Neighbours unveils new $1,000,000 sets
 

Neighbours yesterday unveiled its new-look backyards, part of a million dollar makeover by FremantleMedia Australia.

Cast were joined by Fremantle CEO Ian Hogg, TEN Drama execs Rick Maier, Fremantle Drama Exec Jo Porter, Producers Richard Jasek & Alan Hardy, and media.

Producers have built 3 full-size backyards and rears of Ramsay Street households Numbers 22, 26 and 32. This gives producers year-long access to spaces that were limited due to tenants living in the location at Pin Oak Court.

“Neighbours is all about families and communities. At the centre of that is the Great Australian Dream, our homes, our backyards and our BBQs,” said Hogg.

“We’ve taken the homes of Ramsay Street and we’ve relocated them a couple of hundred metres down the road. What that does is allow us to use sets.

“It’s probably the biggest change to Neighbours that I can remember in a very, very long time. It’s a big investment and I know for the writers it gives them greater flexibility and ultimately these programmes are about great stories and great casts.”

Hogg also announced another sale to Danish broadcaster DR on tops of its extensive territorial deals already in place.

Rick Maier said the Nunawading site was now the biggest backlot in the Southern Hemisphere.

“We’ve worked on shows at Movie World, Docklands, FOX. There’s nothing like this,” he said.

“We’re very grateful, Channel Five is very grateful and we’ll see the return on air with the fabulous production values of this show.”

Maier also said that the 28 year history of the show puts it within the DNA

“You cannot walk around in TV and not bump into someone who’s been through this show.

“It’s not just culturally overseas, it’s within the DNA of the Australian film & TV business.”

The homes are “half-houses,” only photogenic from the rear. In the case of one house it proved near impossible to match 30 year old bricks, and each one had to be hand-painted. Cameras will also need to avoid shots of the former 0-10 building (also known as Wentworth Detention Centre) and transmission tower.

But these are impressive-looking spaces that will greatly facilitate future storylines.

The first appearance of the backyard sets will hit screens in May in Australia & June in the UK.

The back of No.22, Paul's house
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...umber-22-3.jpg

Paul with his swanky new outdoor entertaining area
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q.../paulhouse.jpg

Paul's new garden
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...paulhoused.jpg

The new backyard of No.26
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...umber-26-1.jpg

Sheila in her new backyard set
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...paulhouseb.jpg

New backyard of No.32, where Lou & the Turners live
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...umber-32-1.jpg

Another shot of No.32's yard
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...umber-32-2.jpg

A shot of the new swimming pool at No.32
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...paulhousec.jpg

And Amber Turner in the pool
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...paulhousea.jpg

They should just build Ramsey Street on it's own backlot, it'd be a lot easier, lol.

Nice sets though!

Would be extremely expensive though! It cost a million just to build the back of three houses & their gardens, imagine how much a full size street with six houses would cost! Also would be difficult to replicate the houses as they are quite unique architecturally... At least these new sets will mean much more filming in the backyards/pools just like Neighbours was back in the day :D

Amber Turner :evilgrin:

Yes we are going to be getting plenty more bikini scenes in Neighbours now ;)

True, plus the street they currently use is filled with trees and bushes, which is something you can't replicate easy when you're moving to a backlot. :blush:

Yes plus the neighbouring houses that you can see across the street... They have actually built internal sets in a couple of these too so they can actually film inside as well :) And at least the residents in 3 of the real houses wont get disturbed in their back gardens anymore :joker:

Like the new back gardens on Neighbours :)