The Block stars Leah and Ash Milton have staged a $3 million comeback, two years after their controversial stint on the hit TV show ended in heartbreak when their home was passed in at auction.

By contrast, the couple’s off-screen dream home secured a spectacular $3.001m sale under the hammer at a suitably drama-filled auction on Brisbane’s bayside.

The Miltons paid $750,000 for the Wynnum property in 2020, raising and rebuilding the heritage-listed 1930s Queenslander over five years.

Leah and Ash ruffled feathers on The Block in 2023. Picture: Channel 9

Ms Milton said the auction campaign was “nerve-wracking”, following the outspoken couple’s 2023 appearance on The Block when they were roasted by fans for their blow-ups with other contestants as well as the show’s builders.

They suffered a brutal end to the TV season as their Hampton East property was the only one that didn’t sell at the auction finale.

But they flipped the script with their luxury family home at 66 Wassell St, where a crowd of about 180 people turned out to watch as it went under the hammer.

Marketing agent Alec McEwan, of McGrath, said it was the suburb’s highest residential sale of 2025, despite the auction turning into a one-buyer race when the other two registered bidders pulled out at the last minute.

The once-dilapidated house was rebuilt and extended over five years

It was intended to be a forever home for the couple and their three children

“The Block didn’t pay off for them when most of the other contestants made hundreds of thousands of dollars, but this was the auction that did,” Mr McEwan said.

“Ash and Leah were understandably a bit hesitant going into the campaign, but thankfully it all went to plan and they were ecstatic with the result.”

Mr McEwan said the day took an expected turn when another bidder pulled out because she had to step in to make a wedding speech.

The eventual buyers were somewhat bid-shy, so the auction moved into closed negotation early until the offer on the table matched pre-auction interest received at $3m.

The buyers scored the swivel chairs to match this bold burgundy sitting room

Living spaces open out to an alfresco entertaining zone

An extra $1000 was added to the sale price to include a pair of designer swivel chairs in burgundy to match the home’s feature colour-drenched room.

Mr McEwan said the buyers were a local couple who had attended every inspection and “fallen in love” with the home, while the vendors celebrated with the buyers and supportive crowd as the hammer finally fell.

“It has been heart-warming seeing how people have reacted to the home and the lovely feedback we have received,” Ms Milton said.

“We’ve put The Block behind us because it was a storyline that we had no control over.

“This house is an example of our love and dedication, not only to the industry but also to our family and what really matters to us.

The heritage-listed home’s classic beauty was reimagined with modern style

“Ash has worked his butt off for five years doing this for us and it’s really nice to have this for our story and not a corporation’s story,” she said.

The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home had multiple indoor and outdoor living spaces over two levels, with two master bedrooms and a poolside entertaining pavilion across a north-facing 991 sqm corner parcel.

Features included high open-beam ceilings, wainscoting, timber floors and wraparound verandas, balancing relaxed coastal character with modern design flair.

PropTrack data shows house prices in Wynnum were up 7.9 per cent over the past 12 months to a median of $1.29m.

The couple is taking on a new project in the same bayside suburb. Picture: Channel 9