The glory days have been returned to one of Melbourne's most notorious hotels with five apartments selling for millions of dollars at auction.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Gatwick in St Kilda had been the scene of murders, rapes, serious assaults and a haunt for homeless people before Channel Nine's reality show The Block moved in.
Hayden and Sara, from Stanwell Park, won the 14th season of the show on Sunday, clearing $545,000 over their reserve price and taking home a total of $645,000 - which also includes the $100,000 first place prize.
The duo first shocked host Scott Cam when they choose an apartment in the old Gatwick instead of one of the new penthouses built on top, but it became the hottest property.
South Australians Kerry and Spence kicked off the round-robin of auctions with their apartment selling for $2.85 million, giving them $415,000 to take home.
But the fortunes didn't flow as expected for the two penthouses with many of the potential buyers pulling out just 48 hours before.
"The old Gatwick was more appealing in the end than the new penthouses. It has been a very fine hotel hosting royalty (over the years) ... which eventually fell on some hard times," executive producer Julian Cress said.
One Australian buyer snapped up both penthouses to the tune of about $6 million.
"He picked up two absolute bargains," Mr Cress said of the sales which fell short of expectations.
Sisters Rose Banks and Yvette Kelly, who had run the hotel for nearly 50 years, bought Courtney and Hans's apartment for $2.77 million.
While the site had been blamed for declining fortunes of nearby hotels and eateries, Mr Cress said that's not the case anymore.
"A year ago you would have never seen a young mother pushing a pram up Fitzroy Street," he said.
"'That is something you will see every day now. It has changed the facade of the street."
There was one more surprise - newlyweds Hayden and Sara are having a baby so Mr Cam got them a cake in the shape of the hotel with blue inside to reveal the gender.
The Oslo Hotel, a hostel nearby on Grey Street, will be transformed next season.
Australian Associated Press
