October 21st, 2025Block Watch
Lambo Man, aka billionaire and LMCT+ founder Adrian Portelli, has featured in a TikTok video – filmed at The Block in Daylesford, in a wine cellar built by Victorian contestants Emma and Ben.
Mr Portelli last year bought up all five houses from the Phillip Island show, raffled them off, and then paid the Ballarat winner $8m in cash instead of her taking ownership of the homes.
He then declared he was taking a break from being involved in the show with co-host Scott Cam telling radio, Mr Portelli had been asked nicely to step aside for the year.
Mr Portelli has also since signed a multimillion dollar deal with rival network Channel 7 to produce My Reno Rules in 2026.
Meanwhile, there is another kid on the block, just not the human kind. Scotty’s Sawmill, a 2649-square-metre parcel of land at 2 Armistice Way, Daylesford has been listed for $1.1 million. Domain has reported the sale will include the Stratco shed along with plans to convert that into a four-bedroom home by The Block architect Julian Brenchley of Group Architects.
Real estate agent Natalie Fagan, who is selling the property with Ashlee McKee, told Domain: “Lot 106 has stunning views, so it gives you the same sort of grandeur as The Block houses have with the land size, the location, the possibilities.”
The Sawmill is in a private corner at the end of The Block houses about which Domain says: “Adding to the sense of both space and privacy is the fact that this block shares a border with the heritage farmland of Wombat Park.”
Meanwhile the auction is set to go ahead on Saturday, October 25 with the nation tuning in to watch the results on Sunday, October 26.
In August, price guides for The Block homes were revealed, with each of the five Daylesford properties seeking $3 million to $3.3 million – four times the town’s median house price.
And while the audience waits to see if being part of the The Block was worthwhile for the contestants, the Channel 9 hit has been a winner for Daylesford and surrounds.
Not only has it shone a national and international spotlight on the region, The Block cast and crew also offered a helping hand to a number of local organisations such as Phoenix@The Rex, Daylesford Men’s Shed and the local schools.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Narelle Groenhout | Inset: TikTok
Images: The Block site, inset, from left, Ray White Sunbury’s Jamee Favorito, Mr Portelli and Ray White Sunbury’s Aaron Hill
