The Block 2015: thousands camp out and queue for open for inspection

South Yarra turned on a street party on Sunday to celebrate The Block’s makeover of one of Melbourne’s most notorious eyesores.

Thousands of fans lined up to inspect Channel Nine reality renovation show’s latest luxury apartments, within an infamous budget motel, and meet the couples competing for auction day spoils.

The old Hotel Saville – a seedy motel on the corner of busy Punt and Commercial Road – was never this popular or loved.

The local community has been thrilled by The Block’s transformation and renewal of the busy intersection site, with a trendy cafe opening beneath the five glamour apartments and the facade receiving a much needed, modern update.

The Saville is the scene of the so-called vampire gigolo attack, in which a woman was found bitten and bruised in a bathroom, more than a decade ago.

Oakleigh mum Karen Van Laake​ remembered the Saville – known for its unusual, octagonal shape – when it was crummy, budget accommodation with a violent history.

She stayed in one of the modest suites on level five, sandwiched in with ten friends, about twenty years ago.

On Sunday, she walked through The Block and was stunned to see the change.

“It was a tight, cosy affair,” Ms Van Laake said.

“It was pretty B-grade accommodation – it was very, very basic, not even comfortable carpet. It is incredible, the transformation; it’s hard to believe it’s the same building from the outside.”

The most passionate fans queued for up three days, armed with sleeping bags and pillows, to be first through the doors.

And they have been every other season and year, the Delahunty family from Gippsland were at the front of the line on Sunday.

Rachel Delahunty and her teenage son, Jamie, are The Block’s biggest supporters. Rachel slept for three nights in her work van at the site to secure pole position.

Jamie said the show’s executive producer and co-creator Julian Cress arranged for him to do work experience on the show, during the week the five team’s overhauled the kitchens. Jamie said he hopes to have a career in sound production.

As much as the fans’ open day is an opportunity for autographs and selfies with the teams, it is also another chance for real estate agents to flush out prospective bidders.

The couples have appointed agencies to drive the marketing campaign, ahead of the televised auctions later this month.

With last seasons’ teams pocketing a record windfall, hopes are high for another stellar result.

RT Edgar director Glen Coutinho, who is selling Suzi and Vonni’s apartment, said for every 300 hundreds fans in line is a genuine potential buyer.

“We don’t often get 50,000 people at our open for inspections, and for us, it will be filtering through those who are here because they watch the show, and those who want to buy,” he said.

Mr Coutinho said retirees are a likely market for the single-level, three bedroom apartments, which have 360 degree views of the city, surrounding postcodes and Fawkner Gardens.

The popular renovation show is in its eleventh season and will be returning on Nine next year.