Demolition underway at former ABC Ripponlea studios

The once-famed home to Countdown, In Gordon Street Tonight, SeaChange and Bellbird is beginning to resemble Chernobyl as demolition work begins to make way for hundreds of new apartments.

Elsternwick Gardens will be home to a campus style development across six apartment buildings, public park and hospitality.

Demolition of the site stepped up this week to begin the major demolition of the building opened by ABC in the 1950s. ABC vacated the site in 2017.

While it just lived long enough to see Countdown mark its 50th anniversary last month, a Countdown swing set will be installed in the new site, inspired by the music show’s set.

The broadcast tower, currently still standing, will become a sculptural element by Artist Darren Sylvester.