EXCLUSIVE
Production for The Block’s 20th anniversary season is in full swing.
Filming will take place at ‘Island Cove Villas’ on Phillip Island, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Melbourne, after Channel Nine bought the property for $9.5 million in October.
And manufacturers are taking extensive measures to protect the new Blockheads from the prying eyes of onlookers.
Exclusive photos from the site show that a ‘privacy/protection wall’ has been erected around the perimeter of the former resort.
Meanwhile, an aerial photo shows the layout of the site, which includes a tennis court, children’s playground and barbecue pavilion.
First look at The Block’s 2024 season as production kicks off at Phillip Island’s new $9.5 million resort location
Scott cam from The Block
Manufacturers are taking extensive measures to protect the new Blockheads from the prying eyes of onlookers
While functioning as a resort, the property contained eight self-contained ‘villas’, as well as a ninth home.
This week, tradies were seen driving construction equipment onto the site and a large truck was seen delivering essential building materials.
Just a short drive from Phillip Island’s famous ‘Penguin Parade’, the former resort features palm trees and a sculpted garden.
A view of the enormous ‘privacy’ fence that surrounds the grounds of The Block on Phillip Island
An aerial photo shows the layout of the site, including a tennis court, children’s playground and barbecue pavilion
Craftsmen were spotted this week driving construction equipment onto the site
A new crop of Blockheads will be tasked with transforming the resort after plans for the new season at Daylesford were scrapped.
After more than nine months of groundwork in the north-west Victorian city, Channel Nine was forced to pull the plug.
The Herald Sun reported that after initially securing sites on Raglan Street in the picturesque country town, Nine were evicted by locals and suffered delays in permit approvals.
“We’ve had so many successful series in so many different locations, but we don’t go where we’re not welcome,” a production insider told the publication in September.
A large truck delivering essential building materials
Just a short drive from Phillip Island’s famous ‘Penguin Parade’, the former resort features palm trees and a sculpted garden. Pictured: Workers preparing the site
Construction materials at the Phillip Island site
There is already a large two-story brick house on the site
A new crop of Blockheads will be tasked with transforming the former resort after plans for a season at Daylesford were scrapped in September
‘Certainly for the twentieth series of The Block, which is so important.’
Despite plans for the proposed setting being approved by the Hepburn Shire, Nine was challenged in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT).
The network has reportedly canceled $500,000 worth of accommodations it had booked for the show’s cast and crew.
Season 20 of The Block was officially confirmed earlier this year at Channel Nine’s Upfront 2024 event in Sydney.
At this year’s dramatic Block auction, Steph and Gian were the runaway winners, with their home selling for an incredible $5 million.
At this year’s dramatic Block auction, Steph and Gian were the runaway winners, with their home selling for an incredible $5 million