Image: The Block/Channel 9
In what must be music to the ears of The Block 2025 contestants, major new sponsor Bunnings has gone all out, building a dedicated nursery right on-site at Daylesford. No more frantic last-minute dashes for greenery – everything they need is just a few steps away. But this pop-up hub isn’t just about plants; it’s also the place to get your coffee, skincare and celebrity sightings.
“We’re at the little village here. We’ve got McCafe, we’ve got The Block shop, Chemist Warehouse and… some film stars,” said news publication The Local, who captured all the behind-the-scenes action.
Hosts Shelley Craft and Scott Cam make an appearance in the video, showcasing this year’s set-up. “This is our green room, and in television, a green room is where the cast and crew can sit and relax before they film, but this is a literal green room this year,” explained Shelley.
“It’s our nursery,” Scott Cam chimed in, cementing Bunnings’ starring role this season.
Expect to see a whole lot more of the hardware giant, as Bunnings officially takes over sponsorship duties from Mitre 10 after a 12-year run. “When we were presented with the opportunity to partner with The Block, we jumped at the chance to provide 2025 contestants with everything they need from the front gate to the back fence,” said Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider.
With tools, timber and topiary at their fingertips, this season’s contestants have no excuses – let the renovations begin!
The Block 2025: What We Know So Far
With cameras now rolling and drama practically guaranteed, here’s the scoop on what’s ahead.
When did The Block 2025 start filming?
Blockheads, get excited – filming for The Block 2025 kicked off on Friday, March 7, marking the 21st season of the beloved renovation showdown. The picturesque country town of Daylesford is already buzzing, with locals spotting action at the Raglan Street construction site and sharing updates online.
Official fliers sent to the community confirm filming will run from mid-March to mid-June, a timeline backed by executive producer Julian Cress. Speaking to The Local for its February 24 edition, he shared, “We are just finalising our pre-production at the moment, getting all of the properties ready, getting our contestants ready and getting our crew ready. We kick off in a few weeks’ time.”
Who are The Block 2025 contestants?
While official details about The Block 2025 contestants are yet to be released, we got a sneak peek of the new cast members at Daylesford’s annual LGBTQIA+ Chill Out Festival parade.
The new photos, which were posted on The Blockinator Instagram account, showed the five new teams dressed up in lots of colour and celebrating with the town. The images also captured some of the team’s names written on the floats, which means we now know the names of four out of the five couples. So far, we know that we’re going to be meeting Han and Cam, Robby and Mat, Britt and Taz, and Emma and Ben.
Julian Cress also dropped another cast hint in his Local interview: “The Block was the first TV show in the world to have a gay couple. And we’ve had a bunch of contestants from that community on the show over the years. This year will be no different.”
Given that Daylesford is Australia’s largest LGBTQIA+ regional town (as noted by The Local editor Donna Kelly), the casting choice makes perfect sense.
Regardless of their backgrounds, experience or representation, one thing is guaranteed – contestants are in for a gruelling ride. “Every season, every contestant says to me at some point, ‘Jules, I knew this would be hard. I just didn’t know it would be this hard,’” Julian shared.
Even the fit, trade-savvy Block 2024 contestants found the process brutally challenging, proving that no amount of preparation makes this competition a walk in the park.
The Block 2025 hosts
Scott Cam is expected to return to helm the series, fresh off selling his Gisborne home – his personal renovation project since 2022. Long-time co-host Shelley Craft is also anticipated to return, with no news suggesting otherwise. She’s been keeping busy, completing a stunning reno on her own Byron Bay family home which sold for $6.5 million.
The Block 2025 judges
After Neale Whitaker exited the show in 2023, real estate agent Marty Fox stepped in full-time, joining interior designers Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer. This expert trio dissected every design hit and miss in 2024, and they’re expected to be back for another season of fiery debates and divisive verdicts. In the meantime, find out Darren’s favourite The Block houses of all time.
The Block 2025 foreman
With original head foreman Keith Schleiger sitting out The Block 2024 to stay close to his daughters, Dan Reilly stepped up to lead the charge. Unfortunately, Keith’s return seems unlikely – he recently revealed on social media that he was hospitalised with a leg infection from a past hip replacement.
Dan has also faced personal tragedy, with him and wife Dani losing their newborn daughter Billie just 10 days after her birth in December 2024. The couple has received an outpouring of support from fans and fellow Block alumni.
The good news is, we will be seeing Dan resume his role on The Block 2025. Dani and their two dogs, Olive and Hazel, have relocated to Daylesford to be with him during filming.
The Block 2025 houses
This year’s contestants will tackle brand-new builds in a development at Daylesford’s entrance. Julian Cress revealed to The Local how the site came about: “We came across the location through a friend of ours, Natalie [Fagan] at Belle Property. She’s a great agent in the area, and she introduced me to the developers. I just love the fact that the property is so well positioned. It’s like the gateway to Daylesford.”
Julian knows the area well – he moved from Melbourne to the Macedon Ranges years ago, and his deep connection to regional Victoria has shaped The Block’s locations, including the 2022 season filmed in Gisborne.
The Block 2025 auction
With Daylesford’s charm setting the stage, all eyes will be on auction day. While the 2022 Gisborne season saw three homes passed in (despite Omar and Oz taking home a record-breaking $1.68 million profit), the 2024 series fared better. That season’s homes had more appealing reserves of $1.95 million, and super bidder Adrian Portelli ended up buying all five houses – netting sisters Maddy and Charlotte a $1.65 million windfall.
However, this year could be a whole different ball game. Adrian has vowed not to return, and reserve prices are yet to be set. Anything could happen when the hammer falls!
With the build about to begin, The Block 2025 promises high stakes, jaw-dropping transformations, and, of course, plenty of drama. Stay tuned!
Tour every house on The Block 2024
