Latest news with #TheBlock
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE The Block's HUGE finished homes dwarf their tiny Daylesford neighbours as 2025 builds are complete - but with cladding and pickleball courts, do they fit into the country town?
With the new season of The Block just around the corner, anticipation is reaching fever pitch around what fans can expect from the Channel Nine juggernaut's 21st season. Images obtained by Daily Mail Australia reveal that the builds for the 2025 iteration are now complete, and it seems this year's crop of Blockheads had quite the canvas to work with. While this year's Block will take place in the small country Victorian town of Daylesford, don't expect any diminutive rural cottages. The five houses look absolutely massive, and aerial photos of the site show the recently finished builds dwarfing the existing properties that line the perimeter. Each of the sleek and modern supersized builds is built as a 'H' design layout, with courtyard spaces in front and back of the home. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. However, each one features a unique exterior covering - from cladding to Colourbond and landscaped gardens. One property even features a pickleball court, as well as an in-ground pool and what appears to be a smaller plunge pool next to a cabana. One of the houses already looks lived in, with one photograph showing a Hills Hoist clothesline complete with washing. While viewers may think they have already seen it all on the drama-packed reality TV show, the 2025 season will be injecting another never-before-seen twist. Contestants had to renovate their luxury homes completely from scratch in a new plotline that is sure to inject even more tension into the already time-pressured and stressful builds. According to the planning documents submitted to Hepburn Shire Council, contestants were required to complete the shell of a five-bedroom floor plan, including a study, living area, and a garage. The properties will also include other lavish amenities, including a covered outdoor area and a heated swimming pool. While Nine is remaining tight-lipped on the official name of the upcoming series, whispers around the network suggest the new series could easily be branded as a sequel to the 2022 'Tree Change' season. That season was set in Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges - just a short drive from this year's location. 'Honestly, the style and finish of the homes are nearly identical to what we saw in Tree Change,' the insider said. 'Same vibe, same tones, same country-chic energy.' The series, which wrapped filming on June 1, is set to premiere slightly earlier than usual, with a launch tipped for the first week of August. While fans have come to expect fiery feuds and over-the-top drama, insiders say this season is shaping up to be very different. 'There's actually much less conflict this year,' one well-placed insider said. 'But that doesn't mean it's boring. There's a charm and warmth to this season that will surprise long-term fans.' However, the source added that not everyone is convinced that producers have fully tapped into the healthy, holistic living vibe Daylesford is known for. 'There was a lot of talk early on that the season might embrace living off the land, healthy eating and holistic living, which the town is so well known for,' the insider said. 'But in reality, the houses are still very much classic Block homes.' It comes as Nine unveiled its first look at the new series, in a teaser clip that aired during their State Of Origin game two coverage. The clip showed hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft driving Block-themed big rigs in a convoy to the new locale. 'This year, we've packed up the whole shebang, and we're heading for somewhere special,' Scott says in the clip. 'That's right Australia, I've found a cracker of a country town, you're gonna love and we're rolling in for a truckload of fun.' The tongue-in-cheek preview also gives fans a first look at the 2025 Block teams - Emma and Ben, Han and Can, Robbie and Matt, Alicia and Sonny, and Britt and Taz. The teams were shown excitedly jumping out of Scott's big rig to promote what is promised to be the best Block season yet. News Corp reported in December that Nine dropped almost $10million to acquire the land that has been subdivided into five separate lots. The publication reported that the Nine-owned company Micjoy Pty Ltd took ownership of the parcel of land for $9,445,801.00. The figure is on par with previous Block purchases, with Micjoy dropping $10million on the notorious Gatwick Hotel in Melbourne for the Block's 2017 season. The company also paid $14.3 million for five properties in Hampton East, Melbourne, for the 2022 series.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
The Block's Kylie Baker shares sultry snap as longstanding rumour is finally put to rest
The Block's Kylie Baker has all but confirmed she is back together with her husband Brad. The former reality show contestant, who walked out on the show and her partner in 2024 after Brad's flirting scandal was exposed on-air, posted a steamy picture to Instagram on Thursday featuring a telling detail. 'I've noticed you around #night #naughty #mummy #uptonogood,' the 37-year-old captioned the sultry snap, which showed her wearing a floral-motif lace top. However, it was the person in the background, whose face was shielded by Kylie's hand, who had fans speculating that Brad, 32, is back in her life. 'Get out of the way. Show us the good looking roosters behind ya ey @_bradleybaker_ ,' one person wrote in the comments section. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. In the final weeks of The Block, fans watched on as Kylie and husband Brad's seven-year marriage imploded on-air in what came to be known as the 'Flirtgate scandal'. During the show, the Cairns-based tradesman told fellow Blockhead Mimi he would 'follow' her adult subscription account if she had one, a comment that Kylie overheard. Upon hearing the remark, Kylie stormed off to her room, and all hell broke loose behind the scenes. Kylie quit production and flew home to Cairns to be with four kids with Brad, leaving a giant question mark on the show's finale. At the time, Brad said he believed his marriage was 'done' and that he had 'single-handedly destroyed my family' with his actions after Kylie suddenly abandoned the series. However, the couple later returned for the auction of their Block build and rekindled their relationship, before sparking rumours of a separation yet again. Since the show's ending, fans have been speculating as to whether the couple have got back together or not, with various posts and comments alluding to the possibility that they have. Mimi, whose husband Kristian was also a contestant on the show, later revealed that she thought the incident was blown out of proportion, according to Pedestrian TV. 'I personally felt comfortable in that situation,' she confessed at the time, adding that it 'was not anyone's intention' for Kylie to leave the show. Kylie has also threatened to tell-all about her time on The Block, accusing her co-stars of throwing her 'under the bus' during the flirtgate scandal. In November, she shared a photo of herself grinning at the camera and captioned it with some telling words 'That day when your 'friends' throw you under a bus,'' Kylie wrote. She also added the hashtags '#friends #please #revenge #tellallsoon #haha #seeyousoonb***hes'.
Daily Mail
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Viewers slam Nine over 'irresponsible' trailer for new season of The Block as they spot one glaring detail - but all is not what it seems
The new season of The Block is airing in a matter of weeks. A new trailer dropped on the Nine renovation show's social media last week, and not everyone was happy with what they saw. Several fans on Facebook noted that hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft were shown driving without seat belts on. Both Scott and Shelley are shown behind the wheel of large trucks, racing through gorgeous outback vistas - with no belt in sight. However it appears the hosts are actually stationary and only pretending to drive, with the scenery added later with some movie magic. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked. 'Where's your seat belts?' one person asked, later adding, 'it's obviously CGI… not a good example for the youngins watching though is it'. 'How irresponsible of Channel Nine to advertise in prime time showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seat belts. Clearly not aware of the road toll related to driving on rural roads' one viewer said. 'Probably should have put ya seat belts on' one more said with another adding, 'Why aren't they wearing their seat belts Nine?' 'Everyone complaining about no one wearing seatbelts - it's pretty obvious they aren't actually driving…' someone else chimed in. 'Older model Kenworth have lap belts' reasoned one viewer with another agreeing, 'they aren't actually driving'. 'You don't need to wear seat belts when you aren't actually driving lol' one person reasoned. Regardless some viewers were unhappy with the trailer depicting what some called 'irresponsible' driving, whether real or faked This year's location for the series is the sleepy Victorian hamlet of Daylesford. Daylesford is located 114km from Melbourne and its unique combination of natural beauty, historic charm and vibrant local culture provides a stunning backdrop ideal for the show. Leaked photos of one of the completed homes reveal the upcoming 2025 installment has a very similar aesthetic to a previous season of the show. While Nine is remaining tight-lipped on the official name, whispers around the network suggest the new series could easily be branded as a sequel to the 2022 'Tree Change' season, which was set in Gisborne in the Macedon Ranges - just a short drive from this year's location. 'Honestly, the style and finish of the homes are nearly identical to what we saw in Tree Change,' the insider said. 'Same vibe, same tones, same country-chic energy.' Indeed, leaked photos of one completed property by same-sex couple Han and Can show a lot similarities, in particular the furniture. One image shows a living space complete with a large white modular lounge that takes pride of place in the room. The piece of furniture is almost identical to the couches which appeared in both Ankur and Sharon and Rachel and Ryan's living rooms back in 2022. Han and Can's living room is augmented by a plush feature wall to the rear of the lounge as well as beige curtains and some mood lighting. Meanwhile, other images show an equally spartan-yet-stylish open plan kitchen and living space, complete with a large fireplace encased in a marble feature wall. The kitchen appears to be an entertainer's delight, with the space boasting a large wine rack and a refrigerator specifically for wine. Despite being similar to the 2022 season, a production insider told Daily Mail Australia that the couple's luxe fit out was very 'on trend' for the location. 'It's sleek, chic and very on-brand for Daylesford,' they said. The series, which wrapped filming on June 1, is set to premiere slightly earlier than usual, with a launch tipped for the first week of August. While fans have come to expect fiery feuds and over-the-top drama, insiders say this season is shaping up to be very different. 'There's actually much less conflict this year,' one well-placed insider said. 'But that doesn't mean it's boring. There's a charm and warmth to this season that will surprise long-term fans.' However, the source added that not everyone is convinced that producers have fully tapped into the healthy holistic living vibe Daylesford is known for. 'There was a lot of talk early on that the season might embrace living off the land, healthy eating and holistic living, which the town is so well known for,' the insider said.
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
The Block 2025: Fans slam new trailer over ‘irresponsible' detail
Fans of The Block have slammed the trailer for the new 2025 series over an 'irresponsible' detail in the clip. The hit renovation show is expected to air in August on Channel 9, with this year's contestants building homes from scratch in the regional Victoria town of Daylesford. In the teaser, hosts Scott Cam and Shelley Craft are 'back on the road' each driving a big red truck on route to the new countryside location. The trailer also featured a sneak peek of the teams competing – which include Emma and Ben, Cam and Han, Robby and Mat, Alicia and Sonny and Britt and Taz. But, fans of the series lashed out over the detail that Scott was not wearing a seatbelt while driving the truck. 'Probably should have put ya seatbelts on,' one viewer wrote. 'Why aren't they wearing their seatbelts, Nine?', another person questioned. 'How irresponsible of Channel 9 to advertise in prime time, showing celebrities driving on country roads and not wearing seatbelts,' a third person commented. Some viewers were convinced the scene was generated using CGI. 'They're not actually driving … watch the windows on the driver's side same scenery,' one fan wrote. 'It's obviously CGI,' another person added. The news comes as Adrian Portelli is selling off his entire Block compound at Phillip Island months after snapping up all five homes on the hit renovation show. The billionaire businessman posted on Instagram, begging fans to take all the properties off his hands. He put out a call for expressions of interest in making the multimillion-dollar purchase. 'For Sale. EOI. The Phillip Island Block Resort. Selling complex complete. Everything included. Will not sell houses separately,' Portelli posted. During last year's The Block grand final, the Aussie entrepreneur made history when he bought every single house for a whopping $15.03 million. It turned out the regular Block bidder used a buyer's agent for some to cover his tracks. Portelli announced he was done with The Block and would not be in the market for Block properties in 2025. 'That was a message that was my last appearance on the Block and I thought I'd go out with a bang,' he says. While he may have gone out with a bang, fans of the show weren't thrilled with the finale, with many getting on to call the show 'rigged', and lament that Portelli just chose who he wanted to win.
Scoop
23-06-2025
- Science
- Scoop
Housing Crisis You Haven't Heard About!New Nest Boxes Offer Hope For EndangeredGreater Gliders South Of Sydney
In a conservation effort straight out of an episode of ' The Block', the endangered Southern Greater Glider (Petauroides volans) population of the Illawarra Escarpment is benefiting from a major conservation initiative, with recent trail camera footage confirming these elusive marsupials are already settling into newly installed specialised nest boxes. This innovative project, a research collaboration driven by the Symbio Conservation Foundation and the University of Wollongong, and supported by GM3, JP Ecology, and Conservation Leaders Pty Ltd has seen 25 thermally insulated, fire-retardant nest boxes installed across a protected area of the Illawarra Escarpment, on the Southern outskirts of Sydney. To monitor their uptake, solar-powered Bluetooth camera traps were deployed—offering valuable, real-time insights into the gliders' behaviour and enabling researchers to monitor nest box uptake without disturbances to the glider/s inside. Encouragingly, footage has already captured Greater Gliders taking up residency into three of the new luxury homes, signaling early success for the initiative with effectively 12% of nest boxes now occupied by the elusive marsupial. This effort forms part of a much broader Illawarra Escarpment & Plateau Greater Glider Project—a research and conservation program aimed at understanding the local glider population's distribution, nesting preferences, and behaviour. The project builds upon two years of extensive thermal drone surveys undertaken by the Ecology and Thermal Drone team at Symbio Wildlife Park, and will help in guiding conservation planning for this endangered species. The study is assessing environmental variables such as tree cover, the types of local eucalypt species, availability of tree hollows, and proximity to forest edges. The data will inform how and where artificial hollows should be placed to best support glider populations in fragmented habitats. The Southern Greater Glider, Australia's largest gliding marsupial, can reach up to a metre in length including its long, bushy tail. With soft fur that ranges from dark brown to creamy white, large ears, and a gliding membrane stretching from elbow to ankle, the species can glide up to 100 metres through the forest canopy in search of food and shelter. Once common along the eastern seaboard, in 2022 due to rapid population declines driven by habitat loss, climate change, and bushfires, the Southern Greater Gliders were listed as endangered. Their survival is closely linked to the availability of old-growth trees, which provide critical nesting hollows. Rising temperatures and extreme weather events continue to pose serious risks to their future. The Illawarra Escarpment and Plateau's mix of wet and dry sclerophyll forests offer ideal habitat, and the nest boxes aim to supplement declining natural tree hollows. Researchers hope to better understand what influences gliders to choose artificial boxes over natural hollows, supported by vegetation mapping and predictive modelling that could expand the approach to other regions. ************************************************************************ Jarrad Prangell, Conservation Manager | Symbio Conservation Foundation, emphasised the importance of taking action locally: 'At Symbio, our goal is to help turn the tables on extinction for all species, and what better place to start than in our own backyard, here in the Illawarra. We've played critical roles in preserving species such as the Bellinger River Turtle, Green and Golden Bell Frog, and the Stuttering Frog, along with large-scale Koala abundance mapping. Supporting the conservation efforts of the Southern Greater Glider is a natural next step.' The project is also a prime example of the power of collaboration between academia and industry. A/Professor Katarina M Mikac of the University of Wollongong stated: 'The UOW-Symbio Industry PhD Program partnership is playing a crucial role in the Escarpment Greater Glider Project by helping bridge the gap between industry and academia. Through this collaboration, some of UOW's brightest PhD students are applying their expertise and research alongside Symbio's conservation team to drive meaningful outcomes for the Southern Greater Glider population of the Illawarra. This partnership not only enhances our understanding of this endangered species but also contributes to broader conservation efforts by tackling some of the most pressing ecological challenges, such as habitat loss, climate change, and reversing the decline of native species both in Australia and globally.' Dr. Monica Knipler - Senior Threatened Species Officer for Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water stated; 'DCCEEW are proud to be helping provide guidance and support to the team at Symbio Wildlife Park . The southern greater glider is a unique, arboreal marsupial that relies on eucalypt forests. The Illawarra escarpment contains a large, intact area of southern greater glider habitat which is important for the species long-term viability in the landscape. Population monitoring will provide valuable information about population size and habitat use, and this knowledge can inform management actions. We must work together to improve our understanding and effectively conserve this endangered species.' Simon Thomas, General Manager at GM3 Dendrobium Mine, echoed this sentiment: 'Our partnership with Symbio Wildlife Park demonstrates how we can work together to support local biodiversity and protect the Southern Greater Glider. Our environmental field team helped install these nest boxes on our land, creating safe habitats for this endangered species and reinforcing our commitment to responsible land stewardship. The discovery of a local Greater Glider population was a welcome surprise following our koala conservation drone identification Project with Symbio.' ************************************************************************ With the support of cutting-edge technology and meaningful partnerships, this project marks an important step forward in the conservation of one of Australia's most unique and vulnerable marsupials—one nest box at a time.
