Coming in halfway through the season as replacements, Maddy and Charlotte had no idea they’d be walking away from The Block with one of the biggest profits in the show’s history.
From day one, the sisters faced a steep learning curve, jumping in at week five after Jesse and Paige’s departure, and quickly making up for lost time with strong, stylish designs.
As the competition progressed, Maddy and Charlotte became fan favourites, consistently wowing the judges and pushing through exhaustion.
Now, after an unforgettable Auction Day that saw their coastal-inspired House 1 sell for a whopping $3.5 million, they’re basking in the glow of a $1.55 million profit—plus a $100,000 bonus for taking out the win. Here, they share what it felt like to reach this point, the thrill of Auction Day, and their next big plans.
Congratulations! How does it feel to come out on top after such a competitive season? And did you ever imagine making a profit like this?
Maddy: It feels amazing. It’s insane and we’re still so shocked.
Charlotte: Who would have thought that two girls from Sydney could have made such great profits?! We’re just so grateful.
What was going through your mind on Auction Day? I know it was pretty quick, but how did it feel when those bids just kept climbing?
M: We were watching everyone else’s auctions on the day and everyone was doing amazing, it was incredible and we were just hoping that you know, we would be able to finish on a high as well. But then when we got into our auction it just happened so quickly… I feel like I missed the first bid, and just heard Adrian bid at 3.5 and I was just so stunned.
Your home was last in the Auction order, do you think that helped?
M: For sure, our real estate agent’s advice was to go first or last, because they’re probably the places that would get the highest price… so yeah, we were stoked to get fifth, and we were just really hoping that we’d be able to bring it home.
Not only did you make $1,550,000 profit on the day, but you also took home an additional $100,000 prize money…how do you plan to celebrate your massive win?
M: We don’t even know where to begin! We’ve just been hanging out with friends and family and we’re just so grateful for their support. I guess we’ll go home in the next couple of days and get back to work and maybe buy a house and go on a holiday.
We have to talk about Adrian buying all five houses on the day, did you expect that?
M: We had a pretty good idea that Adrian – if he was going to show up – that he would probably buy the whole lot. It just makes total sense that if someone’s going to buy this complex, you would want the communal area to yourself. All the contestants had a pretty good idea that Adrian could come and buy the whole lot. So, we weren’t surprised when he showed up, that’s for sure.
Looking back, was there a design choice or room that you think really sealed the deal with Adrian and other potential buyers interested in your house?
M: We totally feel like our guest suite and external access set us apart, and that was the feedback we were getting from all our buyers. We’re so glad we made that decision early on in our time on The Block…I feel like that was a game-changer.
We also have to talk about the fact that you two only entered the show on week 5, which must have been so challenging. What was it like joining The Block mid-season, and how did you get up to speed so quickly?
C: It was definitely a chaotic time not only joining in week five, but also joining on a Wednesday. We were already a couple of days behind and it felt like we were just chasing our tail the entire time. But we tried our hardest, we did not stop a single minute throughout the whole season, we stuck to who we were and we were kind to people… we feel like we couldn’t have put in more work if we tried.
And this season, there was a bit more drama than audiences are used to, have you remained close with any other contestants?
M: Yeah, I’m sure we will [stay in contact]. When you go through something like this it does bond you for life, because no one can really relate or understand what you’ve been through. We’ve been able to form some friendships with the contestants, which is really lovely.
What advice would you give to future contestants or anyone who’s thinking of joining The Block next year?
M: Oh goodness. I would say, make sure whoever you apply with, you have a very, very strong relationship, and make sure your mental health is good. I would just say, be kind… It always comes out on top.
So, what’s next for both of you now?
M: First things first we’ll go home, and then I think we’ll buy a property and have our own little block at home. We’re super excited to be able to move on to a new project and see what happens!
