Rick Horsley SC spends $3.62 million to buy Tess and Luke's The Block Oslo terrace
The bullied Cairns couple Tess and Luke Struber took home the grand prize as the winners of The Block 2019 after 14 weeks of stressful renovation.
Channel Nine manipulated the reserves which were set at $2.990 million for all of the five three-storey terraces, although the terraces at either end were expected to have the higher longterm value.
The official price guide required by Victorian Government legislation had been $3 million to $3.3 million.
Buyers’ advocate Frank Valentic described them as "very, very comfortable reserves."
Experienced renovators, Mitch & Mark saw the hammer come down at $3.374 million, which was $384,000 over reserve.
It sold to seasoned Block bidder, Danny Wallis, who previously purchased 403 Dorcas St in South Melbourne on the fifth season of The Block for $1,400,001.01.
The next auction was the newlyweds Tess & Luke who secured $3.620 million, some $630,000 over reserve.
Barrister Rick Horsley, SC, was the buyer of the Tess and Luke’s terrace at 38B Gray Street. He had bid unsuccessfully last year.
“The first time I walked into this one, I hated it,” Mr Horsley told Nine Entertainment after the auction.
Perth parents El’ise & Matt got $3.450 million, which was $460,000 over their reserve, and the runners-up.
It sold to expatriates who plan on leasing the property out while they remain overseas.
Andy & Deb sold their house for $3.420 million, $430,000 over reserve.
The latest auction was real estate agent Jesse and girlfriend Mel who secured $388,000 over the reserve when their house sold for $3.378 million.
Buyers’ advocate Greville Pabst bought Jesse and Mel’s house on behalf of a Melbourne professional couple.
Highlighting the limited buyer pool, Pabst also bidding on behalf of Aconex co-founder Rob Phillpot, for whom he bought both penthouses last year, but the tech entrepreneur did not win any of the auctions on Saturday.
Valentic's buyer of Andy and Deb’s house were underbidders in the Gatwick last year.
Valentic bid on all five properties for a number of investors.
They are a Caulfield North family.
The buyers’ advocate Nicole Jacobs did not have any clients purchase any of the Oslo terraces.
Tess and Luke took home an extra $100,000, delivering them $730,000 in winnings.
Hocking Stuart Albert Park agent auctioneer David Wood sold Tess and Luke’s home at 38B Grey Street.
Wood also sold the winning home in the 2017 season.
He said the acoustic separation and self-contained flat at the back of the home secured the victory for 38B.
Host Scott Cam, along with Shelley Craft, are back for the program's 16th series in Brighton in 2020.
The latest winnings taking total prizemoney across 15 seasons to $23.1 million.
Tess and Luke, the team who couldn’t bear to watch The Block because they’d been so bullied by producers, once said they wished they’d never gone on.
“Tell you what, they love The Block now," host Scott Cam, said after the result, showing he still couldn't help himself.
Meanwhile the finale ratings fell yet again with 1.924m tuning in.
Last year’s (time-adjusted figures) had 2.021m tuning in while the year prior had 2.462m.
PREVIOUS BLOCK WINNERS
2003 - BONDI – Adam & Fiona, $256,000
2004 - MANLY – Jamie & Andrew, $178,000
2010 - VAUCLUSE – John & Neisha, $305,000
2011 - RICHMOND – Polly & Waz, $115,000
2012 - South Melbourne – Brad & Lara, $606,000
2013 - ALL STARS (BONDI) – Phil & Amity, $395,000
2013 - SKY HIGH (South Melbourne) – Alisa & Lysandra, $395,000
2014 - FANS v FAVES (ALBERT PARK) – Steve & Chantelle, $736,000
2014 - GLASSHOUSE (PRAHRAN) – Shannon & Simon, $435,000
2015 - TRIPLE THREAT (SOUTH YARRA) – Darren & Deanne, $935,000
2015 - THE BLOCKTAGON (SOUTH YARRA) – Dean & Shay, $755,000
2016 - THE BLOCK 2016 (PORT Melbourne) – Will & Karlie, $815,000
2017 – THE BLOCK 2017 (ELSTERNWICK) – Josh & Elyse, $547,000
2018 - THE BLOCK GATWICK (St Kilda) – Hayden & Sara, $645,000
