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Channel Nine has left the building

TV Tonight takes a stroll through the former GTV9 site at Bendigo Street Richmond, on its last day of ownership under Channel Nine.

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As of 12pm today, GTV9 at 22 Bendigo Street Richmond is no more.

The site is now under the management of the Lend Lease property group.

This ends the reign of the Television City era, which began in 1955 as GTV9, after the building was previously used by Heinz and, originally, the Wertheim Piano Factory (1908).

Bendigo Street was the home of numerous shows from In Melbourne Tonight to the revived Hey Hey it’s Saturday, with stars too numerous to mention.

Whilst the original exterior red-brick building has a Heritage Listing, the interior -including the famed Studio 9- does not. These will make way for apartments.

Today TV Tonight took a stroll through what remained of the studios and offices.

Studio 9 is but an empty shell of its former glory. Studios 1 and 4 are little more than junk.

The corridors no longer shine with a galaxy of stars. The board room table is awaiting collection (now owned by Daryl Somers). There’s no 9 lit up behind the reception anymore. Equipment has been ripped from the editing suites, and lights from the studio grids. Nobody queuing in the cafeteria.

GTV9 is now located at 717 Bourke Street in the Docklands precinct.

Here are some photos of Bendigo Street taken on its final day under Nine ownership.

You can also see images of what Lend Lease has in store for the property here.

TV Tonight was the final guest to sign the gatehouse visitor’s book.

36 Responses

  1. @Brent. keep an eye on nine news australia on youtube and 9 news on facebook. they have been saying that may eventually do a tour of the new nine offices and news studio in melbourne.

  2. Still be interesting to know what the facilities are like internal… maybe some behind the scenes of the 9news, ACA, and the Sunday footyshow.

  4. David – is there any chance you could take us on a tour of the new Studios at 717 Bourke Street and maybe Docklands Studios- Stage 4? And some information on how many Studios they have and what shows are being produced there?

    1. I’ll have a think. Like most new age TV centres there’s not a lot to show. Offices, small studio for News and ACA. Docklands is a few big sheds that bumps shows in and out and Nine will have one of them.

  7. Hi David – Is there any interest in a followup story as to who bought – or how much money was paid for the items that went under the hammer during the 9 auction a few months ago?

    Interesting that Sommers got the board room table – how much did it set him back?

    Any ideahow much Kennedy’s mirror and dressing table?

    The pianos?

    Of course, not interested in the sundry photos and press clippings…

  11. Sad day. I once went there to contest an episode of Millionaire, and although I’m not much of a Channel 9 fan, you could see and feel the history in that place. Sad that more of it isn’t heritage listed.

  15. As I look at my weekly TV viewing schedule, there is not one show on Nine.
    I stopped being interested in anything they show years ago, I came back to watch Hey Hey but that’s all.
    If they bring Hey Hey back I’ll watch that too, but not otherwise.

  18. The heart and soul was ripped out of Nine years ago. What we see here is the rotting carcass. The Nine brand no longer means anything positive to me.

  19. I might be mistaken, but I think i saw a few new episodes of Two and Half Men in one of those boxes. I guess that’s why they are so reluctant to play anything but repeats. They cant find the new episodes, because of the move.

    Yes that must be the reason.

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