IT’S been one of the most sensational and controversial seasons of The Block in 20 years, but you could not have scripted the grand finale any better than what transpired on auction day last Saturday, November 9.
When auctioneer for O’Brien Real Estate Judith Wright of Cowes, Paul Tzamalis, took the last bid on the last house, Maddy and Charlotte Harry’s House Number 1, there was an audible gasp, then silence, then uproar as everyone realised it was the knockout bid on the property, a season winning result for the girls and an amazing profit of $1.55 million.
Add to that $100,000 for winning The Block for a cool tax-free payday of $1.65 million.
It was also a clean sweep of the five properties on the Justice Road site at Cowes for Australian billionaire, ‘Lambo Guy’ Adrian Portelli, despite some concerted competition along the way from several other bidders on each of the homes.
Portelli acknowledged afterwards that he bought them all, two via buyers’ advocates, which adds up to a hefty total of $15.03 million for the five houses, the day spa clubhouse and tennis court with Kylie and Brad’s House 4 going to $2.6 million, Mimi and Kristian getting $2.93 million for House 5 and the boys Ricky and Haydn $2.7 million for House 3.
And he explained afterwards the reason for the $1 million final jump in the bidding.
"That's my last appearance on The Block and I thought I'd go out with a bang," said Adrian Portelli.
But the winning bid and $1.55 million profit really blew the girls away.
“It took us completely by surprise. We were hardly ready, and it was sold,” said Maddy and Charlotte afterwards.
In fact, there were only two bids, an opening bid of $2.5 million and then a slam-dunk bid by Portelli, holding his new baby, of a whopping $3.5 million - $200,000 clear of Courtney and Grumpy’s House Number 2, which nonetheless set the scene for an incredible day of auctions by going first and securing an amazing knockdown figure of $3.3 million.
“Mate, we’re just so happy, we’ll be sorry to leave,” said Grant ‘Grumpy’ Freeman afterwards.
“We went home last week and found it so grey compared to this one. We’ve loved it here and we’ll be staying on for a few extra days to live it up. So happy.
“And I’m not that grumpy, I promise.”
No one was more rapt about the result than the girls’ Sydney taxi driver father, Tony, who was there to proudly congratulate his daughters afterwards.
“I’m really happy for them. They really deserved it,” said Tony.
It was an incredible finale to The Block Island with Sunday night’s last instalment of The Block on Channel 9 providing one final push in the nationwide marketing of Phillip Island.
Local real estate agents and tourist operators say ‘The Block Island effect’ has already added up to 25 per cent more visitation generally with venues like Phillip Island’s world-famous penguin parade attracting numbers above pre-COVID levels.
“From mid-year since the renovation show started on air from its new location at Cowes on Phillip Island, visitation is up 14 per cent versus the same period last year,” said a spokesperson for Phillip Island Nature Parks.
“Based on current trends, visitation to Phillip Island Nature Parks in 2024-25 is on track to exceed pre-pandemic visitor numbers of one million visitors per year,” they said.
Our pleasure, said Scott Cam, host of The Block.
“It’s been great, we’ve loved it here,” he told the Sentinel-Times after it was all over last Saturday.
