April 17, 2026 — 3:55pm
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Two houses that failed to sell at auction on the last season of renovation show The Block are set to have their asking prices reduced.
In the show, five homes in the Victorian town of Daylesford were taken to auction with a price guide of $3 million to $3.3 million, and three sold on auction day. The contestants create a home and pocket any money it sells for above the reserve. The Block airs on Nine, owner of this masthead.
Hannah Thetford and Candice Wood’s house at 4 Cedar Lane passed in at auction last spring on a vendor bid of $3.1 million. Now, the residence has been listed with a price guide of $2.9 million.
The reserve price was $2.99 million, raising the prospect that if the home sold for its new asking price, the contestants could walk away empty-handed.
Emma Shanahan and Ben Cox’s home at 5 Cedar Lane attracted competitive bidding at its auction until $2.97 million, or $20,000 short of its reserve price of $2.99 million, at which point the auction was paused and a vendor bid of $3.1 million was placed. With no further offers, the home passed in.
Listing agent Aaron Hill, of Ray White Sunbury, said on Friday that the price guide would shortly be changed to $2.9 million.
Nine was contacted for comment on whether the contestants would take home any profit if the homes sold for their new price guides.
The price changes come as the broader property market has slowed amid two rate rises this year and global economic uncertainty sparked by the conflict in the Middle East.
The selling agent for No.4, Belle Property Daylesford’s Will Walton, said the new price was reflective of the market, given the cost-of-living situation.
But he said Daylesford was attracting buyers who liked the town, particularly Melbourne retirees who could sell their family home in the inner suburbs, buy a more affordable property in Daylesford and pocket the difference.
Block contestants Hannah Thetford and Candice Wood watched on with nerves before their house was passed in.Nine Entertainment
He cited the cafes, restaurants and boutique clothing stores in the town as drawcards.
“People, when they buy here, feel like they are buying in a prestige suburb of a major city,” he said.
“We have a really welcoming, safe community.”
Ray White’s Hill said the price for No.5 would soon be changed to $2.9 million and the home was still for sale and had been attracting good interest.
Emma Shanahan and Ben Cox’s home at 5 Cedar Lane was passed in.Nine Entertainment
“I have got people that would like to buy the property, but we are not at the price we hope for,” he said. “It is a beautiful home, but the price is not aligned with the property at the moment.”
He said the Daylesford market was tracking well, although the number of days that homes took to sell was a little longer than in inner Melbourne.
Last season’s winners, Britt and Taz Etton, sold their house for $3.41 million, and received the $100,000 winning cheque, pocketing a total prize of $520,000.
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Elizabeth Redman is the national property editor at The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners