Work underway on historic Perth ABC studio

A historically significant studio at the former ABC headquarters in Perth is being worked around as a property developer builds what it says will be the area's tallest apartment tower.

The 6303 square metre site spanning Adelaide Terrace to Terrace Road has lain idle since 2005 when the ABC moved from the 1960s building to smaller but more modern facilities on Fielder Street, East Perth.

There's once again activity on the site, with Finbar beginning work on the two-part Concerto residential complex. It will comprise a 38-storey apartment tower and a lower-rise refurbishment of the ABC administration building, which will retain its distinctive facade, described by the National Trust as a fine example of post-war international style.

A broadcast-themed historic mural at the entrance made by renowned West Australian artist, the late Robert Juniper, will be restored.

And the heritage-listed Basil Kirke studio, named after a former manager and said to be based on the Abbey Road studio in London, is being retained.

While minutes from a City of Perth meeting in February showed the studio would continue to be used as a world-class music recording and performance space, a Finbar spokeswoman told AAP last week that no firm plans were yet in place for its future use.

The 30 foot-high studio was the first major in-house ABC sound recording studio in Australia.

With its superior acoustics - created by the physical space rather than added at the mixing desk - it was considered one of the finest studios in Australia and was for many years home to the West Australian Symphony Orchestra.

The award-winning soundtrack for the film Out of Africa was also recorded there.