John's final palliative care takes place at the Fairfield hospital. In keeping with the theatrical use of puppets throughout the play, in his final moments the actor playing John removes himself from the scene and is replaced by a puppet symbolising John. 

The Fairfield Hospital- also know as the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital - operated from 1904-1996. In its final years of operation, hospital services were largely focused on providing care to HIV/AIDS patients. The Thomas Embling Hospital is now located on the site of the former Fairfield Hospital. 

Tim and John take a weekend holiday at a luxury Circular Quay hotel, while trying to decide how to approach John's treatment. 

The Hotel Ramada Renaissance became the Sydney Harbour Marriot Hotel in 2003. 

Tim meets Phillip, an older gay man, at Inflation Nightclub. Later, Tim and John go together to Wednesday Gay Night at Inflation, just after they've broken up. 

John and Tim have one of their first dates in King's Domain, Melbourne.

King's Domain is an area of parklands, established in 1854, in the city of Melbourne.

Tim studies Science at Monash university during the late 70's, and becomes involved with campus politics and Gaysoc, the campus gay society. 

Tim is accepted into NIDA, and he studies there during the early 1980's. Tim's years at NIDA are presented in Holding the Man as one flowing movement piece, with three years taking place during the span of one short scene. 

NIDA (The National Institute of Dramatic Art) is a highly competitive and prestigious performing arts school, which has been operating in Sydney since 1958.

John is treated for his cancer at Sacred Heart in late 1991.

After graduating NIDA, Tim becomes a member of the Griffin Theatre Company, which operates out the historic Stables Theatre in Darlinghurst. Tim create Soft Targets, a play dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis, with the Griffin Theatre Company.

Since it's establishment in 1979, Griffin Theatre Company has focused on the creation of new Australian Theatre. Tim Conigrave, the author of the memoir Holding the Man, was a member of the Griffin Theatre Company, and in 2006 the stage adaptation of his memoir (adapted by Tom Murphy) was given it's first production at the Griffin Theatre. 

Tim and John get tested for HIV/AIDS at the Albion Street Clinic in 1985. 

The Albion Street Clinic, now known as the Albion Centre, is a medical centre in Sydney with a focus on HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention. 

Tim and John's apartment is in Rose Bay, Sydney. Coordinates given are approximate. 

Tim and John meet and begin their relationship whilst classmates at Xavier College in Melbourne. 

Xavier College is an all boys Roman Catholic School, founded in 1872. It is part of the International network of Jesuit schools.