EXCLUSIVE
It’s official. The Block is indeed heading to Daylesford in 2025.
Plans to film in Daylesford, originally plotted for 2024, had to be shelved after they were thwarted by an objection, leading to a last minute scramble to secure the Philip Island site.
“There’s obviously been a lot of speculation…” Executive Producer Julian Cress told TV Tonight.
“So after a lot of wrangling back and forth, the plans that we submitted to the council in Daylesford were finally approved a couple of months ago, so we’ve decided we’re going to go there.
“We’re going to do the show that we wanted to do (last) year and we’re really excited about because, we think off the back of this kind of ‘seachange’ series that we’re doing in Phillip Island, Daylesford is just a beautiful country town. It’s the number one weekend destination in Australia. So again, I think it’s a town that will resonate with a lot of viewers and as a backdrop for The Block, it’s absolutely stunning and the community there is wonderful.”
While The Block can sometimes attract noisy press for inevitable building disruptions, production is also welcomed by local communities for the business it brings, speed for which it completes and increase in property values.
Cress is confident Daylesford will be another feather in The Block‘s cap.
“It’s a great community in Daylesford and while we had one person objecting to us coming to make the show, 10,000 other people thought it was a great idea. So I’m not worried about any pushback. I think we can do something that will really celebrate that community in the same way that I believe we’ve done for the people of Phillip Island,” he said.
The 1 Raglan Street site, about 90 mins north west of Melbourne, is vacant of houses and sits opposite a Mitre 10 store -a sponsor of the show- and the renowned Farmers Arms Hotel.
“It’s directly opposite a hardware store, and directly opposite what I think is Australia’s best country pub, The Farmers Arms. So Scott Cam and I will be very happy to be making the show there! The food is magnificent! Not a bad spot to go and have lunch when you’re working hard on a renovation site!” he added.
links to content on ABC
TV Tonight
