Mt Eliza: The Block 2026 location revealed in $11m Peninsula deal
The Mt Eliza property, which the Herald Sun understands was bought by the show earlier this week after an extensive negotiation, has been sold to them by former racing driver and Porsche enthusiast Rusty French.
Records show Mr French bought the 1.35ha site for $2.8m in 2007, and had been seeking to sell it as early as 2016.
Daylesford property gems: What you can buy before The Block auctions
A more recent sales campaign included a subdivision to 10 blocks of land, with development plans that would have homes built with features including a pool, rammed earth walls and luxury finishes to complement water views in a popular part of the Peninsula.
It is possible the show will seek to vary the designs before the program airs.
Industry sources have suggested OBrien Real Estate director Stavros Ambatzidis handled the sale to The Block, though he would not comment when contacted yesterday.
Mr Ambatzidis was seen at the auctions of The Block's Phillip Island season last year, as the mysterious bidder number 27 - with the Herald Sun understanding he was bidding on behalf of another party but was outcompeted by Adrian Portelli.
But the location was inadvertantly given away by members of the show's building firm Six of Nine who were spotted, in branded shirts, having coffee in the coastal hamlet this week — pushing local social media groups into overdrive.
The firm has been a builder on the show for 10 seasons.
The popular renovation show is currently premiering its 2025 season in Daylesford.
Six of the blocks at the Mt Eliza site have been marked as sold, with four more still up for grabs with Mr Ambatzidis and another agency, Kay & Burton, having the remainder listed for $12.5m with an expressions of interest campaign slated to end on September 4.
However, rumours have it that The Block have made arrangements to lease the remaining four sites in the shorter term.
It's not the first time The Block has been linked to the area, with a 27 Hillview St, Dromana, home for sale at the moment featuring gardens landscaped by Colin Hyett Design — which will feature as part of the show's Daylesford development.
Lynch + Lynch's Nicholas Lynch is handling the sale and said after 21 inquiries they were expecting crowds into the hundreds could seek to inspect the three-bedroom home that's had a luxury renovation this weekend.
Developers are understood to have been making moves on the Mornington Peninsula in recent months, with Kay & Burton's Matt Davis noting some had inquired about the remaining four sites at 109 Old Mornington Rd.
Meanwhile, Peninsula-based buyer's advocate Michael Sier from Buyer X said there had been a growing trend of developers looking for sites at around $1.5m-$2m where they could then spend a further $1m building a luxury residence and eventually selling for $4m-$5m.
Mr Sier would not comment on whether he anticipated The Block would pursue a similar price point, but noted there had been sales recently that would support such an approach including a Marguerita Ave, Mt Martha, home that snared $3.95m.
— additional reporting Nathan Mawby
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