Merewether newlyweds Maxine Stokes and Karstan Smith received $40,000 for all the work they put into renovating the Melbourne office building into a stylish apartment, placing them in third position overall.

Their reserve was $1.7 million however they had $30,000 knocked off from this for winning a challenge.

It was heartbreaking result for the couple: all but one of Stokes and Smith’s competitors named the pair as their biggest threat because of their apartment’s large size and its northerly aspect.

Smith said two registered potential buyers had been told the wrong auction time, while fellow contestant Michael Duffy questioned how the reserves had been set.

A distraught Stokes scoffed that at least her tears might secure a Gold Logie.

‘‘You put your heart and soul into it [The Block],’’ she said. ‘‘This is not a happy ending.’’

Sydney brothers Simon and Shannon Vos were the winners of the competition, walking away with $335,000 – plus a $100,000 winners’ bonus.

Chris and Jenna Susetio’s apartment, the first auction up, sold for $1.81 million – $310,000 over reserve. But it all went downhill after the first two sales.

Melbourne husband and wife Dee and Darren Jolly pocketed just $10,000, the same amount received by Michael and Carlene Duffy who went last.

Block co-host Scott Cam called the result one of the most ‘‘bizarre’’ in the history of the show.

‘‘You deserve more,’’ he said.

The show started on a more positive note airing Stokes and Smith’s wedding, with host Cam conducting the ceremony.

The pair were engaged before filming started but plans for them to marry on the show emerged after a ‘‘bit of a joke’’.

Filming for the next series of The Block is already under way and is expected to air early next year.

– with AAP