The Block’s huge Melbourne property gamble revealed
From $10 million for The Gatwick Hotel to $5.9 million for Dux House in Albert Park, The Block has invested an eye-watering amount into Melbourne locations in a bid to play the property market. So which series has the highest price tag?
Fiona Byrne
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Hit TV show The Block has gambled more than $100 million on Melbourne’s lucrative and competitive property scene.
The show with arguably the deepest pockets on Australian TV has had 12 seasons set in the Victorian capital and is already shaping up for its 13th Melbourne renovation having bought homes in Hampton as the location for next year’s series.
The Melbourne seasons have seen the show invest over $100 million on locations.
That eye watering figure includes the estimated spend on the five homes in Bronte Court, Hampton which will be transformed into luxury family abodes in 2021.
The Block’s property splurge in Melbourne had a humble start with four homes purchased in Cameron Street, Richmond for the 2011 season of the show for $3.6 million.
Next up $3.025 million was forked out for four terrace houses in Dorcas South Melbourne followed by the purchase of the former BizHotel in Park Street, South Melbourne for $6.71 million.
In 2014 two seasons of The Block aired requiring the purchase of two locations. A warehouse in Albert Park was bought for $5.9 million as was an office block in Prahran, which was bought for $8.25 million.
Nine overhauled the former Hotel Saville in South Yarra, which it purchased for $6.25 million, for its 2015 season and later that year took a tired boutique apartment block in Darling Street, South Yarra and did a stunning makeover on the show after paying $5.7 million for it.
In 2016, the show was set in a derelict soap factory in Port Melbourne that set Nine back $5.025 million.
A large parcel of vacant land in Elsternwick was purchased for $9.6 million as the location for the 2017 series.
The Gatwick Private Hotel was purchased for $10 million as a dump and transformation on the 2018 series of the show.
The production paid $10.8 million for The Oslo backpackers hostel featured in the 2019 season. .
This season of The Block has seen five homes erected on a vacant block in Brighton which cost $ 14.9 million to purchase.
The five Hampton properties are estimated to have cost the show about $11 million in total.
In total the 13 sites have cost The Block an estimated total of $100.75 million.
2011: Richmond, Cameron Street: $3.6 million
2012: South Melbourne, Dorcas Street: $3.025 million
2013: South Melbourne, Park Street (Sky High): $6.7 million
2014: Albert Park, Dux House: $5.9 million
2014: Prahran, High Street (Glass House): $8.25 million
2015: South Yarra, Saville Hotel (Blockagon): $6.25 million
2015: South Yarra, Darling Street (Triple Threat): $5.7 million
2016: Port Melbourne, Ingles Street: $5.025 million
2017: Elsternwick, Regent Street: $9.6 million
2018: St Kilda, The Gatwick: $10 million
2019: St Kilda, The Oslo: $10.8 million
2020: Brighton, New Street: $14.9 million
2021: Purchased five houses in Bronte Court, Hampton (Est) $11 million
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