Welcome to the last week of The Block 2026, where the front yards are the final hurdle, the prize is $50,000 off reserve from Bunnings, and the Gardens hangover from last week arrived before the first wheelbarrow.
Key Moments Today
- ARGUMENTThe wine cellar row gets a face-to-face: “Don’t be a sore loser,” followed by a hug that, as one voice put it, left “the air definitely not clear”.
- DISASTERHouse Four has $25,000 for the week and a landscaper quote of $45,000, plus a further bill of around $20,000.
- RIDICULOUS PURCHASEWyatt sprinkles vanilla plant protein on the garden: “It’s to get it big and strong, Chantel.”
- DRAMAHouse One controls the only access to Houses Two and Three’s front yards, and sets the toll: “Dollar every time.”
The Wine Cellar Hug That Wasn’t
Houses One and Four tied last night on 34.5 points each, and by Monday morning the wine cellar row had a sequel. Jolene paid $20,000 for a cellar valued at roughly $45,000; the rumour is House Four paid about $14,500 for a bigger one. The “50 per cent of RRP” rule, jokingly called Block rule number 348, met its rival, rule number 420: it’s art.
House Three wanted answers, House Four said it was an artist’s prerogative, and the exchange included the line “Negotiate better.” It ended in a hug and a mutual “congratulations”, which one participant described as good sportsmanship. The air, as another voice noted, was “definitely not clear”.
“Don’t be a sore loser.”
House Four, on the wine cellar row
Troy, a $25,000 Budget and a $45,000 Quote
Courtney and Sev took their sixth win last night. Monday morning’s reward was a call from landscaper Troy: the front yard quote came in at $45,000 against a $25,000 budget, with a further bill of around $20,000 for the staircase and deck on the way.
- Three-week budget: Troy had $125,000 for the three landscaping weeks.
- Communication gap: Troy expected Nine in Six to fund the staircase and deck; the girls understood otherwise.
- The girls’ position: “We can’t swallow that”, with no contingency to fall back on.
The conversation went round in circles, with both sides asking the other for solutions. One voice summed up the mood: “If we can’t close out this week, we’re disqualified.”
Returns, Protein Powder and RIP Basketball Court
Chantel and Wyatt had $1,400 left for the week and about $20,000 of prepaid items. The front yard plan: a fireplace, a wellness area with sauna, shower and a 4.6 million year old stone bath, and a basketball court that did not survive the budget meeting. “RIP basketball court. So sad.”
Chantel went on a returns run to Reece Plumbing, Bunnings and Linen House, clawing back more than $1,000 and picking up sauna robes. Meanwhile, Wyatt was sprinkling vanilla plant protein on the plants so they would be “swole” by auction day.
“It’s to get it big and strong, Chantel.”
Wyatt, on the protein powder
Houses Two and Three Pay the Toll
With the backyards finished, Houses Two and Three can only reach their front yards through House One’s side access. Adam and Jolene promised to leave the gate open “as long as we can”, and set the toll at a dollar a pass.
Not everything was friendly. Chantel noted they need access until Friday, while Jolene’s plan was to close it once House Three has “got all their stuff in”. She said it with a “Cheshire grin”.
House Five’s Biggest Water Feature
The pitch from House Five: the biggest water feature ever on The Block, a handcrafted bespoke piece alongside a cloud tree and a 637 square metre family front yard. One contestant joked that it features a mermaid with their face on it. The team also introduced their crew, with “about 22 weeks of experience between us”.
Rooftop Terrace, Revisited
House Four’s rooftop terrace is back in the conversation. Courtney presented a prank render of the rooftop terrace. Rosco said House Three wants to lodge an objection to protect future buyers, and one voice used an AI draft to speed up the paperwork.
What’s Next
Tomorrow, the front yards start coming together while some teams, as the promo put it, “give up”. Jolene is also running out of patience over that access gate.
