Neighbours, Rush, Matlock Police filmed in Melbourne’s east

It’s well-known as the home of long-running soapie Neighbours, but many popular Aussie TV shows have been made in Melbourne’s east. Here are some of the classics.

Neighbours is one the popular TV films filmed in the eastern suburbs. Ryan Moloney has played loveable Toadie Rebecchi for more than 20 years. Picture: Andrew Tauber

From a much-loved long running soapie to popular cop shows, here are some of the TV shows and movies that have been set in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.

NEIGHBOURS, Network 10, 1985-

The Neighbours cast in Pin Oak Court, better known as Ramsay Street. Picture: Channel 10

Everybody needs good neighbours, and fans of the popular Channel 10 show love to flock to the quiet streets of Vermont South to check out Ramsay Street, also known as Pin Oak Court where the popular soapie is filmed.

There has been no shortage of famous guests who have made the trek out to the Vermont South street over the years, including comedienne Russell Brand and performer Andrew Rieu, who filmed cameos on the show.

Violinist Andre Rieu on the set of Neighbours with stars Stefan Dennis and Jane Hall.

The official Neighbours tour offers a behind the scenes look around Ramsay Street

and gives visitors the opportunity to see the Lassiter’s Complex (including Lassiter’s Lake), Fitzgerald Motors, The Waterhole, Harold’s Cafe and the backyards of houses.

Fans visit the set of Neighbours.

Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan starred as Charlene and Scott on Neighbour s.

Margot Robbie played Donna on the soap before she hit the big time in Hollywood.

There has been no shortage of dramatic plot lines over the show’s 35-year history, including Dee’s (Madeleine West) dramatic death after she married Toadie (Ryan Moloney) and the rocky relationship between stalwarts Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodburne).

It was also where a number of stars including Kylie Minogue and Margot Robbie got their start in acting.

RUSH, 1974-76

Brendon Lunney as Commissioner Fitzalan and John Waters as Sgt McKellar in the ABC series Rush.

A 93ha Lysterfield property was used for the ‘70s drama series, Rush, a period drama about the lives of a group of people on the Australian goldfields in the 1850s, starring John Waters. According to the Rowville Community website, all of the outdoor scenes in Rush were shot in the valley behind Churchill National Park, north of Churchill Park Drive. A “tent town” was constructed there and traces of it can still be found in the valley.

MATLOCK POLICE, 1971-76

The cast of Matlock Police.

With Australian TV star Paul Cronin among the cast, Matlock Police followed the exploits of uniformed police and detectives in the fictional Victorian town of Matlock.

The show’s on-location scenes were filmed mainly in Melbourne’s outer east (Matlock police station was in Ringwood) and the Yarra Valley.

It lasted 228 episodes.

THE SULLIVANS, 1976-1983

The Sullivans cast members from right: Susan Hannaford, Paul Cronin, Lorraine Bayly, Andrew McFarlane, Steven Tandy and Richard Morgan.

The antics of the fictional Sullivan family, headed by Dave (Paul Cronin) and Grace (Lorraine Bayly), who lived at 7 Gordon St in Camberwell during World War II became a must-watch in Melbourne. Fans recognised the suburbs, trams, parks and buildings and enjoyed the spot-on props and costumes.

HEALING, 2014

Don Hany, with a wedge-tailed eagle, in a scene from film Healing.

The 2014 film, about prisoners bonding with injured birds starred Don Hany from TV’s Offspring. It included a scene shot in Healesville Sanctuary’s flight arena with 750 Zoos Victoria members who acted as extras in the film, starring in the segment featuring its Spirits of the Sky presentation.

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