When Lonely Planet named Newcastle as one of the top 10 must-see destinations in the world for 2011, a few of us scoffed with disbelief – including many begrudging Sydneysiders and a list of other famous cities abroad that failed to make the list.
In keeping with this ‘less is more’ theme of which some of Australia’s more obscure locations are being given a notable mention, Lonely Planet has named the mining town of Broken Hill as one of its top 10 film locations in the world. Ranked in at number four, Broken Hill follows behind Petra (Jordan), Paris (France) and Toky (Japan) and outdoes the likes of cities such as Manhattan (USA) and Venice (Italy). It was the only Australian location to make the list.
Broken Hill is described as “real outback territory, where men are men and sheep run for cover,” and is mentioned particularly for its “postapocalyptic environment.”
“It tells the rest of the globe that our film-making credentials are world class and this international accolade can only enhance our hopes of drawing more productions to Broken Hill,” Film Broken Hill Project Co-ordinator, Ms Lyndall Roberts said.
Over 300 productions have been filmed in Broken Hill since 1982, including Mad Max II, Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Mission Impossible II; with approximately $700 000 being spent on film and media productions annually.
Developments are well under way in converting a 1930s power station into the fifth largest movie studio in Australia, with more than $2 million already being spent and a proposed $9 million by Government agencies. Check out the list below.
FILMS WHERE DESTINATION IS THE STAR (LONELY PLANET)
1. Petra, Jordan (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)
2. Paris, France (A Bout de Souffle, Jules et Jim, Alphaville and Amelie)
3. Tokyo, Japan (Lost in Translation)
4. Outback, Australia (Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior)
5. Dublin, Ireland (The Commitments)
6. Manhattan, USA (Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters)
7. Angkor Wat, Cambodia (Tomb Raider)
8. New Zealand (Lord of the Rings trilogy)
9. Venice, Italy (Death In Venice, Don’t Look Now and The Comfort of Strangers)
10. Wadi Run, Jordan (Lawrence of Arabia)
Via Inside Film
