The Block 2022 listings are live – here's your first look inside
Five muddy building sites dotted over 20 hectares near Gisborne, in the Macedon Ranges, have begun their 12-week transformation into high-end rural retreats by couples competing in The Block’s 18th season.
Certainly, it’s expected they will beat Gisborne’s current five-bedroom median price of $1.638 million, as recorded by Domain, as they go all-out on space and luxury while capturing picturesque views of the lush Victorian countryside 45 minutes north-west of Melbourne.
The five stripped-back heritage houses were shipped in to their four-hectare sites and will be extended into five-bedroom, 500-square-metre dwellings, while the original c1866 homestead is being given new life in situ by The Block host Scott Cam, a builder of 43 years’ experience.
The 48-hour bedroom challenge decided the order of house choice. The House 1 contestants, who came first, and House 5, who came last, are the only ones staying put.
House 1: Sarah-Jane and Tom
The blank-canvas Queenslander house is off to a good start with straight-talking Sarah-Jane, a social worker, and Tom, a plumber, from the outer-northern Melbourne suburb of Gladstone Park.
Overcoming their inexperience, the married couple won the 48-hour bedroom challenge with a luxe country feel featuring olive wall panelling, brass sconces and the original ceiling rose.
Given first dibs on the properties, they decided staying put in House 1 gives them the best chance of a win that will set up their family financially.
House 2: Rachel and Ryan
The Victorian-era cottage on four hectares of land has c1890s period features, original lathe-and-plaster walls and outstanding potential.
The “grand dame” has been handed to Sydneysiders Rachel, a makeup artist, and Ryan, a plumber, who were rushed into The Block when high-profile Bondi duo Joel and Elle vanished after their “farmhouse cool” styling of House 3’s bedroom failed to impress the judges.
Rachel and Ryan, who have three young children and a renovation business, come armed with a barrowload of tradie confidence and a plan to create a contemporary country home.
House 3: Ankur and Sharon
The biggest house on The Block, at the top of a hill, is in the hands of the least experienced renovators — a married couple of Indian heritage from Melbourne.
Ankur, an accountant who wants to step out of his comfort zone, and Sharon, a lawyer/actor who grew up on a farm, failed to heed advice in the bedroom design challenge and their rustic-timber treatment of House 4 was marked down.
However, they secured third place and they’re aiming to imbue their big Federation-era residence with heritage ambience.
House 4: Dylan and Jenny
High-energy engaged couple Dylan and Jenny, from the Gold Coast, have huge trade advantage as chippies who work in the building industry and are building their own home.
Their skill and enthusiasm show in the quality finishes of VJ panelling and beautiful new sage walls for House 2’s challenge bedroom.
Coming in second place, they chose to continue The Block journey with the coveted House 4, described as an as-yet-unrealised dream family home with shingles, diamond leadlight windows and a wraparound verandah with the best views of the district.
House 5: Omar and Osman (Oz)
Best mates Omar and Oz, who are Muslims from western Sydney and have five children between them, have to keep the renovators’ delight handed to them upon arrival, as their bedroom challenge result took the wooden spoon for its generic styling, a questionable new window and odd placement of the door.
However, Oz, a property maintenance worker, and his footy-player mate retained its heritage aesthetics and their jokey sense of humour, so it’s all up from here for the Federation-era Queenslander at the bottom of the hill.
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