Temporal setting: 1964
Location notes:
Beach scenes near Mary and Peter's seaside home take place in Canadian Bay, Mount Eliza, which is a suburb just south of Frankston in Melbourne.
Canadian Bay beach is in the Melbourne suburb of Mount
Eliza. The Canadian Bay boat club is at the southern end of the beach and low
cliffs follow a safe, shallow swimming area along the long, sandy shoreline.
Canadian Bay is reportedly named after Canadian wood cutters who worked in the
area in the 19th century, shipping wattle and sheoak logs to Sandridge (now
Port Melbourne). For more information, see: The Mornington Peninsula website
Shooting Locations
Canadian Bay, Mt Eliza, Melbourne region, Victoria
Gallery
Temporal setting: 1950s
In the film Peter and Mary live at Frankston, not Falmouth.
Quotes
Peter (to Dwight): We live just out of Melbourne in Frankston, three quarters of an hour away by electric train.
Shooting Locations
Frankston Railway Station, Melbourne region, Victoria
Gallery
Temporal setting: 1964
Location notes:
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit is just off Back Beach Road, Ventnor, Victoria. It is the narrative setting for the last Grand Prix in the world.
Shooting Locations
Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit, Philip Island region, Victoria
The filmmakers shot part of the Grand Prix race at Phillip Island over the course of two days. These shots are recognisable because the race course is flat and the weather is overcast. Nevil Shute reportedly learned to race partly as research for the novel, and he is rumoured to have been slated to have a cameo appearance in the Grand Prix scene, although this did not eventuate. For more information see: http://delarue.net/beach.htm
Riverside International Raceway, California, Other, Other
Riverside International Raceway no longer exists, but it was located at California 60 and Day Street 22255 Eucalyptus Ave Moreno Valley, California, USA. While the Grand Prix scene was initially filmed on location at Phillip Island near Melbourne, additional footage was later shot at Riverside. These shots are recognisable by the mountains in the background.
Gallery
Temporal setting: January 1964
Location notes:
At the beginning of the film a submarine surfaces off the coast of Australia, sights the lower Queenscliff White Lighthouse, and docks in Melbourne. Waltzing Matilda plays as we hear a news broadcast state that scientists are speculating about how long it will take for the cloud of radiation from a recent atomic war to reach Australia.
Quotes
The Queenscliff lighthouse attendant listens to a news report on the radio that states:
"Scientists disagree as to when the nuclear cloud will reach Australia. The atomic war has ended but the Prime Minister reports no proof of survival of human life anywhere except here."
Shooting Locations
Queenscliff Lighthouse, Melbourne region, Victoria
Gallery
Temporal setting: 1964
Location notes:
Scenes at the dockyards featuring Australian aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne and the British submarine HMS Andrew standing in for an American submarine were shot on location at Williamstown.
Shooting Locations
Williamstown Naval Dockyard, Melbourne region, Victoria
Gallery
