The Blockheads have faced their first challenge of the 2020 season — building an iconic Brighton Beach box that will become their homes for a while.
It was a fitting challenge, since the new site — with five family homes from five different eras — is based in the bayside suburb. Even Perth's Jasmin popped down to take a closer look at them and get some inspiration.
But if you aren't a local, you might not know the history behind the beach box. So we've pulled together some interesting facts and information about their origin, including the eye-watering price they can sell for.
The Dendy Street Beach boxes are some of Melbourne's oldest structures. The 82 iconic boxes in Brighton have been there since the 1860s.
The Brighton bathing boxes are unique because of their uniform scale and proportion, building materials, sentry order alignment and a Planning Scheme Heritage Overlay on a beach owned by Bayside City Council.
As simple structures, all retain classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs.
The boxes were originally built back then to preserve the dignity of swimmers — during the time when bikinis weren't acceptable swimwear.
They've survived many heavy storms, tides, disrepair and several attempts from Brighton council to have them removed.
While times have changed, the beach boxes haven't, and they still have all of their original old-world charm.
None of them have amenities like running water or electricity.
They remain as they did over one hundred years ago, as licensed bathing boxes.
The iconic boxes are still used as they were back then. They're a place to store your beach chairs and a couple of towels and escape the sun if you need a bit of shelter.
Despite their lack of modern luxuries like electricity, the boxes sell for staggering amounts.
They rarely come up for sale so when they do, they attract top dollar.
The last reported sale of a Brighton Beach Box was a remarkable $340,000 in 2019. They are tightly held, often passed down through generations of family.
Owners hold a license to keep their box on the beach, which is approved by Brighton Council.