This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE ABC’s historic Elsternwick studios in Melbourne – where Countdown, Kath and Kim, Frontline and many other shows were filmed – is set to make way for luxury apartments after being sold to a developer for about $30 million.
The national broadcaster had first sought to offload the decommissioned studios at 8 Gordon Street in 2018 but wasn’t satisfied with forthcoming offers.
Its intentions to sell have met resistance from Countdown host and Australian music industry icon Molly Meldrum and then Glen Eira City Council. The latter had sought to halt a transaction in the hopes of keeping the stage for community use and using some of the site for affordable housing.
Savills agents Clinton Baxter, Julian Heatherich and Benson Zhou managed the sales campaign of the 11,740 sqm site, which is zoned for residential growth and offers potential for building height of up to eight levels on some parts of the property.
It was offered for sale with vacant possession and neighbours the Rippon Lea Estate.
As it was moving its studios to Southbank in 2017, the ABC sold its other Elsternwick studios site, at 10 Selwyn Street, to Woolworths for almost $50 million. The supermarket giant has recently resubmitted plans for a dual-tower apartment building and supermarket development after its initial plans for buildings of 14 and 10 levels were rejected by VCAT.
Its revised plans include towers of 10 and nine levels, a supermarket, café, and 154 apartments, and retained a Jewish community arts space.
That project had triggered strong opposition from local residents who formed the Stop the Elsternwick Towers group. They have since started proceedings in VCAT for another development across the road at 7 Selwyn Street, which would comprise a 14 level office tower, museum, and theatrette, and had been “called in” by the Victorian state planning minister Richard Wynne.
Failed developer Steller had acquired a 2,400 sqm site on nearby Glen Huntly Road in 2017 for $25 million with plans for a 12-level, 117-apartment project. Nearby, Lechte Corporation’s Element project at 221-229 Glen Huntly Road has 83 apartments across 10 levels.
