The Block to make over seedy St Kilda backpackers’ hostel

THE Block has chosen another landmark Melbourne building to make over for its upcoming season. The notoriously seedy location will be the largest ever remodelled by contestants.

The mammoth property at 38 Grey Street is a backpackers’ hostel. Picture: Google

THE Block has struck gold with sources confirming that the next season will be filmed at a series of 1850s mansions in St Kilda.

The mammoth property, at 38 Grey Street, is a tawdry backpackers’ hostel with a seedy reputation.

But sources say that behind the rundown façade are five mansions built during the Victorian gold rush when Melbourne was the richest city in the world.

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The five massive terrace homes will be the largest ever remodelled by contestants on the Channel 9 renovation show.

It is believed that the producers scored the property in an off-market deal after approaching one of the owners.

This will be the second St Kilda property in a row that will feature on The Block. This year’s series is set at the notorious former Gatwick Hotel on Fitzroy Street.

It will also be the second time that The Block has tackled houses instead of apartments. Last year’s series saw contestants making over rundown 1920s weatherboard homes on a site in Regent Street, Elsternwick.

Comedian Dave Hughes forked out a whopping $3.067 million for the home renovated by Josh Barker and Elyse Knowles.

Signs have reportedly gone up at the property alerting backpackers that they will shortly need to vacate the premises.

Insiders say the producers of The Block have had meetings with the City of Port Phillip but are yet to submit formal plans for the makeover.

Those will be submitted in coming months.

Sources say the makers of the hit show are intent on making a positive change to the St Kilda area with their remodels of The Gatwick and 38 Grey Street.

@Colvick

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