Australia's Abbey Road
Our Hit Factory: An Insiders Account of a Unique Cultural Powerhouse
From 1965 to 2006, Armstrong’s Studios - later known as AAV and eventually Metropolis Audio - stood as Australia’s largest and most successful independent audio recording complex. It has left an enduring imprint on the nation’s cultural landscape.
Equipped with cutting-edge technology and fostering a collaborative, organic environment the studio enabled legendary Australian artists like The Easybeats, The Masters Apprentices, Olivia Newton-John, Daddy Cool, Renee Geyer, Skyhooks, Little River Band, Hunters & Collectors, Split Enz, Australian Crawl, The Black Sorrows, Tina Arena, Daryl Braithwaite, Archie Roach, John Farnham, and Nick Cave to produce era-defining music.
Metropolis also played host to a who’s who of international stars, including U2, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Elton John, Rod Stewart, The Beach Boys, Neil Diamond, ZZ Top, David Bowie, Mick Jagger, and Madonna. Its influence extended into film, with sound production credits on iconic Australian movies such as Mad Max, The Man from Snowy River, Gallipoli, and Crocodile Dundee.
Over the decades the complex also produced countless thousands of jingles, voice-overs, and commercials. Handling everything from songwriting and arranging to casting voice talent, recording, editing, and mix - often under same-day deadlines. The studio was a behind-the-scenes engine of Australian advertising, shaping the sound of radio, television, and cinema campaigns reaching millions.
The studio was founded and initially led by the doyen of record producers, Bill Armstrong. He was later joined by recording industry greats, Roger Savage, Ern Rose, and Ian McKenzie. Under their leadership, AAV / Metropolis became a national hit factory without equal. It also served as a vital training ground for future luminaries of the industry. Esteemed engineers and producers like Ron Tudor, Ted Albert, Johnny Young, John Sayers, Molly Meldrum, Doug Brady, and Tony Cohen all cut their teeth within its walls, not only shaping the sound of Australian music but helping to forge an evolving and assured national identity.
While Metropolis no longer operates, its legacy endures. More than just a recording space, it was a launchpad for contemporary Australian music and film onto the international stage, and a beacon of technical excellence, mentorship, and creative ambition.
Metropolis represents far more than a building, it symbolizes a golden era of studio innovation, passionate determination, and musical brilliance leaving an indelible imprint on both Melbourne’s cultural identity and Australia’s musical heritage.