ABC’s Restoration Australia is one of the most entertaining renovation series that’s based in Australia. Documenting the journey of Sibella Court, each episode features these International Designers working on all kinds of projects and turning them into dream homes.
Restoration Australia premiered on October 21st, 2015. A total of 7 groups of Australians are featured on the show. These people are ready to put their hearts and minds into transforming desolate and ruined houses into beautiful properties. With no one taken care of them in years, such homes lay abandoned and on the verge of being broken down by the government.
This is where Sibella Court and its fellow designers, engineers, and construction workers come in. They restore these unfortunate homes to their former glory, sometimes even making them look better than they were before. No matter what the project assigned to them is, whether it’s a Georgian mansion, Timber building, or cottage, these designers are sure to change it into something surprisingly good.
Restoration Australia has had new installments premiere almost every year, and the most recent 5th season of this renovation show has been airing since 16th July 2023.
Restoration Australia: Filming Locations
Ever since Restoration Australia first began airing its episodes, the renovators have tried to get ahold of unique projects that would be fun to build and watch. For this, they’ve had to travel all over Australia’s many cities and countryside regions too.
New South Wales:
NSW is often featured in Restoration Australia’s episodes. For instance, the little shop that the crew works on in season one is located in Harrington Street, New South Wales. The team beautifully restored this timber building to the way it originally was, even though the house looked like it could break down easily.
We return to NSW again in season 3, where Jo and Digby buy a heritage home only to find out that it’s going to be much more work than they first imagined.
In season 4, Anthony Burke takes up a project given by a couple who looked forward to turning their Victorian Mansion in Milton into something modern and filled with history. Milton is a village that is located in New South Wales.
The latest season, 5, features an episode that takes place in NSW. Anthony Burke works with Annette and Michael Pitman and renovates their house in Castlecrag, NSW, into a larger and more comfy home.
South Australia:
South Australia is another location we end up at in quite a few episodes of Restoration Australia. McLaren Vale, a peaceful and homely town located in South Australia, was featured in the beginning seasons of this show.
This house in McLaren Vale belonged to Johnny and Ann, who wished to modify this cottage into someplace they could live comfortably. They were able to complete the cottage project just in time for Christmas.
Tasmania:
In season 2, we see the team working on a house located in Tasmania. This property belonged to Dale and Michael, and they wanted to make sure that that cottage became a great example of modern style despite its outward appearance. This rural property was brought back to life by the pair, and they were able to accomplish their dream of restoring it.
In season 4, Anthony Burke works on a historical cottage and makes it into a better place to live in. This project was given to him by a sweet retired couple who lived in Hobart, Tasmania.
Victoria:
The first time we see the groups of Restoration Australia working in Victoria is when they work on a gasworks building near the North Melbourne Football Club. In season 3, Kate and her mother, Ann, take up a very interesting project, one that was left unattained for more than 180 years. These hut-like homes were located in Clydesdale, Victoria.
With new seasons coming out each year, we might get to see more of these renovators traveling around Australia to give desolate and forgotten homes another chance at life.
Restoration Australia is now available to watch on ABC iview.