A while back I received an e-mail from Ursula. She wrote:
Greetings Susan, I’ve enjoyed your blog for years! Would you consider doing a movie house tour of the Queenslander Nicole Kidman inherits in the film, Australia? I would love to see more detail and learn more about it. Thank you. Kindest regards.
Ursula, thanks so much for the suggestion because both the movie and the Queenslander home, Faraway Downs, were awesome!
(Click Ctrl+ to enlarge the pictures a bit and then Ctrl 0 (zero) when finished.)
The 2008 movie, Australia, directed by Baz Luhrmann, was filmed in Australia in multiple locations including The Kimberly, Bowen and Darwin. Faraway Downs, the home that played such a big part in the movie, was built in Kununurra. A set built for the interior scenes was constructed in Sydney.
Kununurra is a hot dusty town in far northern Western Australia, a remote area where the nearest town (Wyndham) is 62 miles away.
Source: Wikipedia
Instead of building Faraway Downs on location, it was prefabricated in Sydney, then transported to Western Australia in semi trailers where it was built by a crew of forty workers. The picture below really gives you an idea of just how remote a location was chosen for this home that plays such an important character in the movie. The home was constructed at the foot of a large hill known as House Roof Hill. You’ll be able to see House Roof Hill a bit better later in this post.
This movie takes place in 1939, just before World War II. Nicole Kidman plays Lady Sarah Ashley, a young English aristocrat who decides to take a trip to Australia where her philandering husband is currently overseeing their ranch, Faraway Downs. She’s determined to convince him to sell the property and come back home.
Her husband sends a cattle drover, played by Hugh Jackman (he’s divine in this movie!) to pick her up and to transport her to Faraway Downs. In the movie Hugh Jackman’s character actually goes by the name, Drover. I had never heard the word drover but per Wikipedia:
A drover in Australia is a person, who moves livestock, usually sheep, cattle and horses “on the hoof” over long distances. Reasons for droving may include: delivering animals to a new owner’s property, taking animals to market, or moving animals during a drought in search of better feed and/or water.
The ride to the ranch is wild and crazy and it’s a true fish-out-of-water adventure if ever there was one. When Lady Ashley first arrives, she is elegantly dressed to the nines but by the time she arrives at the ranch, she’s a sweaty, dusty mess.
As Lady Ashley (Sarah) arrives we get our first real look at the rundown Faraway Downs. The front gate is in pitiful shape.
The house is not much better with a sagging front porch roof, broken, falling-down, matchstick porch shades and an exterior that’s badly in need of a good painting.
There’s House Roof Hill in the background…such a great name for a hill! You can read more about how this specific location in Kununurra was chosen for the movie here: BVisual Media
As Lady Sarah enters the front door for the first time, we see the name “Faraway Downs” in the stained glass panel in the front door. Even through all the neglect, we see signs of the beauty and romance of this wonderful home.
The first room we really see inside Faraway Downs is the dining room. Ignoring Drover’s (Hugh Jackman’s) order to wait in the truck, Sarah (Nicole Kidman) rushes headlong into the house to shockingly find her husband on the dining room table and obviously very dead.
In the first part of the movie, Faraway Downs feels very dark, brooding and little scary. This parallels the goings-on in the house and on the ranch perfectly.
Despite the danger and dark atmosphere surrounding the beginning of the movie, you can see that Faraway Downs was once a beautiful, vibrant home. It’s dusty and run down now, but it’s obvious someone at some point, cared very much for the home and took great care to decorate the walls and to furnish the home with beautiful furniture. It’s also obvious that Faraway Downs has fallen on hard times.
Despite all the dust and spookiness, the bedroom Sarah sleeps in her first night at Faraway Downs is beautiful.
Another main character, Nullah (played by Brandon Walters) suddenly appears in Sarah’s room during this scene.
One last view of Sarah’s bedroom at Faraway Downs…
Another room we see in the early part of the movie is the room where Faraway Down’s heavy-drinking, accountant, Kipling Flynn (played by Jack Thompson) sleeps and works.
Again it’s filled with beautiful furniture, antiques to us but would have been current furnishing for the period the movie was made.
The other side of the room…
Throughout the early part of the movie, the woven matchstick shades on the front porch are always down. They are torn and damaged very badly, emphasizing the poor condition of Faraway Downs.
Another view showing the dirty and dilapidated condition of Faraway Downs.
During the filming, rare rains came to the area. It caused tremendous flooding and the cast had to abandon filming the outdoor scenes to flee to Sydney where they worked on the interior scenes that were filmed on a set.
Source: smh.com.au
As with most movies, there’s an evil antagonist in Australia. Actually there are a few in this movie but the main one is Neil Fletcher played by David Wenham. He’s the manager of Faraway Downs until he accidentally reveals his true colors and gets fired by Lady Sarah. He is genuinely evil, taking the lives of several folks in the course of the movie.
Eventually, a plan is hatched to save Faraway Downs and Lady Sarah convinces Drover to help her. During their adventure of driving the cattle all the way to Darwin to be sold, they begin to fall in love. After the cattle are sold, Lady Sarah and Drover return to Faraway Downs where they are able to repair the home and make it beautiful once again.
Everything is lightened and brightened with a fresh coat of whitewash.
Doesn’t it look a million times better! The rains come and Lady Sarah is able to create beautiful gardens for her Queenslander home. I did a little research and discovered that Queenslander homes are usually timber construction and are either one or two stories. Often they are raised like Faraway Downs to help with ventilation. It gets super hot in this area of Australia with temperatures reaching 109-110.
Photo Credit: Douglas Kirkland
In fact, both Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman fainted during the making of the movie while sitting atop horses. Hugh Jackman passed out the very first day of filming when he had on a wool shirt and had to sit on a horse for over two hours while they solved some other filming issue. Someone noticed he was beginning to lean and they got him off the horse before he fell off.
Same thing happened to Nicole Kidman later in the making of the movie. She had just found out she was expecting when filming first started for the movie. One day when the temps were up around 109, she fainted while sitting on her horse. Fortunately, the handler for the horse caught her.
The raised design of a Queenslander home also helps keep critters out of the house (especially termites) and helps avoid flooding problems during times of heavy rain.
Did you notice all the beautiful gardens around Faraway Downs, such a contrast from how it looked at the start of the movie. Those were designed by set designer, Catherine Martin.
Photo Source: Flower Magazine via Pith+Vigor
Remember the fake tree in the movie, The Holiday? Well, some of the landscaping is faux in this movie, too…like this Baob tree. Yep, totally fake.
It has leaves later on in the movie.
Another view of this Queenslander cottage from a different angle. Since the home was only a faux exterior built just for the movie, I’m guessing it was torn down once the movie was finished.
The ratty, old matchstick shades are gone. How do you like this style house? It reminds me of the raised cottages we have along the coastal areas here in the south.
I love the design of the porch, it even has lattice doors. Doors for a porch!
Now that Faraway Downs has been painted and brightened, we can see the interior a bit better. The entry has a lovely bamboo hall tree just inside the front door.
I love the beautiful stained glass in the sidelights and the door.
Another view of the hallway from the other end. Wonder what that tall thing is on the right.
Sarah steps into the living room of Faraway Downs to find she has a disturbing visitor.
The evil Neil Fletcher has stopped by to scare her and make her life miserable. He’s good at that!
We get a good view of the dining room in this scene.
I think there are two sets of the white birds in the movie. I noticed them in the dining room and again on this piece that I think is in the living room.
Notice the beautiful old desk on the left.
Another view looking into adjoining rooms.
Lady Sarah’s bedroom looks much brighter and less scary after the restoration.
These are the only interior rooms we see after Faraway Downs is brought back to life.
Love this evening view of Faraway Downs against a blue hour sky. Did you see the movie, Australia, when it was in the theater? How did you like the house on the big screen?
Thanks to Ursula for suggesting I check out this wonderful movie house. I always love hearing your movie suggestions. Movie house posts take a while to create, but they are always some of my favorite posts to look back on later.
Movies transport us to another world, sometimes literally! I learned so much about Australia researching information for this post. I would love to see it in person one day, just maybe not when it’s 109 degrees outside!
Hope you enjoyed this movie house tour of Faraway Downs from the movie, Australia. You’ll find additional tours of all your favorite movie houses under the category Movie Houses at the top of the blog, or click here: Movie House Tours.
Check out the category, More TV & Movie Houses, where you may find me hiding out under a cabinet, ala Randy in A Christmas Story. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, see you on Monday for Metamorphosis Monday!
Good post, even though I never saw the movie, this makes me want to. This past week our local theater group announced they will be staging A Christmas Story. I always think of that visual of you in that cute picture, among other scenes, when I hear that movie title. 🙂
lol That was one of the most fun trips I’ve ever taken. Got to pretend I was 8 all over again! 🙂
You are an evil woman! Now I have to get this movie and watch it. But then, any excuse to watch Hugh Jackman, right??? This house looks amazing. I love the design. Thanks for sharing.
Linda, you’ll love it. I have a bigger crush on Hugh Jackman now, than I did before.
I never paid much attention to him and then I saw him on Graham Norton. He was so likable and fun, now I’m a fan.
I enjoyed this very much. I have never seen the movie “Australia.” I am a fan of Nicole Kidman. I will have to check it out sometime. Thank you for posting this. I enjoy ALL your tours of movie sets, pretty homes. Love it. Sherry
Thanks, Sherry!
Hi ,Queenslanders have screened porches with doors as people sleep on them in the hottest part of the year .The doors give some security and they stop snakes . I live in South Australia and we have mainly old Federation houses big return verandahs and symmetrical houses with a wide central hallway . I would love a Queenslander but still our home is lovely too it’s a cottage.
Ahhh, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining that. It’s kind of like our sleeping porches here in the south, except they are usually on the second floor so they don’t have a door. Australia sounds like it has some beautiful homes!
I remember watching this movie. I love movies that take place in Australia. You did such a wonderful job with this post. It was like I was actually there. Now that I know some of the background, I’m going to watch it again! thanks…
Susan,
What a beautiful fake home! Haha. I love the style and now want to see the movie so I can see the house and furnishings up close. I do feel a bit trepidatious thanks to that terrible Neil Fletcher. (Why do movie makers always think there must be an evil character? Grrr.) Still, I’m glad to have a movie recommendation because there are so few worth watching these days and I love the art. Thanks to Ursula for suggesting you do this post!
Supposed to rain later – day 15 – so may have to watch this! Thank you for the suggestion – I love your movie house posts.
Oh my goodness, Michele! Where do you live? If it rained that much where I live, I’d bury myself in cozy projects, books and movies, lol. (Maybe I’d finally get some things done.)
I saw this movie when it came out and recently on television. I think I have seen most of Nicole Kidman’s movies. I loved the house, the style is so unique to that country, but what is it with the long sleeves? That must have been brutal for the actors.
I loved the book “The Thorn Birds,” which gave a good depiction of the Australian landscape.
I saw this movie when it came out and recently on television. I think I have seen most of Nicole Kidman’s movies. I loved the house. The style is so unique to that country, but what is it with the long sleeves? That must have been brutal for the actors.
I loved the book “The Thorn Birds,” which gave a good depiction of the Australian landscape.
I wonder if the long sleeves help keep the sun off. There’s a garden shop I visit about 30 minutes from my home and all the employees there where long sleeves, but their shirts are this special fabric that’s very breathable. I asked her about the long sleeves and she said it’s to keep from getting too much sun (skin cancer) and that they actually stay cooler since it keeps the sun off their skin. I remember googling the name brand of the shirts when I got back home and they were super expensive!
Hello again, I was wondering if the movie “Australia” is based on a book? I would love to “read” this book if movie is based on a book…as well as see the movie too. Just wondering if you knew…..Sherry
Sherry, at the site IMDb.com, someone asked that same question and they answered this way: “No, Australia is based on a screenplay by Australian writers Stuart Beattie and Baz Luhrmann (who also directed the movie) and South African-born screenwriter Ronald Harwood.” So, unfortunately it doesn’t look like there’s a book. I always prefer to read books before seeing a movie, too. It seems the book is always better than the movie, or at least it usually is to me. Here’s the trailer on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfI4hK9I2k0
Thanks for the tour!! I saw this movie when it first came out, it was wonderful on the big screen!! Watched it again on tv. Love that big house, and the long sleeve thing makes sense.
I loved the movie, could watch it again and again…….so, never understood why it didn’t make it as a big time movie??
Hi, its me again……just remembered the other movie series that was shot in Australia years ago……The Man from Snowy River……made for TV, I think there were 2 or 3 episodes. It was breathtaking……and they hired actual drovers for the horse scenes, I think they called them ‘whips’ or something similar. When you read the credits and see the names of the ‘cowboys’, many have the same last names, so you knew they were brothers, fathers, uncles, cousins, etc………ranching and herding is a family affair!! And could they ride!! Maybe you could find out about the movies. The big house was very ornate, and the scenery was out of this world…….
I would love to see that! I know they have to be amazing on a horse to do that kind of work. Can’t even imagine!
Did you ever see that funny commercial about herding cats. Don’t know why that popped into my head but if you haven’t seen it, check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8
This one is a little clearer version but you have to watch 4 seconds of a commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_MaJDK3VNE
Hysterical!
Susan, that was hilarious! I have never seen that commercial. And the guys in it were perfect. Thanks for sharing that. Cat herders … lol.
lol It never gets old…makes me laugh every time! 🙂 Did you notice the guy with the lint roller? I also love it when it shows them trying to reach the cats on the tree limb. lol
Yes, I did. And the guy winding the big ball of yarn, lol. The actors did such a good job. Very fun and clever idea. I have no idea who or what EDS is, but at least they have a funny commercial. 😀
I have never heard of it but, it sounds wonderful and i love that house. Thanks so much, I am always looking for a good movie to watch.
This is an absolutely wonderful movie. Not only the house and the storyline but the history is reveals. Love this house. Thanks for sharing.
Something about an old screen door that speaks to the southern girl in me. Anyone else want a cold tall glass of sweet tea? Or lemonade?
I’ll take some lemonade please, Jeri. And you can serve it in those nautical glasses that match your plates.
LOL! Why yes, yes I will!
🙂 I hope you can get them. They match so well.
And then I find these. My tablescaping lifestyle in a nutshell… CHAOS!
http://www.amazon.com/Nautical-Sailor-Shatter-Resistant-Stemless-Glasses/dp/B00QARILSK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1436890385&sr=8-3&keywords=nautical+glasses
Those are really cute, too!
Thanks for a great tour … being an Aussie I have such a soft spot for the old “Queenslander” homes. I’m not 100% sure but my guess for the tall thing in the hallway (the one Hugh is walking down) is a traditional Aboriginal fishing trap http://gallery.aboriginalartdirectory.com/aboriginal-art/fish-traps.php
Sure looks like it to me, Jane. On a side note, I was reading today that Australia is offering some sort of deal to rich Americans who will invest in the country. I didn’t read the whole article, so I may be off on this, but I think they were offering them Australian citizenship for an investment of 5 million dollars. Apparently they had extended a similar offer to the Chinese, many of whom have been taking advantage of it. Never heard of such a thing.
thank you so much for doing all this investigative work! i’m thrilled to get to see more stills, the rooms kind of whiz by in the film. queenslanders are kind of an “original green” style of architecture in that they are designed to shelter from the sun before the days of fuel consumption and air conditioning. i know the central hall functions a lot like a dogtrot in southern homes, letting breezes pass through the house to naturally cool it, and the stilts function the same way (besides raising the house during flash floods). the deep porches keep the sun off the walls, high ceilings allow the heat to rise and often there was a heat chimney or cupola to let the heat escape…same with transoms and tall windows, letting the heat escape, and be pushed out by big slow fans. we moved to south carolina from washington state and are still building our place trying to utilize some of these features. there is a movement called the new urbanist movement, or the new traditionalist movement that is bringing these features back,not only making homes less reliant on fading/expensive fossil fuels but making them more beautiful again. a queenslander is very similar in style to some of the southern regionalist styles that are influenced by the islands/indies/creole. i really love getting to see so much of this house, it’s one of the most beautiful examples i’ve seen and it’s so inspirational! thank you again for all your research. cheers, ursula
Wow, you are a fount of information, Ursula. Very interesting. Thanks! I also checked out your artwork, Ursula. You are quite a talented artist. 🙂
thank you! we’re working on canvas tote bags and pillows…i would love to do more home decor products. just finished some sea life artwork in addition to the dog breed art. thank you for looking 🙂
I love, love your page. Have subscribed! We viewed Australia last night once again and thoroughly enjoyed it, once again, however I may watch it again as you pointed out so many many different parts that I didn’t realize were in it.
Kidman was superb as Sarah…I did keep thinking that she was so thin though in parts, and that kid was a star! thank you.