Darren and Dea's Block warehouse conversion lists for first time since 2014, asking $1.65m-$1.75m

A New York-style residence renovated by two of The Block’s most high-profile contestants, Darren and Dea Jolly, has hit the market.

The two-level warehouse conversion at 6/125 High Street, Prahran, was one of five residences renovated in a building known as The Glasshouse, as part of the 2014 season of The Block, which delivered mixed results for contestants.

The couple, who have since separated, pocketed just $10,000 after their two-storey apartment sold for $1.38 million.

It has just been listed again, for the first time since 2014, by Marshall White Stonnington, with a price range of $1.65 million to $1.75 million. 

SOLD - $2,200,000

6/125 High Street, Prahran VIC 3181

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Listing agent Fraser Cahill says the contemporary, light-filled residence has already attracted a strong amount of interest from young families to downsizers.

“We’ve already been overwhelmed with enquiries and we haven’t even had our first open for inspection yet, so it does feel like it’s going to be well received in terms of buyer interest,” he says.

“I think warehouses are always really well received because they are unique and this certainly has got that feeling, once you get inside.”

He says the low-maintenance nature of the property, coupled with its coveted inner-city location also makes it appealing to sea-changers seeking a city base.

“We’re seeing interest from a whole range of people looking for a low-maintenance home, from young professional couples and young families, but also right now we’re seeing a lot of people residing down in places like Portsea and Sorrento and things like that,  and so it also works well as a great lock-up-and-leave city base,” he says.

Mr Cahill says the young family, who have lived in the home since buying it at the dramatic The Block auction in 2014, are moving to be closer to family.

“They’ve absolutely loved it here. It’s got a lot of house-like qualities with a garage and enormous storage cage underneath and everything was just finished so well from the flow of the indoor/outdoor living area through to the finishes, fittings and appliances.”

The three-bedroom, two-bathroom residence also boasts private laneway access, high ceilings, expanses of original warehouse windows, oak parquetry floors and a gourmet kitchen with four Bosch ovens and a butler’s pantry.

He says the sellers have barely touched it since they bought it.

“There wasn’t really anything that was needed. If you walked in there now you would think it was a year old. It’s been kept in immaculate order, in fact, the whole block is in immaculate order.”

When the residence was first sold at The Block auction in 2014, several agents and property watchers were shocked that it hadn’t attracted higher bids. 

Biggin & Scott’s Russell Cambridge, who auctioned the apartment back then, said by the time the property was on offer – fourth in the order – the pool of buyers was depleted.

“There were three main buyers who were really hot,” he said at the time.

“The reserve on mine was too high and more than that, the spread (of buyers) and the order mattered here because of the variation in sizes and styles.

“I think ours sold cheaply. The depth of buyers wasn’t there. In the real world, I would have passed mine in and got $1.5 million or better,’ he said.

The victors of the 2014 season, Sydney brothers Simon and Shannon Vos, walked away with $335,000 – plus a $100,000 winners’ bonus – after selling their apartment for $1.9 million.

Darren and Dea appeared twice on The Block. After the disappointing $10,000 profit from The Glasshouse season, the couple appeared on The Block Triple Threat the following year, where they flipped their fortune and won the entire season, bagging themselves $935,000.

Marshall White Stonnington is calling for expressions of interest before Tuesday, February 23.