Danny Wallis reveals the reason he didn’t bid fiercely on The Block’s 2024 homes. Picture: Jake Nowakowski
The Block’s most prolific buyer has branded the 2024 finale as “bizarre”, “silly” and warned it detracted from the show.
Known for his erratic bidding style, Danny Wallis has purchased 11 homes worth a combined $30m under the hammer from the show since 2012.
But this year he has revealed he was “just going through the motions” as he made a handful of bids amid the Adrian Portelli buying spree.
RELATED: ‘Sick of it’: Portelli lifts lid on secret Block meeting
‘Bunch of show-offs’: Big problem The Block has to address
‘Won’t be back’: Portelli’s shock admission after Block bonanza
Mr Wallis said he hadn’t seen much point in bidding for the homes, which while good quality, had clearly been built as holiday homes and were best suited to be listed for short-term rentals.
“I did like the Phillip Island houses, but one of the reasons that I didn’t bid fiercely was there’s too much uncertainty about Airbnbs with the taxes and all that,” he said.
“And if you were to rent them as a holiday home for the whole year, you wouldn’t get a great return. They aren’t really near the beaches.”
Danny Wallis said he thought the homes on the show were good quality, but had clearly been built as holiday homes, and didn’t bid fiercely due to uncertainty around Airbnb taxes. Pictured are Kristian and Mimi outside the property they renovated at 5/113-119 Justice Road, Cowes.
He added that for many of the homes he buys he’s also looking for opportunities to make them available to charitable causes, having offered past purchases up to families needing to live near Melbourne hospitals while one of their children received cancer treatments.
The Phillip Island location’s distance from Melbourne meant it hadn’t suited such an opportunity as well as past seasons.
But he described Mr Portelli’s antics at the auctions as “bizarre”.
“It was all very bizarre, especially that next year he won’t be back,” Mr Wallis said.
“I think that it’s a bit silly that one person can buy all of them — but it’s the way the show is set up.
MORE: Adrian Portelli’s plan to dodge new tax laws with resort or cash giveaway
Block producer bracing for very different season without Lambo Guy
“And I think it detracts from the show a bit.”
Despite this, he said he had no problem with Mr Portelli’s actions, noting that he was clearly just a businessman using the show for a chance at publicity and that it was on Channel 9 to consider if that was in the best interests of the program.
Danny Wallis pictured with Adrian Portelli at the 2023 auctions.
However, with Mr Portelli indicating he won’t be back Mr Wallis said he wasn’t sure there would be much competition for the coming season.
“I didn’t see any new bidders there, just a lot of associates of Adrian’s,” he said.
“Next year will be interesting.”
Mr Wallis said he wasn’t necessarily going to give the Daylesford iteration of the program scheduled for TV next year a miss, and noted that he was expecting more family-friendly homes than holiday rentals.
“But I’m still not very keen on buying anything in Melbourne, I’m still more about selling,” Mr Wallis said.
Sign up to the Herald Sun Weekly Real Estate Update. Click here to get the latest Victorian property market news delivered direct to your inbox.
MORE: How Lambo Guy swept Block auctions by stealth
Who owns Melbourne: Celebs, foreign nations among our icons’ owners
English (US) · 