Nine has acquired the buildings from the Victorian Government for what it calls the most ambitious project in the show’s history. The properties were built about 170 years ago as an industrial school, then used as a psychiatric hospital and, later, a university campus.
Five new teams will be challenged to preserve the heritage architecture while turning the site into The Block’s usual high-end family homes. Scott Cam and Shelley Craft will return as co-hosts, with Scott describing the season’s grand restoration style as “full Bridgerton”.
Why Sunbury Locals Are Pushing Back
The announcement has reopened a long-running argument about what should happen to Jacksons Hill. WHO highlighted concerns about extra traffic around school drop-off and pick-up times, as well as frustration that community assets are being converted into private homes.
One resident described the plan as “very upsetting” and asked how it would benefit the community. Others want the heritage buildings preserved for public use rather than renovated for a television competition and sold.
The Sunbury Asylum Alliance has reportedly spent more than 13 years advocating for a different future for the buildings. Its proposal was to transform the site into a community hub and tourist destination, a plan that has not gone ahead.
Nine’s announcement presents The Block as the beginning of a new chapter for Jacksons Hill. For residents who backed a public-facing restoration, however, five private luxury homes are a very different ending.
The Luxury Price Debate Is Back Too
The Sunbury backlash is also feeding a familiar criticism of The Block: its homes have moved a long way from what most Australian buyers can afford.
The current Mount Eliza properties are expected to sell for more than $5 million. Real estate agent Mark Nunn, who represents Lisa and Rosco this season, told WHO that rising building costs and the demands of producing a design-focused television show make homes around the median Australian price difficult to deliver.
He said the series had naturally shifted towards an aspirational buyer, with expensive finishes and new design ideas helping create the spectacle viewers expect.
That may explain the show’s direction, but it is unlikely to settle the argument in Sunbury. The 2027 contestants will not just be dealing with heritage restrictions and renovation budgets. They will be working on a site that some locals believe should never have become The Block at all.
The Block’s move to Sunbury was announced alongside a new Stan spin-off featuring returning all-stars.
