By Renee Wood
Australian TV show Neighbours has stepped away from the famous ‘Ramsay Street’ to film in the Yarra Valley.
Healesville’s main street is all abuzz today with cast and crew on set at the Healesville Hotel on Maroondah highway, filming five scenes in the beer garden and on the street.
Fremantle Australia Head of Communications Kelly Davis said Neighbours has a long history of filming on location around Victoria but the Covid-19 pandemic has put a stop to that over the past 18 months.
“Our cast and crew have never been more excited about getting out and about again, and it’s a wonderful way to highlight the different aspects of Melbourne from the inner city to beautiful leafy areas like Healesville while making our stories visually more spectacular and interesting,” Ms Davis said.
Three of the main cast members are on set, Ben Hall as Ned Willis, Zima Anderson as Roxy Willis and Jemma Donovan as Harlow Robinson.
Ms Davis provided a hint to the Star Mail as to why the characters have ventured into Healesville, with the episode to air at the end of January.
“They are on a mission to find out some important information about a young woman who comes from the local area who appears to be harbouring some secrets.”
More filming is also taking place today at Panton Hill – a winery filmed at previously for the show.
Ms Davis said shooting in the region is both beneficial aesthetically and practically.
“It’s a stunning area and also from a practical perspective, it’s not a long distance to travel from our production office and main studio in Forest Hill. There are also other aspects of the district to be explored.
“Over the years we have filmed in the area and the results on screen are always beautiful and we look forward to doing more in the future.”
