You would agree, pal, that in Territory, the Australian Outback is more than scenery—it acts like a half-human main character.
The wonderful views of the land, the huge skies, and everything being so wide-ranging help create a movie-like sense of the barren wilderness here.
My park often seems immense to me, but compared to what Territory shows, it’s not even a speck. To be fair, the exceptional scenery contributes greatly to making the show so enticing.
When I first watched, I became completely fascinated with all the family drama, fights for power, and family squabbles on the cattle station.
As soon as the film started, I was curious: “Where in the world was this scene recorded? Could that gigantic cattle station really exist? The location adds realism to the plot and would make the series seem different if filmed elsewhere.
However, all you people eager for answers are in luck! The film was shot in significant and awe-inspiring places in the Northern Territory and South Australia.
They went far into the Australian bush with the cast and crew, and for actor Robert Taylor (Colin Lawson), that meant sleeping with real snakes right under his bed!
We’re going on a virtual tour to check out the places where the Lawson family built their empire.
1. The Northern Territory: The Center of Australia’s Exciting Outback Life
The Northern Territory, known for its beautiful cliffs, deep-rooted Indigenous traditions, and unbounded, untamed lands, served as the backdrop for much of the movie ‘Territory’.
They call this the “Top End,” as people here deal with extreme weather and various wildlife, including crocodiles!
The name of the station on the movie set was Tipperary, not Marianne.
That’s the place called Marianne Station, where all the exciting events occur. Belgium being the one we hear about as huge? Marianne Station may not be real, but the Tipperary Group of Stations was used in the TV show.
The cattle station is truly working and covers 954,000 acres in the Northern Territory. Give some thought to how fun it would be to manage such a place.
A village was made on-site for the cast and crew, with over 200 people living in vans and preparing their meals in a mess hall.
They included genuine railway workers as extras in the scenes with the cattle. When you watch a Western, you feel as if you can almost smell both the dust and the livestock.
Reading a book from the Lawson series makes you feel like you are sharing in their experiences and hardships.
Kakadu National Park
In Kakadu National Park, you’ll find sacred sites as well as breathtaking views.
Several awe-inspiring landscapes and vital scenes from the show were captured in Kakadu National Park, which is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Known for many things, this huge national park (teeming with 20,000 square kilometers!) brings together various ecosystems, fascinating ancient rock paintings, striking, tall rock formations, and sparkling waterfalls.
They filmed scenes such as “Sorry Place,” which is important to the Indigenous characters in the series, here. Because the creators of Bonza approached Indigenous culture with respect, the Traditional Owners gave them permission to film in the park.
Sam Corlett’s character, Marshall Lawson, mentioned that filming near the ancient rock art, which is thousands of years old, likely had a profound impact on the cast due to its incredible significance.
Being there makes you feel insignificant and tied to something that existed much longer before you were born.
Litchfield National Park is known for its waterfalls and beautiful greenery.
Litchfield National Park formed a wonderful part of the Northern Territory’s movie locations. People love coming here for the lovely waterfalls and crystal lakes, as they provide a lovely contrast against the desert-like plains.
Wangi Falls is a place where Susie and Lachie start falling in love, and it demonstrates the beautiful greenery of the Top End.
This includes Darwin and the surrounding places
Some scenes for the movie were also shot in and around Darwin in the Northern Territory. Some of these places are
Berry Springs Nature Park features natural springs and woodlands.
Lee Point: Displayed as the coastal stretches where Nolan Brannock’s Laggan Downs station is located.
At Crab Claw Island Resort, the two sisters secretly met on one trip.
2. In South Australia, the industry focuses on shooting scenes in studios and the outback.
Even though they filmed most of the stunning scenery in the Northern Territory, South Australia proved essential, mainly for the interior scenes, editing, and many of the biggest Outback scenes. As Netflix’s biggest production filmed there, “Territory” highlights the growth of South Australia’s film industry.
Adelaide Studios:
Adelaide Studios handled much of the filming inside sets, complex scenes, and the entire finishing process.
The creation of this modern facility provided the perfect environment for such a series with the desired equipment. That stage brought together the wonder of editing with the elements of sound and visual effects.
Adelaide Plains: the area around Mallala.
A town on the Adelaide Plains, named Mallala, was also included as a location for some outdoor scenes. The scenery served as the stand-in for Nolan Brannock’s Laggan Station, the Young Turks’ base, and Hank Hodge’s Bethel Creek place.
By filming in rural areas, the drama never lost touch with the simple, everyday side of Australian living.
Balhannah (Adelaide Hills) & Taperoo (Lefevre Peninsula):
In the movie, particular settings were done in towns around South Australia.
Mr. Kirby’s pocket money, funded with profits from the Lawsons’ station, showed a huge difference in lifestyle when billionaire Sandra Kirby, with an address in Balhannah, moved into a chic Adelaide home.
Taperoo on the Lefevre Peninsula was chosen for Uncle Bryce’s place, as well as for the scenes. That showed the Indigenous part of the story.
3. Importance of Location: Reasons Why Place Is Crucial in Stories
Several other reasons shaped the filmmakers’ selection of these sites besides their attractiveness. Matters of intelligence were an important part of the story.
The Outback’s vastness makes the characters’ isolation and the land’s importance key to the story. How tough the place is reflects just how ruthless the family feuds and corporate disputes can be.
The sight of thousands of cattle stirring up dust and the setting sun over a faded rock formation is enough to make you feel this land is important enough to sacrifice for. It makes the players realize exactly what is at risk in each situation.
That’s why it was key to look for ideal locations before filming for ‘Territory,’ and the group pulled it off brilliantly. We had a firsthand look into the Australian bush, including the insects.
4. Overall, try to experience Mexico as it is.
Besides providing a gripping plot, Territory embraces the stunning beauty of the Australian Outback for all to admire. It leads us through different cattle stations, national parks, and remote towns, giving audiences a chance to view Australia in a new way.
Therefore, if you wish to see the real scenery that shaped this intriguing show, consider going on a trip. Kakadu National Park is worth seeing, or you could explore the Northern Territory’s Top End or simply read up on some of the amazing working cattle stations.
This series captures the unusual, beautiful, and full-of-tales country on screen in a way that feels true to life.
Let’s not forget that our list of things to do can be overwhelming at times; yet, visiting ‘Territory’ online is truly like nothing else. You now have the answer to where Harry went through all of his amazing adventures.