The hit Netflix series Territory has officially become the largest South Australian TV production ever, and it’s already a massive success just one month after its release. Directed by Australian filmmaker Greg McLean, best known for Wolf Creek and Wolf Creek 2, the series has captivated audiences worldwide with its intense portrayal of power struggles in the Australian outback.
McLean, whose career took off with the international success of Wolf Creek, has taken a different approach with Territory. Set in the Northern Territory, the show follows the power vacuum left in the wake of the death of the favourite son of a powerful cattle station family, throwing the future of the station – and the surrounding region – into chaos. What follows is a fierce battle for control, as various factions – including Indigenous communities, mining companies, cowboys, and gangsters – fight for dominance.
Territory is a joint production between Easy Tiger Productions and Ronde, with support from Screen Territory and the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC). Produced by Paul Ranford, the series marks a milestone for South Australia’s film industry, with the production team working across multiple locations throughout the state, as well as the Northern Territory.
McLean reflects on the difference between directing a series like Territory and his past film projects, saying “Usually with a film, it’s between a 20 or 30-day schedule – this was more than double that length of time.”
“It’s more of an endurance test because we were actually shooting for 60 days over two states in remote locations. It just takes a different mindset because you’ve really got to pace yourself and stay focused on the end goal.”
While the majority of the production and pre-production was based in South Australia, the team also filmed key sequences in the Northern Territory. The crew spent weeks at Tipperary Station, which represented the cattle station in the story, before moving to Kakadu National Park and Hawk Dreaming, which were used to capture the beauty and cultural significance of the outback.
One of the key challenges of the production was managing a crew of around 300 people. The team had to create a caravan village at Tipperary Station to accommodate everyone. “It’s a vast production in terms of the amount of stunts and camera, and hair and makeup,” McLean says. “We built kind of like a mini Woodstock.”
After filming in the Northern Territory, the crew relocated to Adelaide for the final leg of shooting. Interior scenes were shot at the Adelaide Showground, and several houses in North Adelaide were transformed to resemble homes in the Northern Territory.
Territory has already earned rave reviews, with some critics comparing it to the smash-hit American neo-Western drama Yellowstone, starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Reilly. Despite a budget far smaller than Yellowstone, Territory has received widespread attention for its authenticity and unique Australian perspective.
“Our whole shows budget would be one eighth of one episode of Yellowstone… it’s such a long way away from that,” McLean says. “It’s great to be compared to one of the biggest shows in the world – it’s not bad.”
The show’s success lies in its authentic portrayal of life in the Northern Territory. McLean wanted to tell a uniquely Australian story, focusing on local issues such as mining, Indigenous cultures, and the cattle industry without “Americanising” the narrative.
“Netflix, when they press that button when it goes out, it goes out to 180 countries I think. It’s an amazing opportunity to take Australia to the world,” McLean says.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with viewers from across the globe commenting on how Territory has brought the rugged beauty and complex dynamics of Australia’s outback to life in a way that hasn’t been seen before.
For McLean, this is the most rewarding part of the project. “I think the most satisfying thing is seeing people really enjoy the Australian-ness of it,” he says. “It was a joy to be able to have a budget this big to show Australia to the world.”
Looking ahead, McLean is already gearing up for his next big project: Wolf Creek 3. He teases the film will be shot in South Australia, with production set to begin mid-next year in the regions around Hawker, which served as the iconic setting for the original Wolf Creek.
“We’re getting closer to the green light, and we have an amazing South Australian crew lined up,” McLean says.
A big part of Territory’s success in South Australia can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the local crew. McLean praises the “can-do attitude” of the South Australian team, calling them “amazing and unbeatable.” He also thanks the South Australian Government and the SAFC for their support in making the production a reality.
For more information about Territory, check out the show on Netflix.
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