Nestled in the vast landscapes of the Northern Territory, Tipperary Station has emerged as a premier filming destination, recently serving as a key location for the Netflix global hit series Territory.
Just a three-hour drive from Darwin CBD, this expansive cattle station spans an impressive 343,701 hectares, offering an unparalleled backdrop for screen productions seeking breathtaking, untouched wilderness on a cinematic scale.
Speaking on filming at Tipperary Station during the production of Territory, Executive Producers Ben Davies (Ronde) and Rob Gibson (Easy Tiger) commented, “…the escarpments, the rivers, the various flats … There’s a greater range of landscapes up there. It’s absolutely striking,”
Cinematic Landscape Like No Other
Tipperary Station features a diverse range of environments, from sweeping savannahs and rugged escarpments to lush wetlands and dense woodlands. The property offers multiple types of terrain, ranging from ranch facilities to grassland savannah, rugged water crossings and mountains in the west, to large orchards of lemon and mango trees.
This striking variety of landscapes provides filmmakers with extraordinary visual diversity within a single location, reducing the need for extensive unit moves and allowing for seamless world-building on screen.
In fact, the huge range of landscapes and the untouched nature of much of the property means that the Royal Australian Air Force also conducts its Combat Survival Training School on the station from time to time due to its variability.
Production-Friendly Infrastructure and Accessibility
With the ability to hosting large numbers of station workers for “mustering” (herding the stations approximate 42,000 head of cattle) Tipperary Station is well-equipped to support film and television productions.
The property features internal roads, accommodation facilities (the station boasts both on-site living, pool facilities as well as its own local shop, post office and school), an Olympic sized interior dressage arena, and other essential services such as on-site mechanical sheds, making it a logistically viable option for large-scale shoots.
Its relative proximity to Darwin, which boasts a non-curfewed international airport, and established production support network, further enhances its appeal for both domestic and international productions. Darwin’s airport is serviced by Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin, Singapore Airlines, Air Asia and Air North as well as several private charter companies. The strategic proximity of Darwin sees direct flights to Singapore (4.5 hours), Bali (2 hours) and all major Australian airports (4 hours); facilitating easy access for cast and crew both domestically and abroad.
A Fascinating History
Once owned by entrepreneur Warren Anderson, who acquired the property in the mid-1980s, Tipperary Station boasts a unique history. Anderson developed the station into a truly remarkable property, building a zoo that housed between 1,800 and 2,200 animals, including a pygmy hippopotamus and a rhinoceros. He also constructed an indoor equestrian centre and an 8,000-foot (2,438 m) bitumen runway capable of accommodating a Boeing 727 which still remain on the property.
Home to Territory and More
As one of the primary locations for the hit-series Territory, Tipperary Station played a crucial role in bringing the show’s bold storytelling to life and adding a sense of genuine authenticity. Its vast, cinematic vistas and dramatic natural settings provided the perfect backdrop for the show’s high-intensity action sequences and emotionally charged moments. During production, around 140 of the 180 crew members lived on-site at the station.
Beyond Territory, Tipperary station has also featured in several other projects such as Netflix observational documentary Wild Croc Territory and Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Outback Ringer.
With its diverse choice of landscapes, Tipperary Station has the potential to accommodate a variety of genres, from outback adventures and historical epics to contemporary dramas and sci-fi landscapes.
Accessing the Northern Territory Screen Industry
The filming of Territory at Tipperary Station underscores the Northern Territory’s growing status as a world-class production hub. The region’s unique landscapes, coupled with Screen Territory’s Production Attraction Incentive Program and Governmental support, continue to attract high-profile productions, boosting the local economy and providing invaluable opportunities for Northern Territory screen practitioners.
For filmmakers seeking a location that combines raw natural beauty, production-ready infrastructure, and a truly unique visual identity, Tipperary Station and the surrounding area stands as an exceptional choice.
With Tipperary Station’s role in Territory now cemented in screen history, it is poised to become an in-demand destination for future productions looking to capture the essence of the Australian outback on a grand cinematic scale.