Meet the new Blockheads

For the uninitiated, the premise is simple. Five couples have to transform a dilapidated property into five top-end homes, delivering a room each week to be scored by the judges.

But the star of this year's series is no ordinary building. Built more than 150 years ago on the back of the Victorian gold rush, the Oslo was one of Australia’s premier addresses.

Home to society families, the newly rich and the nation's elite, it was the jewel in bayside St Kilda's crown.

However, through the years the building changed hands until it was converted into a low-rent backpacker hostel. And with decades of neglect the houses became one sprawling mess of a building, making it ripe and ready for a Block makeover.

"At the start I looked at this and thought 'that’s impossible'," says Scott Cam, who once again returns as host of the multi-Logie Award-winning program.

"Here we have double the size of what we did last year, and more than six times the size of the original Block in Bondi back in 2003. That's a big ask."

Joining Scott again this year will be Block veteran Shelley Craft. Site foremen Keith and Dan will oversee the renovations with the weekly room reveals judged by Neale Whitaker, Shaynna Blaze and Darren Palmer.

The couples chosen from more than 45,000 entries are:

Tess (28) and Luke (30)
Media sales partner and carpenter from Cairns, Queensland.

El’ise (33) and Matt (39)
Fashion manager and carpenter from Perth, Western Australia.

Jesse (29) and Mel (31)
Real estate agent and contracts administrator from Melbourne, Victoria.

Mitch (56) and Mark (57)
Stylish grandads from Sydney, New South Wales.

Andy (48) and Deb (46)
Stand-up comedian and homewares store owner from Wallabi Point, New South Wales.

At stake is $100,000 for The Block winner plus whatever profits their home can make on auction day.

This is by far the most impressive Block ever attempted. In every sense of the word, it is going to be huge.

The Block 2019 starts soon on Channel 9. Catch up on full episodes on 9Now.

Follow all the action of the auctions and see the official results and winners here.