Block star Mat Johnson has announced the birth of his first child.
Mat, 41, who starred in the 2025 season of the Channel Nine reality show alongside best mate Robby Lippett, took to Instagram on Friday to break the good news.
The reality star’s new arrival was conceived through IVF with his friend Leah Cocks, and he shared a series of sweet photos to mark the joyous occasion.
One photo showed Mat, looking proud as punch as he cradled the bundle of joy in his arms.
The couple, who plan to co-parent the newborn, welcomed a baby boy, but Mat stopped short of revealing his name to followers.
‘Yesterday my life changed forever,’ he captioned the post, which was met with an outpouring of congratulations from followers including Real Housewives of Melbourne star Jackie Gillies.
Block star Mat Johnson has announced the birth of his first child
Block co-host Shelly Craft also sent her best wishes with a hearty: ‘Congratulations family,’ to which Mat replied: ‘Thanks, Auntie Shelly.’
Season seven Block stars Alisa and Lysandra Fraser also jumped in with: ‘Congratulations and what a great father you will be.’
Another follower summed up the sentiment of many with: ‘Congratulations. What a lucky boy to be born into such a loving family unit.’
Mat shocked his family and followers back in October when he revealed he was set to become a father in less than two months’ time.
He shared a video to Instagram that showed him sitting at a table with family members, including his mother and sister.
‘I’ve got something very exciting to share with you all, and honestly, you will have no idea,’ Mat said before pulling a baby onesie from a Country Road bag.
‘I’m having a baby. You’re going to be a granny and you’re going to be an aunty,’ he added, much to the delight of everyone in the room.
Mat and Leah have known each other for 20 years, having struck up a friendship after she first sat down in Mat’s hairdressing chair.
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The reality star’s new arrival was conceived through IVFwith his friend Leah Cocks, and he shared a series of sweet photos to Instagram to mark the joyous occasion.
The couple, who plan to co-parent the newborn, welcomed a baby boy, but Mat stopped short of revealing his name to followers. ‘Yesterday my life changed forever,’ he captioned the post, which was met with an outpouring of congratulations from followers
Speaking to New Idea in October, Mat said that fatherhood was something that he had always dreamed of.
‘I have always wanted to be a dad, especially in this later part of my life,’ he told the publication.
However, he admitted that, when Leah, who is in a same-sex relationship, first approached him with the idea, he was reluctant.
‘I didn’t know if I was ready at that stage of my life, and I think I was terrified because I have a very good life that I worked decades to be able to have,’ he said.
A year later, Mat had a change of heart and the couple started their IVF journey, which took several years.
Leah found out she was pregnant just a week after Mat and Robby began their Block build, but chose to wait until he returned before sharing the news.
The new arrival comes after Mat revealed he was disappointed with his and Robby’s auction day result, after walking away with a meagre $109,999.
‘It’s not great, but it is what it is,’ Mat told 9Entertainment.
Mat shocked his family and followers back in October when he revealed he was set to become a father in less than two months’ time.
‘It’s not about the money… but it’s about the money. Just to cover my costs for not being in the business or the work I said no to, it wouldn’t even cover that.’
They revealed they would be splitting the winnings equally, ensuring each of them walked away with just under $55,000 – significantly less than they were expecting.
‘It sucks. It’s a lot of hard work that we put in, but it’s a beautiful house and I’m sure the buyer and all his guests are going to enjoy it a lot,’ Robby said.
