Movie Capitals: On Location In... Sydney

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney
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The capital city of New South Wales is famous for a number of reasons – breathtaking harbours, the opera house and amazing weather, to name a few – but did you know that’s it’s also been a Hollywood hit factory for the last 20 years, producing some of the biggest blockbusters of the last two decades? Take a look around The Emerald City, and you might spot a few landmarks you’ve seen on the silver screen…

By Victoria Luxford

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Sydney Airport (Holy Smoke, 1999) – Hopefully your arrival in the city will be as smooth as Harvey Keitel’s in this late ‘90s comedy, where he plays a ‘Cult Exiter’ who arrives hoping to rescue Ruth (Kate Winslet) from a cult, on behalf of her worried Sydney family. The scene features an amusing sequence involving trolleys which will be very familiar to anyone who has navigated the rigours of airport travel!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Parramatta (The Wolverine, 2013) – Part of an exciting sequence for this solo Wolverine adventure was filmed in downtown Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney. It’s one of many movies that Sydney-born star Hugh Jackman brought to the city, with 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine also being shot there. It may look a little different if you visit, however: the location was ‘playing’ Tokyo in the film, and the streets were dressed to look like a typical Japanese street.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Strickland House (Australia, 2009) – Jackman also filmed in the impressive Strickland House in Vaucluse, just northeast of central Sydney. He looked very different to Wolverine, however, as the house played the host for a lavish party where Jackman’s character, Drover, was forced to wear a tuxedo. Those looking to relive that moment can visit the house, which is open to the public. You’ll be relieved to hear that the dress code isn’t quite as formal as it was in the movie!

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Bare Island (Mission : Impossible 2, 2000) – Dougray Scott was the original choice for Wolverine, however he had to pass the claws to Jackman due to filming this Tom Cruise action sequel. The villain of the piece, he faces off against Cruise in a kind of ‘motorcycle duel’, shown on Bare Island in southeastern Sydney. A former home for war veterans, the island is typically more famous for its scenic views than Hollywood bike chases.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Pitt Street Fountain (The Matrix, 1999) – We could write a whole article on the various locations used for this classic, which was filmed in Australia and used a lot of Sydney’s Central Business District as film sets. The most accessible is the fountain on Pitt Street in Martin Place, where Morpheus (Laurence Fishburne) explains the nature of The Matrix to Neo (Keanu Reeves), who is distracted by a woman in a red dress (Fiona Johnson). The other two films in the trilogy, Reloaded and Revolutions, also filmed in the city.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Sydney Tower (Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers: The Movie, 1995) – OK, the big-screen debut of the Power Rangers may not be as auspicious as The Matrix, but it was one of the first big-budget action movies to be shot in the city, with a major landmark appropriately at the centre of the action. Sydney was the location for the final battle, and villain Ivan Ooze (Paul Freeman) made his base at the top of the tower, which itself was turned into a weapon via computer trickery. In reality, the biggest threat the tower poses is to those with vertigo, as its 164-foot (50-metre) high observation deck offers wonderful views of the city.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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St. Mark’s Church, Darling Point (Muriel’s Wedding, 1994) – Those who love a romantic comedy simply have to stop off at the church from Muriel’s Wedding, where the scene featuring Muriel’s (Oscar nominee Toni Collette) sham wedding to a South African swimmer was filmed. A popular venue for weddings, this isn’t the only brush with fame the church has had; it also played host to Elton John’s real-life wedding to Renate Blauel in 1984.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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The International College of Management (The Great Gatsby, 2013) – How do you create a dream mansion? If you’re the production team on Baz Luhrmann’s lavish drama, you make it out of several locations, and some studio trickery. While the mansion that belonged to the lonely millionaire (Leonardo DiCaprio) isn’t one building, part of the exterior belongs to The International College of Management in Manly, a suburb of northern Sydney. However, Gatsby’s parties were too big for one building to hold, with those scenes created on two sound stages.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Martin Place (Superman Returns, 2006) – This underrated interpretation of the Man of Steel used Sydney extensively for its filming, the most recognisable being this madcap chase through ‘Metropolis’ (Martin Place in the Central Business District), where Lex Luthor’s glamorous accomplice Kitty Kowalski (Parker Posey) attempts to create a distraction for Superman (Brandon Routh). Taking in a lot of the CBD during the sequence, the pair land next to the fountain featured in The Matrix.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Petersham Town Hall (Strictly Ballroom, 1992) – Baz Luhrmann’s exciting debut announced the filmmaker on a global stage, and created a boom for Australian cinema in the 1990s. The town hall in the Sydney suburb of Petersham is where the action happens, playing host to many of the dance scenes. The hall still hosts community events and occasions such as weddings, and is open to visitors who want to visit the place where the ballroom magic happened!

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Sydney Harbour Bridge (Independence Day, 1996) – A brief cameo from one of the city’s most recognisable sights, but a memorable one nonetheless. In the final victory montage of this ‘90s blockbuster, we go around the world witnessing different alien ships exploding, including the awesome spectacle of a spaceship exploding within sight of the bridge, as mankind celebrates its worldwide independence day. It’s one of the first stops for any tourist in the city, even without intergalactic invaders!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay (Frost/Nixon, 2008) – Michael Sheen filmed in this distinct part of Sydney for the 2008 drama, where he played British television personality Sir David Frost. In real life, Frost appeared many times on Australian television, where he interviewed important politicians and notable people during the 1970s. In this part of the film, we see where Frost is in his career at the time of Nixon’s resignation – filming a light piece for television interviewing an escape artist!

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Fox Studios Australia (Star Wars Prequels, 1999-2005) – OK, this is a little bit misleading as this isn’t a location per se, but we felt it would be remiss to exclude these studios in Moore Park, located in the southeast of the city. Many of the films on this list shot interior scenes at these studios, and most famously was home to George Lucas’ Star Wars prequels in the early-to-mid 2000s. It remains a hot spot for Hollywood productions, although it’s likely the name will change given Disney’s acquisition of Fox this year.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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The Imperial Hotel, Erskineville (The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, 1994) – While it underwent a renovation last year, there’s no denying the spirit that still exists within this landmark LGBTQ+ venue. It was the setting for the opening of the seminal drag dramedy, an association that still draws drag pilgrims to the location today. The venue has fully leaned into this reputation, hosting a ‘Drag’n’Dine’ restaurant called Priscilla’s. Even the logo on their website is reminiscent of the film. Whereas many locations shy away from movie stardom, The Imperial is out and proud!

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Robertson, New South Wales (Babe, 1995) – The mid-’90s family favourite became a worldwide hit, and made an unlikely tourist destination of this tiny village about 60 miles (96 kilometres) south of Sydney. Those looking for the actual Hoggett Farm may leave a bit disappointed (it was a temporary set made by the production and taken down after), however the gorgeous rural setting will make you think a sheep-herding pig will come trotting over the hills any minute.

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Culture
Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney.
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Luna Park (Candy, 2006) – Luna Park, on the Northern Shore of Sydney Harbour, is worth a visit in itself for the number of thrilling rides and larger-than-life fun park atmosphere, but it has one extra attraction: Many theme parks promise that you can ‘ride the movies’, but Luna Park’s Rotor ride actually delivers. You can step into the same ride that Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish rode in 2006’s romantic drama Candy. The ride is the setting of the opening of the film, where the pair are watched by Geoffrey Rush in the above viewing gallery.

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Movie Capitals: On Location In… Sydney

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