Australia is a sweeping romantic adventure by acclaimed writer/producer/director Baz Luhrmann and starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.
Set in Australia’s northern outback prior to WWII, filming of Australia has taken place in WA, NSW, QLD, and NT and the movie is slated for a late 2008 release.
The challenge for Western Australia will be to ensure that the Kimberley is recognised as one of the key locations within the film.
Synopsis
Australia is an epic romantic action adventure, set in that country on the explosive brink of World War II. In it, an English aristocrat (Nicole Kidman) travels to the faraway continent where she meets a rough-hewn cattle drover (Hugh Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she inherited. Together, they embark upon a transforming journey across hundreds of miles of the world’s most beautiful yet unforgiving terrain, only to face the bombing of the city of Darwin by the Japanese forces that attacked Pearl Harbour. With his new film, Luhrmann is painting on a vast canvas, creating a cinematic experience that brings together romance, drama, adventure and spectacle.
Locations
Kununurra
Kununurra, meaning ‘big water’ in the local Indigenous language, is the eastern gateway to the ancient landscape that is the Kimberley. The town itself is relatively young, built in the early 1960s to serve the Ord River Irrigation Project, however the landscape has been traversed for centuries by Aboriginal people.
During the filming of Australia a cast and crew of more than 400 based themselves in the town travelling by 4WD through red earth country and boab tree forests to reach the set at Carlton Hill Station, about a 50 minute drive out of town.
Cockburn Range
Showcased in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Australia’, the Cockburn Range in the east Kimberley region of Western Australia is spectacular.
Shaped like a vast round fortress and rising more than 600 metres above the plains, the range is best viewed at dawn and dusk when the light reflects on the rock to create a beautiful pink-orange glow.
Circumnavigate the majestic sandstone cliffs of the Cockburn Range on a four wheel driving trip, traversing the famous Gibb River Road. The imposing and spectacular views can also be seen from the Great Northern Highway into Wyndham.
From a distance, there’s no hint of the deep gorges and permanent pools which lie hidden within.
The Cockburn Range sits entirely on land owned by El Questro Wilderness Park. El Questro offers trips to the range, or there are other private bushwalking tours available. A scenic helicopter flight over the Cockburn Range is an adrenalin rush.
Other nearby stations such as Home Valley Station also offers fantastic views of the epic scenery.
Faraway Downs Homestead - Carlton Hill Station
The mythical Faraway Downs Homestead - the cattle station that Lady Ashley inherits in ‘Australia’ after the death of her husband shortly after she arrives in Australia - is an actual structure which was built on Carlton Hill Station in front of the majestic House Roof Hill.
Although not currently available for public access, visitors wishing to see the stunning scenery which surrounds the homestead and is featured in the movie, can visit the nearby Macka’s Barra Camp.
Macka runs a popular Barramundi fishing company - notorious for catching the big one metre plus sized fish. Extended tours with Macka’s Barra Camp use Carlton Hill Station as their overnight camp.
Macka also played host to some of the cast and crew during filming of Australia.
The camp itself is located on the banks of the lower Ord River and has been purpose built for fishing holidays. Stay in Bungalow style accommodation set throughout lush tropical vegetation. The dining area is large enough to accommodate groups of any size.
El Questro Wilderness Park
The massive expanse of El Questro Wilderness Park is considered one of the world’s truly unique holiday destinations. The pastoral lands of El Questro reach over one million acres and encompass some of the Kimberley region’s most breathtaking and untouched scenery.
The land is also a working cattle station and so provides a truly Australian holiday destination. The environment of the park differs at every turn. At first glance wide tidal flats reach out to the horizon at the base of rugged ranges. But at closer examination towering gorges, rivers that descend into cascading waterfalls and pockets of lush rainforest can be discovered.
Home Valley Station
Indulge in the ultimate outback experience at Home Valley Station. Experience the cultural difference of a station which is still largely run by the traditional owners of the land, the Balanggarra people.
Home Valley is a working cattle station, Indigenous TAFE academy and an adventure lover’s playground. The station’s indigenous trainees and mentors are central to the sustainable development of both the pastoral and tourism aspects of the station and you can experience this during your stay.
Digger’s Rest Station
Just 40 kilometres off the Gibb River Road lies the Homestead of Digger’s Rest Station. Accessible only by four wheel drive, Digger’s Rest offers warm hospitality amidst the gorgeous scenery of the Kimberley.
Cast and Crew of Baz Lurhman’s epic movie ‘Australia’ spent 21 days at Digger’s Rest Station filming, in particular the magnificent Boab trees that grow on the property. The property is well known for its extended horse treks, which take visitors back in time to when the original settlers of the land moved cattle throughout the Kimberley.
Purnululu National Park (Bungle Bungle Range)
The World Heritage listed Purnululu National Park offers a remote wilderness experience and is a unique example of geological evolution.
Famous for the unique Bungle Bungle Range, which rises up to 578 metres above sea level and stands 200 to 300 metres above a woodland, constant erosion and river movements have formed the huge black and orange striped domes over the last 20 million years. The orange and black stripes across the beehive-like mounds, encased in a skin of silica and algae, are clearly visible when you visit the park.
As you venture further into the Range, a hidden world of gorges and pools is revealed with fan palms clinging precariously to walls and crevices in the rocks.
Although the Bungle Bungle Range was extensively used by Aboriginal people during the wet season, when plant and animal life was abundant, few Europeans knew of its existence until the mid-1980s. The area is rich in Aboriginal art and there are also many burial sites to be explored.
Faraway Bay
Accessible only by air and sea, exotic Faraway Bay is a breath-taking 70 minute flight from Kununurra.
Faraway Bay provides unrivalled luxury for a bush camp, with eight spacious cabins scattered amongst the natural bush setting, offering privacy and 180-degree views of the spectacular cliff-lined bay.
Crew from Australia visited Faraway Bay on two occasions to shoot footage of the majestic twin falls on the King George River which is accessible from the property.
Here you can experience the romance, intriguing outback, Aboriginal culture and adventure of Australia.
Broome
Two and a half hour flight from Perth, Broome is an oasis of colour, culture and eclectic characters.
Thanks to Broome’s unpolluted waters, South Sea pearls grow perfectly in the tropical waters and are an icon of the town. The town's multicultural mix was shaped by a romantic pearling history when Japanese, Filipino and Malay pearl divers arrived in droves seeking their fortune. Broome's colourful lifestyle, chilled out vibe and vibrant landscape has made it a mecca for artists, writers and musicians.
From fiery red ochre cliffs contrasting with bright turquoise waters to pearl diving sagas and dinosaur footprints - the history of Broome is as captivating as the scenery.
Themes & experiences
Throughout the movie Australia Baz Luhrmann explores four major themes; Australian history, outback adventure, aboriginal experiences and romance and luxury.
To see how these themes can be experienced throughout Australia's North West download:
Australia the Movie Themes and Experiences
Australian History
Baz Luhrmann’s Australia is set in the Australian outback in the 1930s and 1940s. Significant historic events, such as the bombing of Darwin in 1942, are included in the film. In Western Australia, there are several locations in the Kimberley region to explore for those interested in Australian history.
Outback Adventure
Nicole Kidman’s character in Australia, Lady Sarah Ashley, finds herself in a completely foreign environment when she leaves England for outback Australia in search of her husband. Along the way, she experiences an outback adventure which ultimately changes her beliefs and her life, due to the transforming nature of this ancient landscape.
Aboriginal Experience
The Aboriginal culture is central to the storyline of Baz Luhrmann’s Australia. As the world’s oldest continual culture, there is a certain sense of mystery and magic which is presented on screen. In addition, Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, finds herself caring for ten-year old Nullah – an Aboriginal orphan, who along with The Drover (Hugh Jackman’s character) are pivotal in transforming her life. There are many Indigenous tourism products in the Kimberley region on Western Australia which allow people to experience this amazing culture first hand.
Romance & Luxury
Lady Sarah Ashley (Nicole Kidman’s character) and The Drover (Hugh Jackman), find themselves in an unlikely love story in Australia. The epic landscape of Western Australia’s Kimberley region is famous for its transforming qualities – allowing visitors to connect with the landscape and reconnect with themselves and their loved ones.
Movie fast facts
There are many quirky and interesting facts about Australia the movie. To read about these download:
Movie fast facts