at least one Queenslander-style home which has been transported to the Gisborne location so far, all the way from the Sunshine State. There have been other dwellings spotted too.

7. The auction will be around November

The official date of The Block Tree Change auctions hasn’t been released. But judging by previous years, it is likely they will be held around November.

8. The show is likely to air around August

Also based on last year, we think this year’s show will start in August. Sit tight for that all-important premiere date – and as always, we’ll be running recaps so you don’t miss a thing.

And for those budding renovators who are itching to get out their cordless drills and show Australia what they can do, you’ve missed out for 2022. But keep an eye out on the official Block website for future casting calls.

This article originally appeared on realestate.com.au and has been reproduced with permission

Originally published as Surprise twist for The Block 2022 revealed