Australasian Leisure Management
Sep 5, 2025

Television exposure on The Block highlights new offerings at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa

By Nigel Benton

Following the recent launch of its $1.7 million dollar makeover and 130th anniversary celebrations, along with exposure on primetime Australian television, the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa has benefited from unprecedented interest - enjoying one of its best months of trading since the doors opened in the late 19th century.

Interest generated on television followed Scott Cam, host of The Block on Channel Nine, announcing that the historic wellness sanctuary would be home to "the biggest prize for an offsite challenge in Block history," three weeks into season 21 of the primetime show going to air.

With the challenge set, all five teams from The Block made their way to the Bathhouse and Spa to update five new private bathing areas as part of its $1.7-million makeover.  

Teams each had a $23,000 budget to create their private bathing havens, and with a grand $260,000 luxury Titanium caravan on the line, the contestants went all out to ensure their rooms caught the sharp eye of the judges. And in the true spirit of the show, sparks flew be-tween teams in competition over the luxurious prize as Sonny and Alicia made waves in a spat with Han and Can over claims they copied their heated bench seat design. 

On Wednesday evening, Sonny and Alicia from House 4 were announced as the winners of the challenge.

Speaking after their win, the pair advised “we’re so proud to have done the room for Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. We put a lot of heart and soul into it and really thought about it a lot. Every time we were in that space, when we were sitting there on that heated seat - which is so comfortable - we were just so calm and re-laxed.

“We love going to bath houses back home, so we really wanted to bring our calmness into that space and we tried to think of everything. We can’t wait for the public to come and enjoy our space that we’ve created.” 

A new era for the property
With renovations and 130th celebrations now complete, guests can now enjoy all that the property has to offer including Private, Sanctuary and Bathhouse Mineral bathing, an all-new spa treatment menu, a brand-new Apothecary experience where guests blend their own custom body scrub with natural ingredients, a choice of 23 luxe villas, an all-new locally inspired well-ness menu at the historic Pavilion café as well as gorgeous bushwalks surrounding the property. 

As well as these new offerings, the $1.7 million renovation also includes upgrades to the property’s change rooms, an entrance refresh, new tiling, lighting, fittings and fixtures, ceiling restoration, a new audio system to enhance the guest experience and a general refresh of all in-ternal areas.  

SJ Tilbury, General Manager of Wellness at Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa, is thrilled at the renewed interest in the property, commenting “this refresh is already such a game changer for Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa. We’re thrilled to have Channel 9’s The Block showcase the transformation to audiences across the country, providing us exposure that is already sparking so much new interest and attracting guests from far and wide.

“It’s important to also recognise that beyond the spotlight, we’ve invested heavily in creating the experience our guests are looking for, including a thoughtfully curated spa menu featuring indulgent body and facial treatments.

“While national attention will drive visits in the short term, we know that the true key to long-term success is word of mouth. Our guests are leaving not just impressed by the revitalised space, but feeling refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated like never before - and eager to return.”

Famous for its geo-thermal, naturally sourced, healing mineral waters, Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa is Australia's oldest bathhouse.

Images: Sonny and Alicia from House 4 speaking after their win on television's The Block (top) and new offerings at the Hepburn Bathhouse and Spa (below).

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