Sonny and Alicia Aplin walked away from the 2025 season of The Block $120,000 richer.
But the runners up admit that they no longer have a cent of that windfall left in the bank.
The married couple from the Gold Coast in Queensland poured their winnings into renovating their family home in Bonogin.
The five-bedroom house, which the pair purchased for $1.24 million four years ago, is now listed for sale and is accepting offers over $1.795 million.
The renovation funds were spent on overhauling the bathrooms and interiors at the home, which boasts valley views.
Included is a pool and a wellness space fitted out with a sauna, ice bath and gym equipment.
Sonny and Alicia Aplin walked away from the 2025 season of The Block $120,000 richer. But the runners up admit that they no longer have a cent of that windfall left. Both pictured
The pair came in second place on The Block. Their Block house is pictured
Alicia says that funnelling their winning funds into their existing house was a ‘blessing’ for the couple.
‘We wouldn’t have been able to renovate this house without that money, because honestly, that’s where all of it has gone,’ she told realestate.com.au.
‘Our end goal is that we’ve got our eye on a little off-market property at the moment, and we’d love to dive deep into that and do a really extensive renovation on the next home.’
The married pair are now looking at plans for a new version of The Block that assists struggling Aussies.
Sonny and Alicia have thrown their support behind a radical proposal to reinvent Australia’s biggest renovation show, saying they would happily return if it meant helping everyday Australians into a home.
The ambitious concept, dubbed The Block: Homes for Australia, would see the reality TV juggernaut swap its multimillion-dollar trophy homes for affordable housing aimed at first-home buyers and families struggling to break into the property market.
Instead of luxury automation, designer finishes and high-end fittings, the proposed spin-off would focus on practical design, durable materials and budget-conscious furniture to create homes ordinary Australians could actually afford.
The idea has been floated by bRight Agent co-founder Aaron Scott, who believes The Block already has the perfect blueprint to tackle Australia’s housing crisis.
The married couple from the Gold Coast in Queensland poured their winnings into renovating their family home in Bonogin (pictured)
The renovation funds were spent on overhauling the bathrooms and interiors at the home, which boasts valley views
Alicia says that funnelling their winning funds into their existing house was a ‘blessing’ for the couple
‘We wouldn’t have been able to renovate this house without that money, because honestly, that’s where all of it has gone,’ she told realestate.com.au
Gold Coast plumber Sonny said that he and wife Alicia would be among the first to sign up if producers ever decided to pursue the concept.
‘We had such a great experience doing it that we’d be open to it, whenever someone was willing to put us in that sort of area,’ Sonny said.
‘If it was something they went along and did, we’d put our hands up straight away.’
However, Sonny warned that even if the concept became a reality, Australia’s chronic shortage of tradespeople remained one of the biggest obstacles.
‘For me, the biggest issue is finding people. I think over the next 10 years it is going to get worse because there is going to be no one to actually build these things,’ he said.
He said greater incentives were needed to encourage young Australians into the trades, along with more support for businesses willing to employ apprentices.
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