Where Is ‘The Clearing’ Filmed? Locations Revealed
Disney+ has had great content over the years, but the next big hit I expect is The Clearing. The Aussie psychological thriller series is based on a crime-thriller novel, which was very loosely based on a real-life Australian cult (and other cults worldwide, but one in particular). Seeing the all-star cast names and the Disney+ production, fans wonder, where is The Clearing filmed?
The first season of the clearing was filmed in Victoria, Australia. It’s a southeastern state in Australia that is also the second most-populated part of the country. All the filming locations in Victoria haven’t been disclosed yet, but some are Lake Eildon and Melbourne.
Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria, and most film studios in the area are located there, so naturally, it was to be expected that parts of The Clearing would be filmed there. Without further ado, here’s all you need to know right now about The Clearing, its filming locations, what it’s about, and who the cast and crew members are for the project.
What is The Clearing about?
The Clearing is a Star original series that’ll premiere on Disney+ on May 24, 2023. It’s an Australian TV show based on a bestselling novel called In the Clearing, written by J.P. Pomare.
The show, as well as the book, is a psychological crime thriller about a woman who is forced to confront the demons of her past to stop a malevolent cult from gathering and kidnapping children to complete their sinister goals.
Many folks don’t know that The Clearing was actually very loosely based on a real-life story or a real-life cult that existed in Australia between the 1960s and 1990s. The cult’s name was The Family, and it was founded by a woman named Anne Hamilton-Byrne.
She believed that she was the reincarnation of Jesus Christ and that doomsday was coming. The cult gained much traction and amassed a big following, but their end goals were horrible. Anne and her husband came into contact with and adopted many children through adoption scams, kidnappings, or taking children from their cult members to raise them as their own.
The kids were all made to wear identical clothes, and their hair was bleached into the same shade of blonde. The children, per reports, were starved, beaten, and even injected with LSD to, I guess, reach some ‘higher level’ of consciousness. Ultimately, the cult was raided, and the children were saved, but Anne Hamilton-Byrne never faced real punishment.
Don’t get me wrong – neither the book nor the series is completely based on a real-life story. Rather, J.P. Pomare took some elements of The Family and fictionalized the story. Pomare also used situations and customs from other well-known cults, but the main source of inspiration was The Family.
It’s most evident with all the children from the cult in The Clearing having bleached blonde hair.
As for the plot of The Clearing, it’s safe to assume that it’ll follow the book’s plot, probably with minor changes for dramatic purposes.
Where was The Clearing filmed?
As I’ve mentioned, not all filming locations were detailed. However, we know the main location where the show was shot and a couple of specific spots within that location. Let’s dig in!
Victoria, Australia
The Clearing was mainly filmed in Victoria, Australia, a southeastern Australian state best known for Melbourne, its capital. Victoria is the second-smallest Australian state and the second-most populated state in Australia, trailing only New South Wales.
Most of the population lives in or near Greater Melbourne’s metropolitan area. While the state’s capital is the most recognizable feature of Victoria, there are numerous breathtaking locations in other parts of Victoria, most notably on the ocean shoreline.
Lake Eildon, Victoria, Australia
While most of the population lives near the shore, Victoria also has an Alpine region a bit further offshore. One such amazing spot is Lake Eildon Natural Park, a breathtaking place where The Clearing was partially filmed.
The lake is located a bit over 100 km northeast of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Central Highlands. The National Park is known for its spectacular scenery, and the Taungrung people with cultural sites in the park.
There are also tons of mines from the gold-rush era in the 19th century, but the best parts of the experience don’t include humans. The flora and fauna are rich, including Eastern Grey Kangaroos, Spotted Tree-Frogs, eucalypt forests, and more.
I reckon that most of the in-cult scenes for The Clearing will be shot on Lake Eildon.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Melbourne is the capital of Victoria and the second-largest city in Australia, with over five million inhabitants in its metropolitan area. It’s located on the coast of Victoria and is well known for its beaches, cultural landmarks, and more.
Some of the most notable sights to see in Melbourne are the Federation Square by the Yarra River, the Melbourne Arts Precinct, etc.
As you can imagine, most film studios in Victoria are located in Melbourne, so naturally, many scenes will be shot in Melbourne or its metropolitan area. I expect to see some notable landmarks throughout the show.
The Clearing cast & crew
Another reason why I believe The Clearing will be a hit is the fact that it boasts a truly epic cast.
The young Teresa Palmer will portray the main character, an incredibly talented young actress best known for Warm Bodies, Lights Out, Berlin Syndrome, and A Discovery of Witches.
Next to her, we’ll watch Guy Pearce in the role of Dr. Bryce Latham. Pearce has had a long, successful career but is best known for Memento and, more recently, Mare of Easttown.
There’s also Miranda Otto, a phenomenal actress with incredible hits on her resume, such as the second and third The Lord of the Rings movies, War of the Worlds, and, more recently, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
The all-star big three is supported by incredible talent as well, including Julia Savage, Hazem Shammas, Kate Mulvany, Anna Lise Phillips, and others. The show was written and created by Elise McCredie and Matt Cameron, based on the book In the Clearing by J.P. Pomare, while Jeffrey Walker and Gracie Otto handled directorial duties.
You can check out the entire cast & crew list here.