MovieChat Forums > The Doctor Blake Mysteries (2013) Discussion > I wonder how the residents of Ballarat f...

I wonder how the residents of Ballarat feel about ...

posted 8 years ago by -501
7 replies | jump to latest

Being portrayed as the murder capital of Australia?

It would be one thing if the town were made up. But, Ballarat is a real place, with probably 75,000 residents in the 1950s. So, with around 300 murders per year for ALL of Australia, Ballarat's murder rate is worst than Detroit on it's worst year. The locals must be thrilled ...

[–] troy08-260-862744 8 years ago

I had never heard of bellerat before this show, where in Australia is this city located?

[–] Ceindreadh 8 years ago

It's in the state of Victoria, a few hours drive from Melbourne.
(I don't think I'd heard of it either until this show!)

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] SPfromOZ 8 years ago

I have to agree with Colin. I'm sure most Australians have heard of Ballarat, and know that it's in Victoria. However, this show has 'put it on the map', I don't think most of the residents would mind at all.

'No offense' means I'm about to insult you, but don't get mad.

[–] hamlet-16 8 years ago

For Dr Blake's foreign viewers, Ballarat is a wonderful Victorian era city built on gold mining in the 19th century. Hence the large number of grand 19th century buildings... although the locations that are used come from a number of places in and around Melbourne and Ballarat.

Ballarat is a city of about 100,000 now but in 1960 would have been about 50,000.

Lake Wendouree was used for the rowing events for the 1956 Olympics.

Dr Blake's home (exteriors) are of Napier Waller House in suburban Melbourne. Napier Waller was a noted artist muralist in the 1940s-60s.

The interiors are a set.

And "The Ballarat Courier" is a real newspaper ... the main daily in Ballarat.

[–] Camargue 7 years ago

Being portrayed as the murder capital of Australia?

This is just the nature of the beast when a series is based as a murder mystery. Granted, in Midsomer Murders, the locations are imaginary, as was "Cabot Cove" in the Murder She Wrote series with (British) actress Angela Lansbury. However, when the locations are major cities, New York City (Law and Order) or LA, Chicago, London or Rome (Zen) it merely seems true to life. But, when they put the murders in secondary cities (San Francisco, Denver, Boston, Miami (Miami Vice), Manchester (Scott and Bailey), Oxford (Morse, Lewis) it is just taken with a grain of sand.

I would imagine the people in Ballarat enjoy being "mentioned" and also seeing their town "in the past."

I lived in Denver (many years ago) when they set a couple of murder series there and it was a kick to see the neighborhood shots and guess the time of year from the trees, etc.

In those days, when extras were needed, they would run ads in the newspaper, explaining what they needed (age, gender), and how to dress (joggers, business wear, guests at a wedding, cocktail attire), and there was a good chance of being hired for the shot, for about $50. I have no idea how they do it now; I would imagine the Internet and a gazillion show up.

[–] Ceindreadh 7 years ago

Regarding extras for Doctor Blake Mysteries, a few times on the official Facebook page they've put out a casting call for extras. IIRC, people had to contact them by email to express their interest and were told what to do.