Ms SACILOTTO - 2007-06-20
The Northern Territory is about to receive a major boost through the filming of the movie Australia in July. Can you update the House on this fantastic opportunity for the Northern Territory?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to and I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. Everyone in this House, every Territorian in fact, is very pleased that Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia is being shot where it is set, and that is in Darwin. Filming on Stokes Hill Wharf begins on Tuesday, 3 July, and will finish up on 12 July. There will be a break in that filming for about four days while what they call the wharf is redressed for another shot, and they will be shooting some scenes in a Darwin warehouse during some of that time.
Throughout the filming period, it will be business as usual for traders on the wharf. The production company, Bazmark, has done a lot of work and they are working with us on this situation very carefully. Logistically, the production company expects to take up most of the parking spaces, for example, on the wharf, so an alternative parking location will be at the corner of Frances Bay Drive and McMinn Street. There will be a shuttle service to operate from there continuously from 8.30 in the morning to 11.00 at night, from before the filming starts on 30 June through to 13 July. There will be up to six coaster buses to transport visitors to and from the wharf precinct, and they will make stops along the way at wonderful attractions like Indo Pacific Marine, the pearl museum, Jetty Restaurant and on to the Sunset Cruise vessels. Access to the Deckchair Cinema and World War II Tunnels will also be available.
Bazmark has met with the waterfront developers and the contractors. Work on the waterfront will continue throughout filming, with only occasional stoppages for loud noise where they need a quiet time. There will be some level of stoppage, but only occasionally.
What is really terrific about the filming is that Darwin is great for volunteers, and we have volunteers who are helping manage the whole thing during the production. A task force was set up, co-chaired by my department and the NT Film Office, which enlisted the help of an experienced coordinator recently involved with the Arafura Games. Around 100 volunteers will help with duties over the time of the filming, such as bus driving, commentary on each shuttle, and will assist with alternative parking at the wharf. Great! Darwin volunteers are terrific and they are helping out with this. Baz Luhrmann himself has designed a uniform for the volunteers for whom the company will provide refreshments, meals and support over the entire period.
Despite only small parts of the film Australia actually being shot in Darwin, the story in the movie actually starts and ends here. Audiences around the world will see Darwin as it was in the 1930s and the film will highlight our natural attractions. Of course, a key part of that is the bombing of Darwin in 1942. Baz Luhrmann has an awesome reputation. This, undoubtedly, will be a most successful movie. It will promote Darwin not only to national audiences but also to international audiences. We should all be very excited about what is happening.
On a personal note, the Mayor of Bowen, where much of this is being shot, was offered a part in the movie. I was not; I am hurt.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I would be delighted to and I thank the member for Port Darwin for her question. Everyone in this House, every Territorian in fact, is very pleased that Baz Luhrmann’s film Australia is being shot where it is set, and that is in Darwin. Filming on Stokes Hill Wharf begins on Tuesday, 3 July, and will finish up on 12 July. There will be a break in that filming for about four days while what they call the wharf is redressed for another shot, and they will be shooting some scenes in a Darwin warehouse during some of that time.
Throughout the filming period, it will be business as usual for traders on the wharf. The production company, Bazmark, has done a lot of work and they are working with us on this situation very carefully. Logistically, the production company expects to take up most of the parking spaces, for example, on the wharf, so an alternative parking location will be at the corner of Frances Bay Drive and McMinn Street. There will be a shuttle service to operate from there continuously from 8.30 in the morning to 11.00 at night, from before the filming starts on 30 June through to 13 July. There will be up to six coaster buses to transport visitors to and from the wharf precinct, and they will make stops along the way at wonderful attractions like Indo Pacific Marine, the pearl museum, Jetty Restaurant and on to the Sunset Cruise vessels. Access to the Deckchair Cinema and World War II Tunnels will also be available.
Bazmark has met with the waterfront developers and the contractors. Work on the waterfront will continue throughout filming, with only occasional stoppages for loud noise where they need a quiet time. There will be some level of stoppage, but only occasionally.
What is really terrific about the filming is that Darwin is great for volunteers, and we have volunteers who are helping manage the whole thing during the production. A task force was set up, co-chaired by my department and the NT Film Office, which enlisted the help of an experienced coordinator recently involved with the Arafura Games. Around 100 volunteers will help with duties over the time of the filming, such as bus driving, commentary on each shuttle, and will assist with alternative parking at the wharf. Great! Darwin volunteers are terrific and they are helping out with this. Baz Luhrmann himself has designed a uniform for the volunteers for whom the company will provide refreshments, meals and support over the entire period.
Despite only small parts of the film Australia actually being shot in Darwin, the story in the movie actually starts and ends here. Audiences around the world will see Darwin as it was in the 1930s and the film will highlight our natural attractions. Of course, a key part of that is the bombing of Darwin in 1942. Baz Luhrmann has an awesome reputation. This, undoubtedly, will be a most successful movie. It will promote Darwin not only to national audiences but also to international audiences. We should all be very excited about what is happening.
On a personal note, the Mayor of Bowen, where much of this is being shot, was offered a part in the movie. I was not; I am hurt.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016