It’s the penultimate episode of The Block’s 21st season and the pressure is on – especially for Sonny and Alicia who still haven’t won a single room.
With the teams working on their final spaces – the front yard – it’s all shovels and shrubbery in Daylesford, with the contestants fast-approaching auction day.
House 1’s Emma and Ben impress the judges yet again with their ‘stunning’ deck and perfect choice of bushes for the landscape, but they couldn’t not mention the elephant in the room.
There’s no front gate.
‘They’ve left off two gates so it can’t be a 10, we get that, but they’ve given it a solid nudge,’ Marty points out.
Moving on to number two, Han and Can have made a name for themselves when it comes to taking risks with their build – but their garden may just take the cake.
House 1’s Emma and Ben impress the judges yet again with their ‘stunning’ deck and perfect choice of bushes for the landscape, but they couldn’t not mention the elephant in the room
‘They’ve left off two gates so it can’t be a 10, we get that, but they’ve given it a solid nudge,’ Marty points out
Their Japanese-inspired yard – complete with a wooden arbour entrance – boasts a peaceful courtyard outside the guest bedroom, a ‘beautiful’ Christian Cole front door and inspired dry garden.
But the arbour divides the judges, with Dave simply stating: ‘I don’t hate it,’ and Marty worrying that the ballsy feature could limit buyers.
House 3’s Britt and Taz is up next and Marty wastes no time in ripping into their choice of front door.
‘That has to be the first one I have seen in 20 years of being in real estate,’ he said of the glass door.
However, the garage door – complete with an artwork by local Indigenous artist Troy Firebrace – was a huge hit across the judging panel.
Marty continued to slam their design choices, highlighting that their luxury interior doesn’t match their exterior, particularly with what he calls a ‘large kitty litter covered in mulch’ in front of the guest room.
‘It’s barren!’ Shaynna chimed in.
And then it was Sonny and Alicia’s turn to flaunt their front yard.
Moving on to number two, Han and Can have made a name for themselves when it comes to taking risks with their build – but their garden may just take the cake
Their Japanese-inspired yard – complete with a wooden arbour entrance – boasts a peaceful courtyard outside the guest bedroom, a ‘beautiful’ Christian Cole front door and inspired dry garden
House 3’s Britt and Taz is up next and Marty wastes no time in ripping into their choice of front door made of glass
However, the garage door – complete with an artwork by local Indigenous artist Troy Firebrace – was a huge hit across the judging panel
Knowing that if the pair lose this challenge, House 4 would become the only one not to win a room, the pressure was palpable.
But luckily for Sonny and Alicia, their hard work (and stress) paid off.
The judges instantly notice how much better their home’s entranceway is compared to their competitors, noting the pots, plants and the hard-to-miss kangaroo sculpture – which Darren loves so much that he gives the large marsupial a hug.
Shaynna gushes over the raw-looking fence, the brick work and how clever it is that the garden will look different depending on the season.
Their separate driveway and gate makes the property even more valuable – and provides space for their already-won caravan.
And while they failed to put in a hedge to offer the guest room privacy, Darren dubbed their front yard ‘pretty faultless’.
Marty agreed, adding: ‘There’s a soul here, there’s a purpose.’
He went on to say that House 4 may just be the dark horse in the show’s final week.
The judges instantly notice how much better Sonny and Alicia’s home’s entranceway is compared to their competitors, noting the pots, plants and the hard-to-miss kangaroo sculpture – which Darren loves so much that he gives the large marsupial a hug
Shaynna gushes over the raw-looking fence, the brick work and how clever it is that the garden will look different depending on the season
Last but not least, House 5’s Robby and Mat were up to be judged.
The Christian Cole front door was a hit, as was the dark batten facade, which the judges say is ‘quintessential Daylesford, contemporary farmhouse’.
The garden, which is ‘very different’ to that of their neighbours’, is dotted with mounds, boulders and a meandering pathway.
It also boasts a water feature by landscaper Paal Grant, with Shaynna gushing: ‘Look how it hangs out of the cliffside basically. It’s not square in there. It’s beautiful.’
Dave adds that House 5’s front yard is the most sustainable on the street, flaunting native shrubbery and low maintenance gardening.
However, Robby and Mat’s budgeting issues shone through.
‘I can see once it’s done, once all of these big mounds grow out and we have all the kangaroo paws and all the lovely Australian natives in here, it’s gonna be breathtaking and beautiful,’ said Darren.
So who won the final prize – $50,000 off their reserve price, an MG Ute for the driveway and a hybrid for themselves?
Robby and Mat’s Christian Cole front door was a hit, as was the dark batten facade, which the judges say is ‘quintessential Daylesford, contemporary farmhouse’.
The garden, which is ‘very different’ to that of their neighbours’, is dotted with mounds, boulders and a meandering pathway
Nabbing a ten from Marty and the highest score on the board, House 4’s Sonny and Alicia win the gong – and a collective sigh is let out by all at home.
‘Marty’s come to the party,’ Sonny shouts in excitement, before he and Alicia call up her mum.
They reveal that the car they just won will be going to her as a thank you gift for looking after their kids.
‘We won you a car, it’s yours,’ they share.
And now the countdown is on for the final showdown and one of the most anticipated auctions in The Block Australia history.
The Block Auction airs Sunday October 26 at 7pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.
