Omari Gates
The Mad Max film series is well known for its dystopian setting, with a world gone mad. The original Mad Max film was released in 1979, directed by George Miller, and starring Mel Gibson as the police officer turned vigilante, Max Rockatansky. The film was shot in and around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, with locations including Beach Road (State Route 33) at Potter Street, Seaford Beach, and the Southern Car Park at the University of Melbourne. The film's post-apocalyptic aesthetic was achieved by shooting in locations impacted by heavy resource extraction, with the landscape shaped by mining and tree clearing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of release | 1979 |
| Locations | Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Specific places | Beach Road (State Route 33) at Potter Street; Seaford Beach, Anakie Rd, Geelong; Spotswood Pumping Station, Scienceworks Museum, Spotswood; Clunes; Southern Car Park, University of Melbourne, Parkville; South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Mad Max was filmed in Melbourne, Victoria
Mad Max, the 1979 Australian dystopian action film, was filmed in Melbourne, Victoria. The film was directed by George Miller and starred Mel Gibson as "Mad" Max Rockatansky, a police officer turned vigilante in a dystopian near-future Australia.
Principal photography for Mad Max took place in and around Melbourne and lasted for six weeks. The film was shot on a low budget of A$400,000 and earned more than US$100 million worldwide in gross revenue, setting a Guinness record for the most profitable film.
The film's opening sequence, with cops chasing the Nightrider, was filmed on roads about 20 miles west of Melbourne. Other notable filming locations in Melbourne include the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne, which served as the headquarters of the Main Force Patrol (MFP), and the Southern Car Park of the University of Melbourne in Parkville, which was used for town scenes.
The production also made use of locations outside of Melbourne, including Seaford Beach in Seaford, Anakie Road in Geelong, and the Spotswood Pumping Station at the Scienceworks Museum in Spotswood, all in the state of Victoria.
Overall, the choice to film Mad Max in and around Melbourne, Victoria, contributed to the dystopian and apocalyptic feel of the film, showcasing a future Australia struggling with societal collapse and resource depletion.
How Australia's Immigration Policy Changed: Abolition of the White Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$17.7 $22.99
Locations included Beach Road and Potter Street
The original Mad Max (1979) was filmed in Melbourne and Victoria, Australia. The film crew shot scenes in various locations around Melbourne, including the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne, which served as the backdrop for the "Halls of Justice" headquarters of the "Bronze". The South Lawn Car Park at Melbourne University was used as an underground garage for Max's car.
Other memorable locations include the Clunes Railway Station, about 85.7 miles northwest of Melbourne, and Fairhaven, a coastal locality in the Surf Coast Shire in Victoria, Australia. Fairhaven is a popular holiday and surfing destination, and it adjoins Fairhaven Beach, the longest beach on the Great Ocean Road. Max's family home is located at 310 Great Ocean Road in Fairhaven.
The rocky cove where Jessie and Sprog buy ice cream was shot at Avalon Beach in Victoria, but the ice cream shop is no longer there. The store is now a private residence, but the area remains similar to how it appeared in the film. This scene was filmed on Beach Road (State Route 33) at Potter Street, just north of Half Moon Beach, in Black Rock, between Melbourne and Seaford.
Seaford Beach, at Station Street off Nepean Highway, was also featured in the film, with the gang taking potshots at a shop window mannequin by the wooden Seaford Pier. Seaford is about 20 miles south of Melbourne, near Frankston.
Aussie-Style Roast Lamb: Carving and Serving Perfection
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![Desert Farms - Real Organic Cooking Camel Hump Fat - Halal, Paleo and Keto Certified - Quickly Melting Use For Fry [High Smoke Point] - 31 Fatty Acids & Gluten-Free - Made In The USA [14 oz]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61Nmb2zIfVL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Halls of Justice was filmed at South Melbourne Gasworks
The 1979 Australian dystopian action film Mad Max was directed by George Miller and starred Mel Gibson as "Mad" Max Rockatansky, a police officer turned vigilante in a dystopian near-future Australia. The film was shot in and around Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and lasted for six weeks.
One of the most famous scenes in the movie was filmed at the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne, which served as the backdrop for the "Halls of Justice" headquarters of the "Bronze," the Main Force Patrol (MFP). The South Melbourne Gasworks was an abandoned complex at the time of filming, as natural gas reserves had been discovered around Australia in 1960, leading to the site's closure.
The South Melbourne Gasworks occupied eight acres of parkland, and the heritage industrial buildings have since been redeveloped as Gasworks Arts Park, housing theatres, art galleries, studios, and workshop spaces. The official address is 21 Graham Street, Albert Park, and the remains of the old gasworks buildings stand on Beach Street at Esplanade West.
The South Melbourne Gasworks provided the perfect setting for the dilapidated headquarters of the MFP, with its industrial architecture and abandoned state adding to the dystopian atmosphere of the film. The filming location also highlights the unique and diverse landscapes of Australia, from beautiful beachfront views to industrial sites and rural farmland.
The "Halls of Justice" scene in Mad Max has become iconic, and the South Melbourne Gasworks has become a memorable location for fans of the film, offering a glimpse into the world of the MFP and the character of Max Rockatansky.
Understanding Australia's Government: Forms and Functions
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The film was also shot in Geelong, Victoria
The film Mad Max was shot in various locations in Australia, including Geelong, Victoria. The film is set in a dystopian near-future Australia and principal photography took place in and around Melbourne, Victoria, lasting for six weeks.
The Geelong location in Victoria, Australia, was used for the scene in which Charlie and Roop intercept Max and Nightrider. The specific address for this scene was Anakie Rd, Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Other filming locations in Victoria included Beach Road (State Route 33) at Potter Street, just north of Half Moon Beach, in Black Rock, between Melbourne and Seaford. The famous shot of the 'Halls of Justice', the dilapidated headquarters of the 'Bronze' Main Force Patrol (MFP), was filmed at the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne. The official address for this location is 21 Graham Street, Albert Park.
The Southern Car Park at the University of Melbourne in Parkville, Victoria, was also used for town scenes, and the Spotswood Pumping Station at the Scienceworks Museum in Spotswood, Victoria, was used for exterior shots of the MFP Headquarters.
Job Applications in Australia: A Guide for Indonesians
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Mad Max 2 was filmed in New South Wales
Mad Max 2, released in 1981, was the second instalment in the Mad Max film series. The film was shot in far west New South Wales, near Broken Hill. This area is known for its history of silver, lead, and zinc mining, and the landscape has been significantly impacted by human activity, including tree clearing and soil erosion. The choice to film in this region aligns with the film's portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world.
The first Mad Max film, released in 1979, was primarily filmed in and around Melbourne, Victoria. The production made use of various locations in the city and its surroundings, including Beach Road (State Route 33) at Potter Street, just north of Half Moon Beach in Black Rock, and the Southern Car Park at the University of Melbourne in Parkville. One notable location was the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne, which served as the dilapidated headquarters of the Main Force Patrol (MFP).
However, some sources mention that Mad Max 2 was filmed on the border between Victoria and New South Wales. This could be due to the proximity of the filming locations to the state border or specific scenes shot on the border.
The decision to film Mad Max 2 in New South Wales may have been influenced by the unique landscape of the region, which offered a stark contrast to the urban settings of the first film. The post-apocalyptic world of Mad Max 2 required barren and desolate environments, which the mining history of the area in New South Wales could provide.
The film received government funding and tax rebates for shooting in Australia, making it an attractive location despite the need to physically alter some environments to fit the film's aesthetic. The production crew had to remove greenery from the unusually verdant desert in Broken Hill to match the post-apocalyptic aesthetic.
Australian Possums: Do They Eat Mice?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The original Mad Max was filmed in Melbourne and around Victoria, Australia.
The beach scene with the Toecutter gang was filmed at Seaford Beach, Seaford, Victoria, Australia.
The exterior of the MFP Headquarters was filmed in Clunes, Victoria, Australia.
The famous shot of the 'Halls of Justice' was filmed at the South Melbourne Gasworks in Port Melbourne.
The scene where Max waits on Exford Road was filmed just south of Melton, Victoria, Australia.
