The homestead called home by Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, has been dismantled.
Gus Tampalini, the general manager of an indigenous organisation in WA’s Kimberley, on whose land Faraway Downs stood, said it had deteriorated over time, after being exposed to the elements.
“We told Tourism WA we didn’t want it and they said they didn’t want it,” Mr Tampalini said.
“We told them that it was on our site and they had to get rid of it. They asked us to do it, so we did, between three and six months ago.
“When it was dismantled, nothing was tagged – it was a shemozzle.”
Tourism WA decided more than a year ago not to pursue a plan to retain Faraway Downs as a tourist attraction, despite a report which predicted it could attract as many as 90,000 visitors annually if restored with an Australia movie theme.
Happy Australia Day! As a treat, check out cast members from the film Australia, Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman along with fellow Aussies Olivia Newton-John, Russell Crowe, Keith Urban and the QANTAS choir singing Australia’s unofficial national anthem, ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ at the Sydney Opera House.
With the queen of talk shows visiting Australia the country has had a lot of media exposure at home and abroad. Following the final installment of Oprah Winfrey’s four part series ‘Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure’ channel ten made the sensible move of airing the film Australia on free to air tv for the first time. As a result this attracted a lot of carry on viewers. Years after the film’s cinematic release it was great to see so many of visitors passing through the site.
For some like John, they were even moved to reach out and let the creators of the film know just how much they loved the film.
I have just had the honour of watching your movie “Australia” and feel compelled to pass on my congratulations to Mr Luhrmann and all those who played a part in producing such an incredibly moving and cultured film . Rarely do I go to see movies and rely solely upon the TV screening but this would be the first film in 25yrs that I would have felt Blessed to view on the big screen .
I am amazed at the sensitivity with which the writer has told the story of life’s journey on so many levels and given acclaim to the Spiritual culture of our Aboriginal people.
***
My sincere thanks to Mr Luhrmann for his sensitivity and genius to deliver such an incredible movie and to the cast and support team that assisted. The plot was sublime and insightful, the camera work artistic and the acting extraordinary. I find myself lost for words and inadequate to deliver this message of profound gratitude and amazement at the depth of this story line but hope my sentiments can be forwarded on none-the-less .
This movie certainly makes me proud to be Australian and is a great gift back to our Aborigine who have been so heavily savaged by western influence.
Yours Respectfully,
John
Thanks to John and all our recent visitors for your patronage and positive feedback.
After months of waiting, constant emails and even a petition circulating at one stage, fans of the epic film Australia finally have their full length soundtrack! If you have previously purchased the EP version this soundtrack builds upon it with pieces of stunning score by musician David Hirschfelder. The album features 19 tracks, a beautiful digital book of artwork and is currently available exclusively on iTunes.
TRACKLISTING:
Welcome to Australia (Overture)
The Drover’s Ballad
All Night Long
You Ride Your Way, I’ll Ride Mine No Man Hires Me, No Man Fires Me
Cantero de Ti
The Rush
First Kiss
Over the Rainbow
Faraway Downs
Whoa Babe
Life Begins Again
I Will Come For You
Fire From the Sky King George Calls
Nimrod (From the Enigma Variations)
By The Boab Tree
Waltzing Matilda
As the lead VFX company for Australia, Animal Logic was awarded the task of designing and creating the key VFX shots that take place within the port town of Darwin. This entailed creating a CG Darwin, complete with harbour, wharf and ships that had to be re-dressed across the three time periods seen in the film: ‘Cattletown’, ‘Militarised’, and ‘Post-bombed’.
The Animal Logic team brought to life a CG Wharf modelled from lidar scans of Darwin wharf as well as various larger-than-life ships, creating the “heightened reality” of a romanticised Darwin. Referencing colour palettes from vintage photographs and classic epic films, the splenderous 1930s landscape provided an exciting canvas for the wide aerial shots and set extensions created.
In addition, CG cattle were added to boost the numbers in the cattle yeards, the cattle race and during the “triumphant return” when Sarah droves cattle into Darwin. These shots involved the combination of multiple plates shot accross three locations: the cattle town set in Bowen, Darwin harbour and the bluescreen wharf set on a stage in Sydney. The CG FX work includes the harbour water, huge burning smoke plumes, burning oil tanks, funnel smoke, fog, clouds, wakes, flames, atmos and cattle dust.
As seen in excerpts above, you can view a fantastic gallery of images, credits and additional information at the Animal Logic website Australia section.
Baz Luhrmann’s epic romance Australia has become the second-highest grossing Australian film of all time.
Now in its 14th week of release, the film has grossed $A36.78 million at the Australian box office. On Thursday Australia overtook the 1995 hit Babe’s long-standing box office figure of $A36.77 million, and is surpassed only by Crocodile Dundee’s record $A44.7 million.
The film, starring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, is also set to pass $US200 million ($A307.93 million) at the global box office this weekend, with the film still to open in Japan.
“The ongoing box office success of Australia has been outstanding and a unique testament to the way the film has been embraced by this country,”Twentieth Century Fox Australia managing director Marc Wooldridge said.
Top 10 highest grossing Australian films at the local box office:
Crocodile Dundee – $44.7m Australia – $36.78m
Babe – $36.77m
Happy Feet – $31.8m Moulin Rouge! – $27.7m
Crocodile Dundee 2 – $24.9m Strictly Ballroom – $21.8m
The Dish – $18m
The Man From Snowy River – $17.2m
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – $16.5m
Monday the 26th of January is a public holiday down under for Australia Day (think along the lines of The Fourth of July for USA). This long weekend marks the perfect and patriotic time to take family and friends to see Luhrmann’s epic Australia.
If you’re living in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney take a picnic, some wine and head on out one evening this weekend to your local moonlight cinema as they’re holding special long weekend screenings. Most shopping and event attractions are closed on the public holiday Monday, but many cinema chains will be open and are also holding special Australia Day screenings.
To those around the world, ex-pats and moviegoers alike, you don’t need an excuse to see this movie (again!), but now that you have one why not help the country celebrate in style?
The homestead called home by Nicole Kidman’s character, Lady Sarah Ashley, has been dismantled.
No Man Hires Me, No Man Fires Me
As the lead VFX company for Australia, Animal Logic was awarded the task of designing and creating the key VFX shots that take place within the port town of Darwin. This entailed creating a CG Darwin, complete with harbour, wharf and ships that had to be re-dressed across the three time periods seen in the film: ‘Cattletown’, ‘Militarised’, and ‘Post-bombed’.
The Animal Logic team brought to life a CG Wharf modelled from lidar scans of Darwin wharf as well as various larger-than-life ships, creating the “heightened reality” of a romanticised Darwin. Referencing colour palettes from vintage photographs and classic epic films, the splenderous 1930s landscape provided an exciting canvas for the wide aerial shots and set extensions created.
In addition, CG cattle were added to boost the numbers in the cattle yeards, the cattle race and during the “triumphant return” when Sarah droves cattle into Darwin. These shots involved the combination of multiple plates shot accross three locations: the cattle town set in Bowen, Darwin harbour and the bluescreen wharf set on a stage in Sydney. The CG FX work includes the harbour water, huge burning smoke plumes, burning oil tanks, funnel smoke, fog, clouds, wakes, flames, atmos and cattle dust.
Monday the 26th of January is a public holiday down under for