Scrublands, the gripping Australian drama based on Chris Hammer’s bestselling novel, has captivated audiences with its powerful storytelling, haunting visuals and raw emotion. Set in a sun-scorched country town hiding dark secrets, the series has many viewers asking: Where was Scrublands filmed? In this article, we’ll take you behind the scenes to share the real Victorian towns that stood in as Riversend — and how these uniquely rural Aussie landscapes can add to the show’s eerie, slow-burn mood.
Scrublands filming location: Bringing riversend to life
While Riversend is fictional, its surroundings and buildings are drawn from many real rural locations in Australia. The Scrublands production team took very special care in locating regions that embodied the heat, isolation, and ruggedness, all central to the story.
1. Victoria’s mallee region
A key filming location for Scrublands was the Mallee region in north-western Victoria. The region is noted for a dry landscape, flat terrain, and red dirt roads, which provided the perfect backdrop for Riversend and its barren proposition. Much of the visual tone of the series utilized the natural characteristics of this area, portraying the clear implication of a town in crisis.
2. Castlemaine, Victoria
Tucked away in the heart of central Victoria, Castlemaine’s historic charm was key to transforming Scrublands from page to screen. With its attractive period architecture, up-and-running infrastructure, and community prepared and willing to contribute, it provided the perfect location for a rural setting. Local characteristics, such as the pub, general store, and street, were used as establishing shots for exterior scenes throughout the series.
3. Clunes, Victoria
Clunes is a “living gold rush town” located in central Victoria and also appeared in Scrublands. Using Clunes, with its preserved 19th-century streetscapes, added a level of authenticity to the show. It helps reinforce the sense that Riversend is stuck in the past and forgotten by progress, but also that it is weighed down by the secrets of its past.
Why these locations were chosen
The filmmakers of Scrublands wanted to establish the grim tone and unvarnished Australian landscape. Based on interviews with the producers, their choices of location were informed by many reasons:
- Authenticity: Rather than relying on studio sets or CGI, the production team chose to shoot in regional Victoria to highlight the natural scenery — wide-open skies, weathered buildings, and dusty paddocks that closely match the novel’s imagery.
- Visual storytelling: The towns of Clunes and Castlemaine had an isolated feel to them, which allowed the viewer to feel the themes of isolation, decay, and buried truths that accompany each theme.
- Community support: The local councils and communities in regional Victoria were incredibly welcoming and supportive, leading to a seamless production experience and providing extras for crowd scenes.
The outback as a character
The landscape in Scrublands is not just a landscape; it is also a character. The heat, dust, and isolation of rural Australia create a feeling that shapes each interaction and enhances the psychological pressure.
- Drought as a symbol: The scorched soil, empty creek beds, and parched outback landscape mirror the emotional drought running through the townsfolk — a true-blue Aussie portrayal of isolation, emptiness, and a land (and people) crying out for rain and renewal.
- Sense of isolation: The never-ending stretch of dry land gives off a real feeling of being cut off and stuck, feeding into the darker themes running through the story.
- Visual contrast: The vast openness of the outback contrasts with confined spaces like the church or pub, visually highlighting the tension between freedom and secrecy.
What makes Scrublands different from other Aussie dramas?
Many Australian dramas have been shot in Sydney or Melbourne, but Scrublands is part of a growing trend of productions going to regional and outback locations. The success of Scrublands demonstrates that:
- Aussie audiences want a story set in rural and remote towns.
- Authentic locations add emotional weight and authenticity to a drama.
- Regional productions bring economic and cultural value to smaller towns.
It’s a win-win: compelling storytelling for viewers and real benefits for local communities.
What local people say about the filming
The filming of Scrublands created a storm of excitement in the communities involved. Many local people were offered roles as extras or had a chance to help out with logistics, which fostered a feeling of ownership and pride.
Some businesses in Clunes and Castlemaine benefited from the production, and local media were interested in documenting the filming process. One Castlemaine café owner noted, “It was like Hollywood had come to town, but with Akubras and dust.
Final thoughts
The haunting outback imagery of Scrublands wasn’t just television wizardry. So, where was Scrublands filmed? The series was filmed out in real country towns across Victoria—places like Clunes, Castlemaine, and the sunbaked stretches of the Mallee plains. These Aussie locations not only created Riversend, the fictional town in the series, but also rooted it in a harsh, sunburnt Australian reality. For fans looking for that raw, authentic Australian backdrop, the Scrublands filming locations provide the genuine article.
