The giant earthworm at Bass has been reduced to a pile of rubble, with demolition teams moving onto the site on Monday.

In 2019, owner Nick Andrianakos, who is 75 and retired, also owns the neighbouring petrol station site, and a rear section of land – as well as more than 50 petrol stations around Australia - said he had no plans to develop the Bass site.

The demolition crew members were not aware of the future plans for the property, but said clearing the site was an enormous job, admitting it was bigger than originally anticipated.

“It looks like people have been dumping rubbish here,” they told the Advertiser.

Cowes real estate agent John Matthews created Wildlife Wonderland Giant Earthworm Museum in 1985 and sold it in 2000. Subsequent owners were ordered to close the facility within five year after accusations of wildlife neglect against the then owner.

Since the closure, the site had fallen into disrepair. Its most famous occupant, Rosie the Shark, move to a new home in 2019.