With its world class facilities and easily accessible versatile locations, Victoria continues to live up to its reputation as a sought-after filming location. 

When hit HBO drama series The Leftovers moved down under for its phenomenal final season, it made the most of urban Melbourne and regional Victoria, shooting on locations such as graffiti-covered Hosier Lane, architecturally unique Federation Square and stunning rural settings in the You Yangs.

Scene from The Leftovers, Season Three, with views of the You Yangs

Series showrunner and co-creator Damon Lindelof said the producers considered several Australian cities before settling on Melbourne.

“We learned a lot about how to optimise the incredible sort of power and spectrum available to us in this very narrow range of miles. I never cease to be amazed by the fact that we were based just out of Melbourne but were able to get so many unique looks. Plus, the experience of working with Film Victoria was one of a kind. I hope to repeat it many more times in my career.”

Hosier Lane, featured in G’Day Melbourne, Episode 4 of The Leftovers Season Three

Another notable production to shoot in Melbourne’s CBD and inner city locations was Lion, helmed by Academy Award® nominated Victorian director Garth Davis. Characterised by its elegant Victorian-era architecture, Carlton was one of the many suburbs featured in the movie.

Dev Patel on the set of Lion

Known for its picture-postcard pastoral landscapes and spectacular scenery, Macedon Ranges is one of Victoria’s most popular filming locations, recently hosting the shoot for FremantleMedia Australia and Foxtel’s upcoming six-part series Picnic at Hanging Rock, a re-imagining of the timeless Australian novel and the movie of the same name.

Victorian Director Michael Rymer filming at Hanging Rock for the upcoming series Picnic at Hanging Rock

In addition to shooting at Sanatorium Lake and Turpins Falls the highly-anticipated production also used various sites in the regional town of Clunes, Labassa and Ripponlea in Melbourne.

Co-executive producer Jo Porter said “We are so delighted that we have been able to realise the entire production in Victoria. We felt it was important and gives the production a point of difference. The Victorian landscape that Joan Lindsay brought to life so vividly, we wanted to capture that in our rendering of the novel.”

On location in Clunes for Picnic at Hanging Rock

Offering historical and contemporary architecture, Melbourne is renowned for its ability to service period, current day and futuristic storylines. Pentridge Prison, an impressive heritage-listed building with an epic bluestone façade, hosted the sci-fi thriller Stem, directed by Leigh Whannell (Saw franchise, Insidious franchise) and starring  Logan Marshall-Green (Prometheus, Spider-Man: Homecoming).

Pentridge Prison, one of the haunting locations used in upcoming sci-fi thriller STEM

Another production to utilise Victoria’s pastoral history to full effect was supernatural thriller Winchester, starring Academy Award®-winner Helen Mirren and directed by Peter and Michael Spierig (Predestination). Locations in and around Melbourne, such as the stunning Werribee Park Mansion, doubled for San Jose in the early 1900’s before shooting moved to the real Winchester Mystery House.

Werribee Park Mansion, one of the stunning locations in Winchester

Producer Tim McGahan spoke highly of filming in Victoria saying “Following the fantastic experience of shooting Predestination in Victoria and Docklands Studios back in 2013, I had no hesitation in choosing Victoria for principal photography on our next feature Winchester. Between the production incentives provided by Film Victoria, the world-class stages at Docklands, the variety of locations and the excellent crews, I am very happy to be back.”

For more information on Victoria’s filming locations and production incentives contact:
Joe Brinkmann
Manager – Incentives and Investments [email protected]
www.film.vic.gov.au