A Gripping Murder Mystery is About to Shine a Spotlight on One of South Australia’s Most Fascinating Towns
There’s nowhere quite like Coober Pedy. Add a murder mystery, a big ABC production and some sweeping outback shots, and you’ve got all the ingredients for gripping television.
That’s exactly what viewers will get when Treasure & Dirt premieres on ABC next month.
The six-part crime drama was filmed in South Australia, with Coober Pedy taking centre stage alongside locations in the Flinders Ranges and Adelaide. The production is expected to inject $8.4 million into the state’s economy while creating jobs for local cast, crew and businesses.
Premiering on July 19, Treasure & Dirt is based on the bestselling novel by Australian crime writer Chris Hammer and stars Michael Dorman and Liv Hewson.
Set in the fictional opal mining town of Nulla, the series follows detective Ivan Lucic as he investigates the brutal murder of a local miner. Alongside local detective Nell Buchanan, he’s drawn into a web of secrets, corruption and old sins buried deep beneath the surface.
Behind The Cameras
But beyond the mystery itself, the series is another example of South Australia’s film industry punching above it’s weight and the opportunities it is creating across the state.
The production employed an estimated 120 crew members, the majority of them South Australians, along with 200 local extras. A further 115 South Australian businesses and service providers were engaged during filming.
South Australian producer Rebecca Summerton, from Closer Productions, produced the series, while local department heads led key areas including production design, costume design, hair and makeup.
A Familiar Star Of The Screen
While Treasure & Dirt may introduce many viewers to Coober Pedy for the first time, the iconic outback town is no stranger to film crews.
Known as the opal capital of the world and famous for its underground homes, Coober Pedy has featured in a long list of productions over the years including Stars on Mars, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, Pitch Black, Red Planet, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Limbo and Mortal Kombat.
Its unique desert landscape and otherworldly appearance continue to make it one of Australia’s most recognisable filming locations.
Treasure & Dirt is expected to take those landscapes to audiences well beyond Australia, with international distribution already secured.
For South Australians, though, part of the appeal will simply be seeing a familiar patch of home featured on screens around the world.
Treasure & Dirt premieres Sunday July 19 at 8.30pm on ABC TV and ABC iview.
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