Where Was “Mystery Road: Origin” Filmed?

Love the series and are wondering: where was “Mystery Road: Origin” filmed? “Mystery Road”, one of Australia’s most popular crime dramas, recently returned for a third season. This time around, in 2023’s “Mystery Road: Origin”, fans glimpse the past of the fan-favorite hunky outback detective, Jay Swan. Throughout the series, viewers get to know how Jay Swan came to the small town of Jardine. We also see the dramatic events that shaped the rest of his life and career in law enforcement.

One of the aspects of the show that resonated most with viewers is the realistic depiction of outback life and the positive representation of indigenous residents. When seeing Jay Swan patrol this desolate and lawless seeming region, it’s easy for the viewer to pause to ask the question: where was “Mystery Road: Origin” filmed?

Today, we’ll be sharing with you all of the most memorable stops along Jay Swan’s journey. We even share how you can use Peerspace to find your own filming locations that are on par with the ones on the show. So let’s dive right in!

Is Jardine in “Mystery Road: Origin” a real place?

The catalyst for all the action and drama in the series begins when Jay Swan, a detective working in a big city, returns to his hometown of Jardine. The isolated mining community in the Australian outback has shades of being a “sundown town”, where black and indigenous residents are treated as second-class citizens. This leads to conflict between Jay and his white colleagues, as well as the residents of the town.

Despite the town being unfriendly, remote, and desolate, there are still glimpses of beauty in the stunning Western Australian outback. Salt lakes, mountains, deserts, and more are just a few of the awe-inspiring sights that make you ask the question: where was “Mystery Road: Origin” filmed?

If you’re looking for Jardine on a map, you’ll be searching for a very long time. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the town is a fictional amalgamation by the series’ creators. Despite this, they used very real locations to create Jardine. Ahead, we’ll discover the region that represents Jay Swan’s hometown.

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“Mystery Road: Origin” principal filming locations

Now that we’ve confirmed that Jardine is a fictional location, it’s time to get to the meat of the question: where was “Mystery Road: Origin: filmed? According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald, they filmed in the town of Kalgoorlie, the suburbs of Boulder, and the Coolgardie ghost town.

In the same article, director Daniel Rivers states the reasoning behind choosing the Kalgoorlie area: “We looked at other coastal locations in WA for this season, but with me being from the desert, I wanted red dirt and a dry, dusty place. And that’s why we came to Kalgoorlie. It’s hard to shoot in a place like this, and we’ve had everything from hail storms to dust storms, but it sings on screen.”

The town also worked perfectly for the show due to its history as an area with close ties to the gold mining industry. As fans of the series will recall, gold mines, explosives, and the history of prospecting played deeply into the story of “Mystery Road: Origin”. As reported by Brittanica, Kalgoorlie-Boulder is home to The Australian Prospectors and Miners Hall of Fame, as of 2001.

Where did they film the salt lakes in “Mystery Road: Origin”?

Kicking off the show, we see Jay Swan returning to his hometown and driving past stunning salt lakes, one of the many natural landmarks found in Western Australia. For people who may not live in the area and have never seen salt lakes before, it’s easy to be truly inspired and ask the question: where was “Mystery Road: Origin” filmed?

If you want to see these salt lakes for yourself, Good to Know reports that this particular one is Lake Lefroy. Located about an hour west of Kalgoorlie, this is a must-stop for anyone who wants to follow in the footsteps of Jay Swan and retrace his steps out west.

Where did previous seasons of “Mystery Road” film?

By now, you have the knowledge of where the prequel series was filmed. So you may be wondering about the previous seasons of the show, and if they were filmed in the same area. While they filmed other seasons in Western Australia, each season shines a spotlight on a different region, making it part of the story itself.

According to Drama Quarterly, they filmed the first season of the series primarily in Kununurra, east of Wyndham. This location provided plenty of shots of the mountains to amplify the cattle-raising themes that are throughout. In the second season, the production took to the coastal town of Broome to capture the stunning area where crystal blue waters meet rough red desert.

Next, let’s discover where they filmed Survivor: Australia!

Find your own “Mystery Road: Origin”-inspired filming location

By now, you’ve finished binging the latest season of “Mystery Road”. If you’re a creative, then chances are you’re itching to make your own piece of work inspired by the series or movies. However, packing up your gear and heading out into the Western Australian outback to location scout might seem like a daunting task.

That’s where Peerspace, the world’s premier digital platform for hourly venue and production rentals, comes in! With local hosts all over Australia and beyond, there’s no shortage of interesting and unique filming locations to explore and choose from. Take for example this classic Australian outback farmhouse in Balmoral that dates back over 150 years! It wouldn’t be a stretch to imagine Jay Swan himself walking the grounds of this beautiful and desolate property to solve a little outback mystery.

So whether you’re interested in filming a full-length movie, a TV series, or even a photoshoot, there’s no better place than Peerspace. The platform connects you to dedicated local hosts who have provided their unique properties and locales. What are you waiting for? Start searching today to discover the next great piece of Outback fiction!

Find unique filming locations on Peerspace