A significant auction day unfolded at The Block 2025 in Daylesford, Australia, as contestants faced high reserves that exceeded the local median house price by more than $2 million. This situation prompted urgent discussions among producers and contestants to ensure that no one would leave the auction empty-handed.
The auction saw Britt and Taz triumph as their house sold for $420,000 above the set reserve of $2.99 million. However, the remaining teams struggled to attract bids, leading to a tense atmosphere. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, executive producer Julian Cress and host Scott Cam encouraged teams to start with vendor bids, a strategy intended to safeguard their properties against selling for less than expected.
Cress remarked, “Today’s conversations were a little more difficult… I was trying to reassure them that they weren’t about to walk into a car crash where they’ve made zero money for their efforts.” His comments reflect the heightened stakes for contestants, who had worked hard throughout the season.
The high reserves shocked contestants, especially given that houses in Daylesford typically sell for between $810,000 and $825,000. Despite pleas to reduce the figures, Channel Nine remained firm on their decisions. Cress noted, “These decisions are made at a much higher level at Nine,” emphasizing that he had no control over the reserve amounts.
The auction day was particularly challenging due to the unprecedented nature of selling multiple high-end homes in a regional area. Cress pointed out, “I don’t think that five houses have ever been auctioned before in one single day in Daylesford.” He expressed confidence in the quality of the homes but acknowledged the difficulties of the current market conditions.
Interestingly, the absence of investor Adrian Portelli was expected to provide an opportunity for everyday buyers, yet the high reserves complicated this possibility. Cress asserted that the pressures experienced on auction day were consistent with previous seasons. “Auction day for The Block… there is no other day of the year that we wake up feeling actually physically ill when we go to work,” he admitted.
Despite the mixed results from the auctions, Cress remains optimistic about the season’s success. He stated, “We’ve got a couple of houses that we need to sell at a level that would return over $100,000 in profit to the contestants.” Some teams managed to secure substantial profits, with a few contestants making over $500,000.
Host Scott Cam responded to concerns that contestants were set up to fail, saying, “They certainly weren’t fed to the sharks.” He highlighted that there was $3.4 million in the room during the auction for Britt and Taz’s property, suggesting strong interest despite the high reserves.
Though properties owned by Emma and Ben and Han and Can were not sold at the auction, Cam reassured them, indicating that their homes would return to the market immediately. “We’ve got two and a half million viewers watching that show, so we’ve got plenty of potential buyers that will be aware that there are two houses still available,” he explained.
As the auction day concluded, the atmosphere was a mix of relief and tension. While some contestants celebrated their successes, others faced the reality of a competitive market. The events of the day highlighted the complexities and challenges of the real estate landscape in Daylesford, setting the stage for ongoing developments in the aftermath of The Block 2025.
