In pictures: The teams build homes for penguins in their first Block 2024 challenge - with the winner receiving a priceless prize
Main Ensuite Week means there's some exciting news on The Block – it's time for the first challenge of the season!
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Scott Cam and Shelley Craft met the teams at the Penguin Parade Visitor Centre, where the famous Phillip Island Penguin Parade takes place each night.
The teams were asked to create a nesting box for the penguins, with the team that made the best one winning an incredible $5000 cash... and a bonus point Penguin!
This year, the penguin has replaced the all important Gnome, which can be played during the Room Reveal judging.
But just what happened and who came out on top?
Scroll through to see all the photos from the epic Penguin Challenge.
A rather wavy looking penguin arrived on-site to tell our Blockheads the exciting news that a challenge would take place.
But do you recognise who it is? Let us quash that mystery once and for all.
Spotted: Foreman Dan absolutely living the penguin dream.
Before things got started Scotty introduced us to Paula, a senior research officer at Phillip Island Nature Parks (pictured).
Phillip Island is known by its Traditional Owners, the Bunurong, as Millowl. It is a very sacred space, and the challenge started with a special Welcome to Country.
Paula then explained what the challenge was about.
She said the penguins' current nesting boxes were a little too warm, so the teams would have to design an innovative nesting box using sustainable materials from Mitre 10.
Insulated, ventilated and eco-friendly were the words she used to describe what would make a good nesting box.
It should also include things that complement the landscape "with enough space for about four penguins to fit in a box – but not too much space."
The teams had three hours to complete the challenge, and no time to waste.
After making some rough plans, the Blockheads visited Mitre 10 for their materials and then realised... they had to build these things themselves.
Not so simple without a team of builders behind you!
Grant is a mood.
Ricky's favourite animal is in fact a penguin, so he was over the moon with the challenge. T
They came up with a triangular shape and insulating bamboo, and were happy with the way things were going.
But as everyone got to work, Ricky received a worrying phone call. Their waterproofer had begun waterproofing something that wasn't approved and everything had been shut down.
Haydn raced back to site while Ricky continued building a home for his favourite animal.
There, Haydn found that things were even worse than he thought: their wall curve is completely non-compliant too.
Not Ricky alone AGAIN!
Meanwhile, Courtney and Grant decided to make a mosaic roof in order to get the best possible ventilation.
Impressive idea!
Kristian and Mimi wanted to build a penguin pyramid... or a penguinmid, as Mimi called it.
They then changed it to have more of an igloo-style entrance, so a... pyrmanmoo?
The couple had a bit of trouble bringing their idea to life, to say the least.
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