Dean and Shay win The Block finale 2015 Australia
DEAN and Shay Paine have been crowned champions of The Blocktagon, with their penthouse apartment going under the hammer for a whopping $2.3 million.
“We’re just absolutely blown away and can’t fathom that’s happened, it’s a fairytale,” Dean said after the nailbiting auction.
“I couldn’t comprehend what was going on, I was just trying really hard to listen to the bids, I’m a bit overwhelmed I think,” Shay added.
Wednesday night’s Grand Final on Nine saw the Newcastle couple’s top-level terrace sell for $655,000 above its reserve price. In the third auction of the night, the childhood sweethearts watched on in awe as the apartment continued to soar above its reserve of $1.645m.
In tears, Shay kissed her husband as the results were announced. “Oh my god ... I am so proud of you,” she said. “It is honestly like, ‘Is this really happening?’”
Along with their profit of $655,000, this season’s winners also walked away with an extra $100,000 in prizemoney.
It was the perfect result for the young parents, who applied three times to get on The Block before getting the call up to compete on The Blocktagon.
They were also the hot favourites to win the series, with bookies and property experts predicting the married couple would take out the competition.
But, unlike previous seasons of The Block, it was a successful night for all teams as each property sold for well in excess of its reserve price.
Hot on the heels of Dean and Shay in second place was Luke and Ebony, who just missed out on the top prize by $15,000. In the final auction of the night, the West Australian siblings’ sub-penthouse apartment sold for $2.2m, $640,000 above its reserve price of $1.560m.
At one stage it looked as if the auction was going to be a fizzer when bidding stalled at $1.610m for what seemed like forever.
In third place was the loveable larrikins, Caro and Kingi. In the first auction of the night, their level two apartment sold for $1.735 million, making them a profit of $405,000.
The Townsville pair’s graffiti-inspired property was purchased by Queensland’s Mater Foundation for the Mater Prize Home, to be offered as a prize in an upcoming charity lottery.
Fourth-placed Andrew and Whitney took home $390,000 between them. In the fourth auction of the night, their apartment raced past its reserve of $1.4m before selling for $1.79m.
The Melbourne pair recently revealed they had gone their separate ways, tellingWoman’s Daythat they ended their relationship “weeks ago” but remained friends.
The magazine reported Whitney dumped Andrew “for being a crybaby” after several emotional breakdowns on the show, which took their toll on her.
In fifth place, Gold Coast mums Suzi and Vonni walked away with a $349,000 profit when their apartment sold for $1.829 million during the second auction of the night.
Suzi Taylor, who has been making headlines in previous weeks after a series of topless photos of the former Penthouse model did the rounds, admitted during the finale that she had since sought help.
The single mother-of-three indirectly addressed the explicit photos published by news.com.au of her dancing half naked on a boat after Crown Oaks day in Melbourne. “I suppose I have a few words to say to everyone,” she said after host Scotty Cam said he was glad that she was “feeling better”.
The 44-year-old added: “If I’ve caused anyone any embarrassment, I totally regret it. I’ve had a lot of personal issues in my life which I suppose a lot of people do, I’m getting a lot better and I’ve had amazing support and I would just want to say to everyone, I feel for you all.
“Scotty, I thank you so much for your support and I’m on the road to recovery and thank you so much for supporting me.”
The 44-year-old didn’t elaborate on exactly what she was recovering from, but encouraged anyone suffering “depression” to seek help.
“I think the biggest thing with a problem in your life is you have to acknowledge it and own it and so that’s what I’ve done and I’ve sought help and Channel Nine and everyone have been amazing they’re like my family here in Melbourne and I can’t thank them enough.
“And I encourage everyone else out there who is going through any sort of depression in life or serious problems to go and seek help and get better.”
A total of $2,539,000 was taken home by the five couples that conquered the Blocktagon, which has arguably been the toughest — and most controversial — season yet, almost driving the teams to breaking point.
There was no shortage of eager, cashed-up buyers keen to get their hands on one of the TV-featured properties. Each level of the unique South Yarra building has now been converted into a 225-square metre apartment, with all levels boasting 360-degree vistas of Melbourne.
Nine recently announced The Block will return for its twelfth series in 2016, although a property is yet to be revealed.
Previous winners of The Block:
2003 — Bondi — Adam & Fiona — $256,000
2004 — Manly — Jamie & Andrew — $178,000
2010 — Vaucluse — John & Neisha — $305,000
2011 — Richmond — Polly & Waz — $115,000
2012 — South Melbourne — Brad & Lara — $606,000
2013 — All Stars (Bondi) — Phil & Amity — $395,000
2013 — Sky High (South Melbourne) — Alisa & Lysandra — $395,000
2014 — Fans v Faves (Albert Park) — Steve & Chantelle — $736,000
2014 — Glasshouse (Prahran) — Shannon & Simon — $435,000
2015 — Triple Threat (South Yarra) — Darren & Deanne — $935,000
2015 — The Blockagon (South Yarra) — Dean & Shay — $755,000
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