“Boy Swallows Universe” is a coming-of-age Netflix series that is based on Trent Dalton’s book. The story follows the turbulent life of a young child named Eli Bell as it takes place in and around Brisbane in the 1980s.
Despite his daily struggles, he manages to stay positive and moral despite living with his drug-addled mother, heroine-dealing stepfather, and selectively silent brother. Eli’s world goes completely crazy when his stepfather is abducted by the violent drug dealer Tytus Broz, who also destroys his already weak family.
Eli confronts his underworld opponents, plans a daring Christmas Day rescue of his mother from Boggo Road Gaol, and meets a father he barely remembers. We travel through Brisbane’s quiet suburbs, tranquil woods, and charming countryside as we follow this moving story of bravery, love, and adventure.
The show walks a fine line between hilarious and endearing, with a recovering drug addict for a mother, a drug-dealing stepfather, an absent father, and a convicted murderer for a babysitter. But has the show really been filmed in Australia, given that the series is set there?
Filming Locations
‘Boy Swallows Universe’ was shot on location in Brisbane, Australia. Trent Dalton grew up near the locations made famous in his book, so the semi-autobiographical novel is set in Queensland City and its environs.
August 2022 marked the start of principal photography, which concluded in December of the same year. Let us walk you through the specific locations that were used for filming the Netflix production.
The author spent most of the filming for “Boy Swallows Universe” in and around Brisbane, mainly in the towns of Darra and Inala, where she had grown up in the 1980s.
The film crew used Dalton’s childhood home in Darra to create a set that authentically set the time period and provided an authentic backdrop for the series. The choice added a poignant personal touch to the overall ambiance, and the outer suburbs of Brisbane were ideal for filming the crime drama.
The series that was based on the book could not have been filmed anywhere else because the book is an extremely intimate and in-depth letter from the author to his hometown of Brisbane.
The author has a deep emotional connection to the locations, and he was moved to tears when he saw the set of his childhood home, which was meticulously recreated. The house reminded him of his early years spent with his mother, three brothers, and a stepfather who dealt drugs.
The author stated, “This adaptation to the screen couldn’t happen anywhere else, and I am proud to be part of this exciting adventure on my home turf,” in reference to the decision to set the series in Brisbane.
Adjacent to Darra, the southwestern suburb of Inala is featured in the series because of its expansive green spaces and charming streets.
Scenes often have the restaurants and parks of the ethnically diverse neighborhood in the background. The Sunnybank High School on Boorman Street and its multicultural stores can be seen in the background, along with the bustling suburb of Sunnybank.
Throughout the program, viewers will be able to see several of Brisbane’s most recognizable sites, such as Brisbane City Hall and its famous clock tower, as well as the Boggo Road Jail.
Located on Annerley Road in Dutton Park, the Boggo Road Gao served as Queensland’s primary prison from the 1880s until the 1980s. The majority of the prison scenes in the series were set against the backdrop of the heritage property in order to faithfully recreate the era of the show.
Once Brisbane’s tallest structure, the city hall, situated on King George Square, is one of the best in the area and is easily recognized from the show’s background thanks to its Westminster chimes.
Screen Queensland Studios in Hemmant was used by the film crew for some scenes, mostly interior ones. With two soundstages, the dry hire facility is a smaller studio than its Hollywood counterparts.
Despite this, it has been used for filming shows like Joe vs. Carole, Fear Below, Love and Monsters, and Young Rock. Brisbane’s varied landscapes offer filmmakers a wide range of settings, from the city’s contemporary skyline lined with architectural wonders along the Brisbane River to the tranquil natural beauty of its beaches, forests, and hills.
Its fusion of natural scenery and urban sophistication can also be seen in films like San Andreas, Triangle, Godzilla vs. Kong, Thor: Ragnarok, and the 2002 live-action “Scooby-Doo.”
