If you’re a longtime fan of The Block, you will also be familiar with Danny Wallis, the mysterious businessman and philanthropist who turns up on auction day to snap up his favourite properties – sometimes paying well above the median suburb price and bidding in peculiar increments, simply because he can.
But who is Danny Wallis, and why does he love buying properties featured on The Block?
Dubbed “The man who bought The Block”, by The Block Shop blog Insider Style, Danny has spent over $30 million buying 11 Block properties to date. This includes $1,586,666.66 for the country property worked on by 2022 winning contestants Omar and Oz, as well as a total of $12.2 million at the 2021 auction.
Who is Danny Wallis?
Danny Wallis is an IT entrepreneur who founded information communications technology services company DWS Limited in 1991.
Danny Wallis, a Melbourne businessman and serial Block property buyer. He was invited to present a prized gnome to his favourite house in 2022.
(Credit: Nine)The 2022 series of The Block also featured Danny Wallis outside of auction day, when he presented a gnome to the house he liked best during guest bedroom and re-do room week. Tom and Sarah-Jane’s House 1 was eventually bestowed with that honour, which was no surprise, as the house – which was tipped to win on auction day – was also a favourite with judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer.
He also bid on all five houses in The Block 2020, eventually walking away with three of the five properties at a total cost of $11.8 million.
Did Danny Wallis buy any of The Block properties in 2023?
While he bid on two of The Block 2023 properties, Danny Wallis ended up walking away empty handed. Instead, the winning bids – which were for Steph and Gian’s property and Eliza and Liberty’s property – went to fellow serial Block buyer Adrian Portelli.
Before the auction, there was no indication of which house Danny preferred — and he was noticeably absent from the Domain Listings Challenge. But he and Adrian Portelli stole the show with their bidding war, before Danny conceded by saying “He can have it”, which was a nod to what Adrain said at the 2022 auction.
What does Danny look for in a Block house?
The millionaire entrepreneur gave us a few insights into his thought process for buying property when he dropped by Kyle and Leslie’s ‘winners’ dinner’ during the 2023 season.
Hosted at the country home Scotty Cam renovated alongside contestants on The Block in 2022, Kyle and Leslie took the opportunity to ask him what he looked for when buying a home.
“It’s got to have a flowing floor plan. Nice clean lines, cleanly done, simple. Less is better,” he explained.
What does Danny Wallis do with the houses he buys?
Some of the homes Danny has purchased on The Block have been donated to charities or used by them free of charge, including Ronald McDonald House and My Room Children’s Cancer Charity. Others have been investment properties with tenants.
This includes two of the three properties he purchased in 2022, which hit the rental market for just under $3000/week in March 2023.
This appeared to be a change in strategy for Danny, as he initially said in an interview with Melbourne radio station 3AW that he intended to keep “one for myself to grow vegetables and to grow fruit trees in the backyard, and to have a little holiday.”
As for another, “I’ve been talking to [CEO Margaret Zita OAM] from My Room about suitability for having a resort up there for the kids.”
And while he favoured Omar and Oz’s House 5 in 2023, he also recognised that it would be the most appropriate for the kids because of the basketball and tennis court. “Kid’s don’t really like a winery…that’s not going to be much use to them,” he added of Rachel and Ryan’s property.
Will Danny Wallis be at The Block auction in 2024?
Danny’s track record in the business world is impressive, with an estimated net worth of $120 million. However, in late 2023 he did say he planned to sell his Victorian property investments due to changes to the state’s land tax. So whether or not he’ll feature much in The Block 2024 remains to be seen.
The Block houses purchased by Danny Wallis
Tom and Sarah-Jane‘s House 1
The Block 2022
Fan and judge favourites Tom and Sarah-Jane looked slated to win their season of The Block, their stylish but personality-filled modern country home taking out more weekly room reveal wins than any other team by a mile. But, shockingly, while Danny Wallis saved the day by purchasing their home for $4,100,000.99, the couple walking away with only $20,000.99, placing them in third place.
Rachel and Ryan’s House 2
The Block 2022
Despite being latecomers to The Block’s 2022 blockbuster season, the Southern Sydney couple delivered quality rooms week after week, creating a luxurious contemporary farmhouse that would quicken the pace of any treechanger’s heart. But it was Danny Wallis who purchased the couple’s home for a total of $4,249,999.50 on auction day, sending them off with a profit of $169,000.50.
Omar and Oz’s House 5
The Block 2022
After a nail-biting auction that resulted in both highs and heartbreak, Omar and Oz won the Gisborne-based season thanks to Danny, who dished out a whopping $5,666,666.66 for the modern country-style home.”We’re absolutely stoked that we took out the win this year — we had a plan and stuck to it,” said Omar, who split the $1,586,666.66 worth of winnings with best mate Omar.
Mitch and Mark’s House 2
The Block 2021
Mitch and Mark won The Block in 2021 when Danny forked out $4,044,444.44 on the modern Hamptons-style home. “We never had expectations or even hopes for that amount,” said Mitch following the auction. The couple walked away with a total winnings of $744,000.
Tanya and Vito’s House 3
The Block 2021
Tanya and Vito’s mid-century home, which featured a retro-inspired sunken lounge and double-sided fireplace, placed third on auction day. Danny bid $3.8 million for the home. He also said he planned to donate it to My Room Children’s Cancer Charity.
Kirsty and Jesse’s House 5
The Block 2021
Neale Whitaker described Kirsty and Jesse’s house as “the best house The Block has ever produced.” Unfortunately, it failed to perform on auction day, and Danny snapped up the two-storey home for the bargain price of $4.4 million.
Buyer’s agent Greville Pabst weighed in on the sale: “Kirsty and Jesse’s house – while it’s a great family home – is not as good, in my opinion, as an investment. You’ve got so much land and so much maintenance,” he said.
Harry and Tash’s House 1
The Block 2020
Father-and-daughter team Harry and Tash’s House 1 was also purchased by Danny for $4 million. Buyers’ advocate Greville Pabst said that the 2020 auction results were spectacular, “but the reality is, if Danny wasn’t there, and Danny didn’t bid, all the houses would have fetched between $3.5 – $3.8 million.”
Sarah and George’s House 2
The Block 2020
Sarah and George’s 1940s-era home came second in 2020 after Danny’s $4 million bid. The couple’s home won kids’ bedroom week, while their exterior facade – complete with restored heritage windows and a brick entryway – tied with Jimmy and Tam’s for first place.
Daniel and Jade’s House 3
The Block 2020
Daniel and Jade’s home was purchased by Danny in 2020 for $3.8 million. He donated the home to My Room Children’s Cancer Charity in honour of the couple’s daughter who has a rare genetic disorder.
Mitch and Mark’s House 1
The Block 2019
During The Block Oslo season, Mitch and Mark’s townhouse – decorated with vibrant colours and patterns – was a judge favourite. It was also the only house Danny purchased that year, fetching $3.4 million and earning Mitch and Mark fifth place.
Mike and Andrew’s House 2
The Block 2012
The first house Danny purchased on The Block was back in 2012. It had been renovated by brothers Mike and Andrew and was the last to go to auction. Danny snapped it up with a bid of $1.4 million (or $1,400,001.01 to be precise). It was used by Ronald McDonald House Charities until 2016, when Danny sold it for $1.73 million.
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