TV viewers and renovation-fans alike are abuzz: Australia’s iconic renovation show, The Block, has set up its 2026 season in our picturesque bayside suburb.
Location reveal & what we know so far
The Nine Network has secured a large development site at 109 Old Mornington Road, Mount Eliza, sized at about 1.35 hectares and reportedly purchased for around $11million for the 22nd season of the show. The site has been subdivided into several lots, where five luxury family-sized homes will be built from the ground up by Nine In Six constructions, and beautified by the ambitious Block contestants.
Why Mount Eliza?
As us local know, Mount Eliza boasts a coastal lifestyle with handy proximity to Melbourne. It is serene, understated and stylish, but still accessible. Offering a quiet luxury to appeal to the intended high-end buyer. The site offers bay views, wide blocks, and is located in a suburb known for larger homes and established families – something we gleam aligns with the kind of build-type The Block has tended to favour in recent years. For watchability as well as sales price, choosing a premium address like 109 Old Mornington Road will no doubt raise the stakes and piqué viewer interest.
What can we expect from the show?
Expect the usual mix of design challenges, tight timelines, and high-end finishes – but possibly turned up a notch, as each season pushes the envelope further. We think the backdrop of our beautiful beaches as well as the broader Peninsula will play a huge role in on screen: beaches, bayside views, wineries, hot springs, fine dining, boutique shopping and a holiday vibe.
Local impact
Locals may notice increased traffic, interruptions caused by filming logistics, and temporary disruption due to the build and crew presence. While some commentary has already mentioned community concerns in similar locations, the general consensus when the show wraps is that it was a great addition to local life and landscape, boosting suburb profile and improving trader for local businesses. It will be interesting to see if the sale of these luxury homes helps the local market in its efforts to catch up from previous peaks.
For visitors, while the site won’t be open to the public during filming, the area may see increased tourism interest, which would be a wonderful thing for our local vendors.
What to look out for
While there will be a flutter of activity throughout the coming months; teaser, trailers and promos won’t drop for some time, with the show airing mid year. Anyone getting about The Village the last couple of month will have noticed that the build activity is in full swing.
We anticipate the design direction – given the location – to be high-end coastal chic with premium interior finishes, an outdoor-living focus (think decks, pools, coastal landscaping) and maximising view corridors.
If you are local and watching…
Since you’ve read this far, we assume you are rather interested in this local project and take pride in your Mornington Peninsula You can expect this season to bring a boost in local profile for Mount Eliza and surrounding Peninsula suburbs and potentially increased attention on property, hospitality, and an increase in visitor numbers. You will also get a chance to witness (from afar sadly) a major build project in our region; which could bring interesting ring-fenced case studies if you’re into real estate or local environment/design.
For reality TV buffs, local trades or creatives, the show may just bring job opportunities or networking in the creative/renovation sector.
That’s it for now! We’ll keep you all updated as new tidbits come to light.