Hopes dashed for Neighbours’ future as iconic studios are cleared out

It really is the end of an era – the Nunawading Studios, home of Neighbours since 1986, is no longer in the hands of the show’s production company.

I was very fortunate to be the final person under Fremantle Media’s ownership to explore the once bustling corridors, roam the hallowed Lassiters Complex and step into the backyards of Erinsborough’s finest.

Seeing the site in this way sadly signalled to me that there is no future for the cult Australian soap opera, which will come to an end in December.

Metro understands that Amazon Prime Video effectively dealt a lifeline by extending its original slate of commissioned episodes to Fremantle, so that it could properly conclude.

Very sadly, it will not continue beyond this point, being axed for the third time in 40 years.

Of course, I’m happy to be proved wrong!

Neighbours wrapped filming in July, and a number of cast members have already moved on to new projects.

As a result, this means there’s no reason for Fremantle to retain the show’s dedicated production hub.

Neighbours studios’ are a ghost town

Stepping into the building I noticed a plaque commemorating 30 years of Neighbours, noting that production began there on 2nd January 1986.

At this point the show had been picked up by Channel 10 for a new run of episodes that would project Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Guy Pearce to global stardom.

But televisual history there began way before our favourite Aussie soap took over – Nunawading Studios were opened in 1964 and built on apple orchards, becoming home to the likes of Channel 10’s Eyewitness News, The Chase Australia and The Price is Right over the decades that followed.

The first ever colour broadcast on Australian television took place here in 1967.

An underground tunnel used as an audience entrance was later repurposed as dressing rooms for Prisoner: Cell Block H and latterly as the main entrance corridor of Erinsborough High.

Elsewhere, a tropical resort set used in the Holiday Island production was remodelled as Lassiters.

Over the years, almost every corner of the site was used within the show, with a further $1m was invested in new backyard sets in 2013.

One of these has already been remodelled for filming of a new Channel 5 drama, Imposter.

The series, which will debut later in the year, has been created and produced by Jason Herbsion, who was executive producer of Neighbours for 9 years.

Imposter follows a wealthy hotel owner, portrayed by an unrecognisable Jackie Woodburne, whose kids are desperate for her to sell their estate so they can cash in on her fortune.

Every single production office, dressing, make-up room and studio is now empty. You got a real idea of how the building would’ve looked when the first ever production moved in over six decades ago.

I could hear every footstep echoing around, and only vague reminders of the building’s illustrious past remained. A real ghost town.

Cast and crew’s names are etched onto studio A’s walls in chalk, and only the painted, patterned floors from the likes of the Kennedy’s living room, Harold’s Cafe and Paul’s penthouse remain.

In studio B, they’ve already washed over the ground in a bright blue colour, I’m told that the landlord, property developers Bazem, have asked for it to be returned to its original state for handover.

The future of the studios is uncertain

According to TV Tonight, rent on the sprawling studio site is understood to be around $100,000 per month.

Bazem are set to convert the grounds into a residential area known as Forest Ridge, with a number of one, two and three bed apartments and townhouses constructed.

Part of the development has already began on neighbouring land.

The main building – which is where all interior scenes and the exteriors of Erinsborough High, the hospital and Eirini Rising retirement complex were shot – is to be retained.

For many years it also doubled as the exterior of Wentworth Detention Centre in Prisoner: Cell Block H, and a 2016 heritage overlay means it cannot be demolished.

While the façade is set to stay, the inside of the building is being gutted. It had been previously reported that a distribution centre was taking over, but my guide tells me that nobody is signed on to assume the lease at this stage.

That may sound promising for Neighbours fans, who undoubtedly will be wondering whether Fremantle could step in again and resume production.

But this simply isn’t the case. Every single prop, costume, vehicle and piece of furniture has been sold, repurposed or donated. This is the end of Neighbours at Nunawading.

Post-apocalyptic Erinsborough

After walking through the instantly recognisable entrance to Wentworth Prison, still adorned with barred windows from the long out of production drama series, I headed towards the short thoroughfare known in Neighbours as Power Road.

An old Melbourne tram, which was dressed as The 82 cafe and owned by Karl Kennedy, is now gone. Exactly who purchased it and where it’s now situated is unknown.

Speaking of Karl, his giant billboard advertisement for his work at Eirini Rising overlooked an empty, signless garage, while the façade of the Grease Monkeys fast food joint still looked screen ready.

I then headed towards Lassiters, where leaves have already started gathering on the ground outside of the empty hotel and Harold’s.

The plants are overgrown, the grass is sprouting upwards, and all of the street furniture has gone.

You wouldn’t think that the programme wrapped just three months ago.

Ironically, in 2014, a digital Neighbours vs. Zombies miniseries was produced. Perhaps it’s about time that a second instalment was penned – I know the perfect filming location.

There was something special here once, but that is unfortunately already fading.

Luckily, over 40 years of memories will always only be a footstep away for those who have tuned in every day, and those who called it their workplace.

What will happen to Ramsay Street?

Luckily, Ramsay Street isn’t going anywhere.

Pin Oak Court in Vermont South doubles for the cul-de-sac, which is occupied by real residents who allowed their houses to be used for exterior shots.

The site has become somewhat of a tourist destination over the last four decades, with fans from around the world making the pilgrimage.

Those who live in the court are bound by a contract that means they’re not allowed to do any cosmetic work to their properties without permission from producers.

Now that cameras have stopped rolling, that could soon change.

Security manned the street until last week, and for the first time ever, residents will be returning to some normality.

It really is the end of an era.

This article was originally published on 8th September 2025.

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