Former ‘Countdown’ studio put up for sale despite push for heritage protection

The ABC TV Melbourne studio in Elsternwick – most significantly the home where Countdown was filmed every Saturday afternoon for screening on Sunday evening – is up for sale.

The site, also known as The Dream Factory, is expected to go for $40 million.

This is despite the building on 8 Gordon Street being recommended for heritage listing.

A report by architecture practice Heritage ALLIANCE recommended that council provide Heritage Victoria with the assessment and seek their consideration to add it to the Victorian Heritage Register.

It had cultural value or being where countless TV shows were filmed, and especially mentions Countdown “which greatly influenced an entire generation of Australian youth in the 1970s and 1980s.”

563 episodes of Countdown were produced between November 8, 1974 (initially on a Friday night) and July 19, 1987.

Being on the ABC gave it an additional regional reach that no other Australian music TV show has enjoyed since, and the show had a massive influence on what mainstream radio played and which releases record companies would push.

The ABC no longer uses the premises, having moved to its state-of-the-art facilities in Southbank, and the place closed last November.

There has been growing pressure in recent weeks that the site should be protected from the wrecker’s ball – word is that it will become budget apartments – because of its cultural importance.

The Glen Eira Council is also pushing to get heritage protection for the building.

It would certainly be a strong music tourism attraction., similar to the pilgrimage that British and European visitors make to where Neighbours was shot.

Expressions of interest for the sale open until October 19.