Mystery Road productions inject $25m into WA economy

The ABC drama Mystery Road has delivered a $25 million boost to the Western Australian economy across its four seasons, according to Screenwest.

Filmed in locations including Kununurra, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Coolgardie and most recently Pemberton, the series and its prequel Mystery Road: Origin have generated an estimated $18.5 million for regional towns.

The second season of Mystery Road: Origin, which premieres tonight on ABC, was shot in Pemberton and returned $7.3 million to the state’s economy, with $5 million going directly into the South-West region.

Rikki Lea Bestall, Screenwest chief executive officer, said the series had helped showcase WA’s landscapes while providing lasting benefits to local communities. “With support from the WA Government, the four Mystery Road series – each filmed in Western Australia – have collectively injected a staggering $25 million into the state’s economy, including $18.5 million to country towns,” she said.

Bestall pointed to other regional productions such as The Twelve in York and Scrublands: Silver in Augusta as examples of how filming has engaged communities. She added that with Perth Film Studios opening in Malaga next year, more towns could expect to become “film friendly” destinations.

“Western Australia is already experiencing unprecedented levels of production in the state,” Bestall said. “The availability of state-of-the-art studios, coupled with the state’s striking natural landscapes and unique locations, will support further growth of the screen industry and contribute to significant economic spin-off, not to mention the flow-on effects to the tourism industry.”

Mystery Road: Origin Season 2 explores the early years of Detective Jay Swan in a six-part drama produced by Bunya Productions. AACTA Award-winning actor Mark Coles Smith stars as Jay Swan, alongside Tuuli Narkle as Young Mary and Clarence Ryan as Sputty.

The series is produced by Greer Simpkin and David Jowsey, with major investment from Screen Australia’s First Nations Department, Screenwest, Lotterywest and the WA Regional Screen Fund. It was financed in association with Screen NSW, with All3Media International handling international sales.

Mystery Road: Origin Season 2 airs tonight at 8.15pm on ABC TV, with all episodes available to stream on ABC iview.

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