Tourism leaders hope for a Brisbane boom as Boy Swallows Universe hits Netflix

The book, and now streaming series, are capturing the imagination, and tourism leaders hope it leads to a boost for Brisbane.

• First review: Like a time capsule
• Gallery: Star-studded premiere

Tourism leaders are hoping Boy Swallows Universe will deliver a holiday feast for Brisbane.

The acclaimed Trent Dalton novel, adapted into a television miniseries which premiered around the world on Netflix on Thursday, paints a vivid picture of retro Brisbane, and tourism bosses are hopeful it will inspire fans of the book and now the TV show to explore some of the city’s hidden gems.

Exposure on screen has long been highly coveted as a way to attract visitors to regions, with New Zealand famously enjoying a massive surge in numbers on the back of the Lord of the Rings saga, while closer to home, the children’s cartoon character Bluey is inspiring a generation of young families to travel to Brisbane to see the Queensland cattle dog’s home town.

It is the same logic that has local tourism industry figures excited about Boy Swallows Universe.

Boy Swallows Universe paints a picture of 1980s Brisbane. Picture: Netflix

Tourism and Events Queensland has already compiled a 48-hour guide to Brisbane following in the footsteps of the central characters of the story, a quirky coming-of-age journey for a young boy growing up in suburban Brisbane during the 1980s.

TEQ chief executive Patricia O’Callaghan said she hoped fans of the book and show would be inspired to explore Brisbane.

“The novel is about finding the good in people and I think that says a lot about the character of people who live in Brisbane and Queensland,” she said.

“Hopefully the novel and the Netflix series will spark a curiosity for visitors to go beyond the obvious charms of the city and tap into inner city experiences and multicultural neighbourhoods.

“The beachside suburb of Redcliffe is a perfect example – with whale watching, access to Moreton Bay, landscaped foreshores, calm water bathing lagoons and weekend markets making it an ideal destination to visit.”

Iconic Brisbane landmarks such as City Hall and the Story Bridge get airtime in the Netflix show, along with some lesser-known parts of the city.

The Story Bridge gets airtime in the TV adaptation of Boy Swallows Universe. Picture: Netflix

In TEQ’s travel guide, visitors are encouraged to catch a train out to Darra to explore the western suburb and grab a bite at local institutions such as the Kim Khanh, Van Vietnamese or the Que Huong Restaurant, which was chosen as a filming location for the show.

The guide also recommends trips to The Tivoli live music venue and Redcliffe, where Boy Swallows Universe’s main character Eli Bell would often cast a fishing line.

Brisbane author and journalist Trent Dalton

In pictures: Boy Swallows Universe premiere

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