The Block is back for 2024 and in its momentous 20^th year, five Blockhead pairs have been tasked with transforming an abandoned resort into luxury family holiday homes in regional Victoria. 

The popular TV show’s picture perfect backdrop of Phillip Island will see contestants’ work cut out for them in their bid to bring to life five abodes at 113-119 Justice Road, Cowes. 

Host Scott Cam is back for his 18th season, while judges Darren Palmer, Shaynna Blaze and Marty Fox are once again at the helm of the weekly room judging, and with five tradies amongst this year’s Blockheads, expectations are high. 

Veteran judge Neale Whitaker has stepped back from judging this season, but is set to make a special guest appearance. 

Week 1: Guest Bathroom 

The Blockheads were thrown straight into the deep end in week one with the challenge of creating a bathroom, and in true Block fashion there was no shortage of drama with a scorching heatwave, one unfinished room and the arrival of a Block Baby to round out the first week. 

House 1: Jesse and Paige’s guest bathroom reveal

While Shaynna loved the duo’s choice of materials, including brushed chrome, she said the incomplete room with its unfinished tiling was a reflection the pair were too ambitious attempting floor-to-ceiling tiling in under a week. 

Marty was less forgiving:  “There’s a chippy within this team, and to have a room unfinished for me, I believe that there is no excuses if other teams have finished this week, and this team hasn’t. My margin for error is very, very small,” he said. 

The interesting shaped room was tricky Darren noted, and said there was lots going on and “feels a little hectic.” 

House 2: Courtney and Grant’s guest bathroom reveal

Shaynna and Marty disagreed on elements of the bathroom’s styling and aesthetics, with Shaynna wanting more drama. 

 “I want people to really bring it this year. It’s a holiday place. This isn’t about safeties,” she said. 

“These are people coming for holidays that want to be wowed… I’m loving the neutral palette, this is the one hero but you can take it further – you really can.” 

However, Marty said the styling was right and could work in other Melbourne suburbs, such as Albert Park, and fitted a Melbourne buyer’s bill. 

 “Any of those buyers that see value coming down here will absolutely gobble this up,” he said. 

Darren agreed with both judges: “So I think that drama in holiday houses is really important. Instagram-ability does help you market them in terms of getting people to come and stay,” he said. 

House 3: Ricky and Haydn’s guest bathroom reveal

With one man down while Haydn left the island for the birth of his first child, the judges commended the floorplan and layout. 

However, Shaynna said the lines of the tiles, panelling, bath and vanity were impact for impact’s sake and it needed to “slow down,” with the colour palette also mismatched. 

Darren said the pair’s efforts were a “bloody good start.” 

“I mean, this is a cracking bathroom. Week one hardest bathroom ever, in the hardest location ever in 20 years,” he said. 

House 4: Kylie and Brad’s guest bathroom reveal

Score: 22 

Both Marty and Shaynna declared the all black room “grabbed” them but for Marty it was for the wrong reasons. 

Darren said if the dark palette marked the starting point of a “black shack” it was awesome but the herringbone tiling above the vanity de-elevated the space, and a bath should have been incorporated. 

With little positive feedback to add Marty said: “The only thing that I like about this room is the skylight, because when I’m looking up, I don’t have to see anything else in this room.” 

He said the home needed to appeal to the masses if it is to sell for more than double the average Phillip Island sales price. 

“It needs to feel, I believe, relaxing, coastal and a getaway. This is heavy. This is dark. If they continue this theme throughout the other rooms, this is going to be possibly the biggest disaster we’ve seen in 20 seasons.” 

House 5: Kristian and Mimi’s guest bathroom reveal 

Score: 28.5 

Winning bathroom week by half a point, the judges had plenty of accolades for the newlywed team’s efforts. 

“This truly is a proper family bathroom where we won’t feel like we’re on top of each other,” Marty said. 

Describing the space as a huge success, Darren said he loved the beautiful materials used, particularly the floor tiles. 

Shaynna was impressed with the balance of tone and texture, and felt the “watery tiles” reflected the Philip Island location.