Barrumbi Kids to start production in July after $715,000 boost from NT government

The adaptation to a popular children’s book series based in the NT will start filming next month, injecting over 100 jobs and millions into the local economy.

THE television adaptation of the popular book series Barrumbi Kids will start filming next month in the Northern Territory community of Beswick.

The series, based around the books written by Leonie Norrington, will premiere on NITV next year.

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The production will create around 150 direct jobs and many other indirect positions, Industry Minister Nicole Manison said.

It would also add $2.8m to the local Territory economy.

Barrumbi Kids co-producer Monica O'Brien, author Leonie Norrington, and co-producer Danielle MacLean announcing the series. Picture: Thomas Morgan

It will be jointly funded by Screen Australia, NITV, the NT government and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.

“It’s important that we do tell these stories, and it’s not just through books,” Ms Manison said.

“To be able to pick it up through screen to get to broader audiences and to promote the Northern Territory in a really positive way is just terrific,” she said.

Industry Minister Nicole Manison and Barrumbi Kids author Leonie Norrington at The Bookshop in Darwin. Picture: Thomas Morgan

Author Leonie Norrington said getting the books to the silver screen had taken seven years.

Barrumbi Kids is based around best friends Tomias and Dahlia, who grow up and go on adventures together in a remote NT community.

“It is pretty exciting, because although lots of people read the books, there’s a hell of a lot of Aboriginal people who don’t like to read books that much,” Ms Norrington said.

Production of the series will start in July.

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