Lights, Camera, Bridgetown: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at WA’s Film Locations

For anyone searching for movies filmed in Bridgetown, the Netflix Greenbushes production, or simply where Western Australia's screen industry has set up its newest base, the answer sits in the Blackwood River Valley. In early 2026 the historic timber and mining town of Greenbushes, a short drive north of Bridgetown, became the unlikely backdrop for the first Netflix series ever filmed in Western Australia. This guide explains what was filmed here, why directors keep choosing the Southern Forests, the other films shot across the region, and how to plan your own visit to the area while staying in Bridgetown accommodation in the heart of it all.

Bridgetown and Greenbushes step into the spotlight

Greenbushes is a historic timber and mining town in the Blackwood River Valley, sitting between Balingup and Bridgetown and roughly fifteen minutes' drive north of the Lodge. For most of its life it has been known for tin, timber and lithium rather than the silver screen. That changed in 2026, when a major international production rolled into town and put the region on the global film map.

The appeal is easy to understand the moment you arrive. Heritage shopfronts, weatherboard cottages, rolling farmland and tall jarrah and marri forest give the area an authentic, lived-in character that is almost impossible to build on a studio lot. For filmmakers chasing a real Australia that has not been polished into a postcard, the Blackwood Valley delivers it ready made.

Breakers: the first Netflix series shot in WA

Breakers is the first Netflix series ever filmed in Western Australia, and parts of it were shot in and around Greenbushes. It is an eight-part surfing drama starring Antony Starr, best known as Homelander in The Boys, as Brando, the charismatic and mysterious leader of a seemingly idyllic surf community that draws in two backpacking friends.

The series was produced by Clerkenwell Films, the BBC Studios company behind the award-winning Baby Reindeer, in partnership with BBC Studios Productions Australia. It is the largest series ever filmed in Western Australia, expected to inject more than $19 million into the local economy and employing over 100 Western Australians across cast and crew. Filming ran from January 2026 and wrapped in June 2026, with locations spanning Greenbushes, Margaret River, Busselton, Yallingup and Perth. The production was supported by Screenwest and the Western Australian Government through the WA Production Attraction Incentive, and followed the completion of the new Perth Film Studios.

Created by Pete Jackson and directed by Mary Nighy and Ng Choon Ping, Breakers also features Emmy-nominated actor D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai of Reservation Dogs alongside a strong cast of Australian talent. Netflix has not yet confirmed a release date, but the series is expected to land globally later in 2026, which means the buzz around the region is only going to grow.

Why filmmakers love the Blackwood Valley

Filmmakers keep returning to the Southern Forests for a simple reason. The landscape does half the work. Within a short drive of Bridgetown you can move from heritage main street to dense karri forest, from the misty Blackwood River to wide green farmland, all under the kind of changeable southern light that cinematographers prize.

Just as importantly, the region offers scale and authenticity without the crowds. Quiet roads make road closures manageable, small communities are welcoming to crews, and the towns themselves have changed little in decades, so a street can double for almost any era. Combined with competitive state incentives and a growing pool of experienced local crew, it adds up to a location that is both beautiful and practical.

The South West on screen: films shot nearby

Breakers is the biggest production to choose the region, but it is far from the first. The wider South West has a long history on screen, and several well-known Australian films were shot within a few hours of Bridgetown:

• Jasper Jones (2017): the screen adaptation of Craig Silvey's best-selling novel, set in a small Southern Forests town and starring Hugo Weaving and Toni Collette.
• Breath (2017): Simon Baker's adaptation of Tim Winton's coming-of-age surfing novel, filmed along the Great Southern coast.
• Blueback (2023): another Tim Winton story, a timely tale about the ocean and a young girl's power to change the world.
• Drift (2013): a 1970s surfing drama shot around the Margaret River region.
• Rams (2020) and H is for Happiness (2019): both filmed in the Great Southern, showcasing the region's farmland and country towns.

Seen together, these films make the point that the South West, and the Blackwood Valley in particular, has quietly been a favourite of Australian storytellers for years. Breakers simply turned a long-running local secret into international news.

Visit the locations: a self-drive film trail

Half the fun of the region's new screen status is standing in the landscapes yourself. From Bridgetown you can build an easy self-drive loop that takes in the look and feel of the country these productions chose:

• Greenbushes: wander the heritage main street and timber-town streetscape that drew the cameras north, about fifteen minutes from the Lodge.
• The Blackwood River: the misty, forest-lined river that defines the valley's on-screen mood, with walks and lookouts close to town.
• Bridgetown's heritage centre: verandahed shopfronts and tree-lined streets that look like a film set in their own right.
• The karri and jarrah forests: towering, cathedral-like stands of native forest a short drive in almost any direction.
• Balingup and Nannup: picture-perfect neighbouring villages that round out a scenic Blackwood Valley drive.

Where the crew, and you, can stay

Productions need more than a pretty location. They need a base that is quiet, central and able to handle groups, and that is exactly the brief Bridgetown Valley Lodge was built for. Originally the Trainmen's Barracks, built in 1949/50 and now a fully renovated heritage-listed property, the Lodge offers eight structurally separate, genuinely quiet rooms in the centre of Bridgetown.

The same features that make a stay restful for travellers make it practical for working visitors. Free WiFi and a desk in every room, twenty-four-hour reception for late call sheets, on-site laundry, secure parking, and a layout that comfortably hosts groups, crews and teams who want their own space around a shared central hub. The Lodge regularly accommodates corporate and group bookings, and the Deluxe King Rooms are particularly well suited to longer stays. You can compare all room types on the rooms page, and a continental breakfast is served in the cafe and on the alfresco deck.

For visitors, the appeal is simple. You can spend the day exploring the valley that captured a Netflix production, then return to a warm, quiet room a short stroll from Bridgetown's cafes and restaurants.

A 3-day screen-country itinerary

Planning tips

Respect active sets and private property

Filming locations are often working towns and private land. Enjoy the public streetscapes and landscapes, but never enter closed sets or private property.

Time your visit with the buzz

With Breakers expected to release globally later in 2026, interest in the region will rise. Visiting before the crowds means quieter roads and easier bookings.

Build in a forest day

The scenery that draws filmmakers is best appreciated slowly, so leave time for a river walk or a forest drive rather than rushing between towns. The local activities page outlines the main walks and trails close to the Lodge.

Book accommodation early and direct

Bridgetown's room stock is limited, and direct bookings get the best rates. See our companion guide on whether Bridgetown is worth visiting, or use the contact form to plan a group or crew stay.

Frequently asked questions