Nine years after the TV cameras turned off, Bondi’s original Block units hit the rental market with hardly a credit
It’s been nine years since the four units on Roscoe Street, Bondi Beach, were auctioned in the madness of Channel 9's then brand-new reality TV show The Block.
But when the 2003 winner’s two-bedroom apartment (pictured below) was up for rent recently barely anyone acknowledged it. The Channel 9 logo with its nine dots still sits high on its front facade.
It was for rent at $720 a week, adjusted slightly downwards from its initial $750 asking rental.
It's seemingly been rented, althrough Allie Ward at Ray White Unlimited declined to comment.
At $720 a week it reflects a 4.99% rental yield.
The Roscoe Street apartment had been previously vacant in 2007 when $595 a week was sought, reflecting a 3.95% rental yield.
The neighbouring ground-floor flat (pictured below) – designed by "The Boys", Gavin Atkins and Waz Sonin, was available at $750 a week in 2010.
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The blockbuster auction in August 2003 had The Block's winning unit sold for $751,000 after its renovation by Adam Thorn and Fiona Mills.
It’s the only one in the block of four yet to sell a second time.
All the other buyers lost money for their investments, before or after costs were taken into account.
The contestants Fiona and Adam were $256,000 richer as they took the $100,000 winner's bonus – plus all the profits above the reserve of $595,000.
Fiona and Adam set up their new renovation business, Design and Everything, which they scrapped as it was too hard to work together and live together. Fiona now does laser hair removal and Adam works at Freedom Kitchens as a designer.
They continue to dream of one day owning a home on Sydney's seafront.
Gavin and Warren Sonin also went onto a career in design, with DesignerBoys. They have furnished and styled over 750 properties.
Then hosted by Jamie Durie, The Block was the brainchild of David Barbour and Julian Cress who are still running the show.
