Inside Scott Cam’s $25m property portfolio

Super Tradie and TV host Scott Cam has made the most of his vast experience in both varied roles to build himself a considerable multimillion-dollar empire.

The host of hit TV show The Block started out his working life as a tradie 40 years ago, with renovating in his blood and has since gone on to become one of Australia’s most recognisable faces.

The tought as nails operator began work as a carpenter in 1984, when the average Aussie wage was $278.40 a week or $14,476. 80.

He now earns around $1m for his work with The Block

Cam has put his experience to good use to build a property empire that could be worth as much as $25m.

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LUXURY HOME

The 62-year-old has owned a Mediterranean-style mansion in affluent Vaucluse in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs for 14 years.

According to property records, Cam bought the home, not far from where he grew up, for $4.6m in 2012.

He knew was he was looking for, snapping up the home after it was on the market for just two weeks.

A very savvy move, considering house prices in the suburbs have almost doubled in just the past five years, meaning Cam’s home could be worth as much as $20m, if not more, in today’s market. Especially considering Cam undertook renovations worth around $400,000 three years ago.

According to a former marketing blurb for the home: “Inspired by grand Mediterranean architecture, this magnificent family residence takes pride of place just footsteps from the tranquil shores of Vaucluse Bay.

“The extensive family home commands idyllic north-westerly harbour views from its world-class location.

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“A wonderful low-maintenance entertainer, it’s surrounded by a series of alfresco terraces for superb outdoor living. It accommodates four bedrooms with terrace access along with 3.5 bathrooms, including a stunning master suite with a dressing room, marble ensuite and tranquil harbour views.”

The home is located in a very sought-after harbourside enclave with the likes of Westfield founder Frank Lowy and Menulog founder Leon Kamenev both owning nearby.

James Packer built his dream home La Mer in a nearby street, with ex-wife Erica Baxter, before selling it for $70m in 2015, which was then an Australian record.

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Cam, who got his first break on TV in 2000 on Backyard Blitz, lives at the home with wife Ann.

They have three children: Charlie and twins Sarah and Bill.

RURAL PALACE

Two years ago, Cam enjoyed a significant real estate win, when he sold his 720ha Barrigan cattle farm at the end of 2023 for $3.1m.

The celebrity carpenter had bought the property in NSW’s Central Tablelands for $1.35m in 2016.

“‘Derowen’, situated at the top of the Barigan Valley, is an outstanding 1,779 acre property featuring highly productive alluvial soils and excellent water,” the listing read.

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“Located 70km from Mudgee and around three and a half hours drive from Newcastle, structural improvements include a four-bedroom home, steel cattle-yards and good shedding. With a 160 meg irrigation license, ‘Derowen’ is now a highly productive cattle fattening and breeding holding, with huge potential for further development.

CHILDHOOD HOME

The 1950s Vaucluse house where Scott Cam grew up, hit the market twice in 2017.

Property records at the time show the three-bedroom house at 11 Chris Bang Cres, where Scott Cam’s mum lived until she moved into other accommodation in 2015, was bought by property developer Tristan Waters, for $2.6 million in 2015.

But the intial sale fell through and according to locals, the vendors got two bites at the cherry, having been legally allowed to keep the deposit for the first home before selling again.

On a 613 sqm block, the home was sold with a DA and architectural plans for two three-bedroom townhouses.

The property eventually changed hands for $3.025m in December 2017.

However, Cam would not be impressed with what has happened with the property since.

Two unfinished townhouses still sit on the site almost eight years later.

SCOTT CAM’S HOME FROM THE BLOCK

Cam purchased a home from the 2016 version of the show – a secret he didn’t let slip until seven years later.

The host of the hit renovation series opened during an appearance 2DAY FM’s Hughesy, Ed & Erin in 2023, news.com.au reported, revealing that he scored the Port Melbourne apartment after striking a deal with Nine.

“I own a Block house,” he told hosts Dave Hughes and Erin Molan.

“Because I live in Melbourne for four months in the year [to film The Block] and I don’t like living … obviously you can’t live in a hotel when you’re doing that. So every now and then on The Block we do a Challenge House.”

Cam explained that in 2016, during season 12 of the show, contestants were asked to renovate an old soap factory in Port Melbourne and turn it into five modern apartments.

But there was a sixth apartment in the building, which was left for the special Challenge House project.

It was this apartment that the long-running host would buy the following year for a reported $2.2 million.“In the soap factory in Port Melbourne, we did five apartments and there was a sixth apartment in the building and [the contestants] all [renovate] that together and you get money off your reserve. We do that every now and then if we’ve got space,” he shared.

Cam said the Challenge Apartment or Challenge House in any season is never placed on auction at the season’s end, instead Nine owns it.

“We don’t ever sell that on auction. The network owns that – and I bought it off the network,” he revealed.

When Molan – a former employee of Nine – asked if he got a “good deal” or if he was ripped off, Cam replied: “I got a good deal, but I got a fair deal. And obviously there’s stakeholders involved, so they couldn’t give it to me [for free]. I’ve lived there for about seven years.”

Cam hosted the 2010 series of The Block and has been host ever since.

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