St Kilda residents blame the Block for suburb’s ‘bastardisation’, influx of ‘young bogans’

The Block is giving St Kilda a makeover, one derelict building at a time — but residents aren’t happy, blaming the reality hit for the “bastardisation of Fitzroy St”. This is why.

The 15th series of the Block was filmed at St Kilda’s Oslo Hotel — and locals aren’t happy. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Block off is the not-so-subtle message to the Channel 9 reality series from St Kilda residents sick of the gentrification of their once grungy and vibrant neighbourhood.

Filming has just wrapped on the 15th series of The Block at St Kilda’s Oslo Hotel on Grey St, only a block away from the rejuvenated Gatwick Hotel.

A Block production company forked out more than $10 million for the rundown, heritage-listed hotel after the series approached one of the owners.

Port Philip Mayor Dick Gross said council had now received 47 complaints over the redevelopment of The Oslo Hotel.

Despite the complaints about the projects, Gross says The Block has helped rejuvenate the suburb.

The Gatwick, which starred in a previous season, is just one block away. Picture: Nicole Garmston

“The Block has renovated a number of significant heritage buildings, retaining the much-loved heritage architecture of the area.

“Along with the renovations of the Espy and the Palais, this has provided considerable investment into the St Kilda area.”

So much for bureaucratic-speak.

The Block admits to a “good relationship” with Port Phillip council in producing seasons 2012, 2013 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018 and the coming 2019 instalment.

That’s a lot of construction.

But “blocked off” local Sara Simon, 40, says not on her block.

She told Page 13 St Kilda had gone to the dogs since The Block started moving rubble.

“Since The Block came in, it has torn up the beating heart that made this suburb tick,” she said.

Film crews swarm St Kilda’s Grey St. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Another resident, who didn’t want to be named, went further, saying The Block reconstructions of sites such as The Gatwick was aiding the “bastardisation of Fitzroy St”.

“We don’t want a bunch of affluent young bogan couples moving in,” the local said.

Block creator Julian Cress told Page 13 he had only ever received positive feedback from locals.

“We have had a very close relationship with all of the neighbours … since we finished construction, I have only received a positive response saying how grateful they are for what we have done,” he said.

Cress pointed naysayers to property developer Tim Gurner’s “premium beachfront residences”, with its Saint Moritz project replacing St Kilda’s Novotel Hotel.

“You’ve got Tim Gurner, who is probably the most successful developer in Australia, doing a project at the Saint Moritz and selling apartments for $40 million.

“I don’t think that there is any argument there is a significant uplift in interest from people wanting luxury accommodation in St Kilda.”

Opposite the Oslo Hotel is a photographic montage, Farewell to the Gatwick, at the Alliance Francaise.

The Oslo Hotel was once a backpackers’.

Police at the Gatwick in 2015, before its makeover. Picture: Christopher Chan

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Poignant pictures document the last residents leaving the hotel, which was transformed into up-market apartments last year.

Photographer and Melbourne University economics professor Dr Renaud Coulomb told Page 13 that The Block had highlighted a fast-gentrifying St Kilda.

“The hotel sheltered very low-income people, about 100 each night, for decades. The new residents are obviously from a totally different social background.”

But Cress says they have aimed to keep the heritage integrity of the buildings they renovate.

“When these five houses were built on Grey St in 1859, they were the five most prestigious houses in Melbourne. All we have done is try and … return them to their former glory,” he says.

“If there are people out there who say the Oslo should have remained as a rundown backpackers hostel, they are entitled to that opinion.”