Deadloch has already established a distinctive voice as “feminist comedy noir,” combining murder mystery with razor-sharp wit and social commentary. Written by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan (The Kates), the show centres on a series of murders in a quiet, coastal town.
Although its tone and characters have invited Broadchurch comparisons, Deadloch is differentiated by its very Australian voice and stunning, immersive locations. What really takes the series up a notch is how the locations feed into the narrative. The fictional town of Deadloch doesn’t really exist, but it feels completely real because it is made up of a series of real locations in southern Tasmania.
The show’s rustic seascapes, drowsy small town avenues, and shadowy interiors evoke an eerie, but humorous atmosphere that nearly makes the location as vital as the mystery itself.
Read on to know the complete filming locations of Deadloch.
Here is where Deadloch is shot
Hobart
While Hobart is often referred to in the series, few scenes appear to take place there. But it is in the background, especially indoors, that the city emerges. The opulent “Bush Wolf” motel rooms, which play host to several pivotal scenes, were shot within the Henry Jones Art Hotel, a real-life heritage listing that fans can actually stay at.
Also, the colorful Feastival opening sequences were filmed at Lark Distillery on the wharf, producers of premium Tasmanian whisky. And the police pathology lab’s exterior was shot on the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus, lending the series’ investigative aspects a well-known real-life locale.
Cygnet
The fictional town is brought to life predominantly in Cygnet, a charming town in the Huon Valley, a 45-minute drive from Hobart. The backbone of Deadloch, its main street, that stretches over many scenes.
The town’s Police Station is basically Carmel Hall. The real-life charm of the town, with markets and heritage buildings, matches the show’s quaint-but-wicked tone perfectly. And the Deadloch Pub was shot in the Commercial Hotel, Cygnet; the place lends authenticity to the social areas of the town.
Richmond
Richmond is another key setting, and one of Tasmania’s most historic towns. Its period architecture is the perfect backdrop for some of the stickier moments.
The Cemetery was St Luke’s Anglican Cemetery, and the magnificent Carruthers Estate was Prospect Country House. These settings bring depth, bury their story in real history, and creep out the noir spooks from the shadows.
Coastal Tasmania
A lot of the show’s visual punch stems from Tasmania’s rugged coastline. The spooky Beach, where bodies are found, was shot at Kingston Dog Beach, a well-known local place turned into a crime scene.
Other notable locations are Snug Beach for the floating cinema sequence and Dunalley Public Jetty, the town wharf. Coastal roadside scenes were also shot on South Arm Road overlooking the ocean, establishing views that inspire the series’s mood.
Although season one was shot entirely in Tasmania, it has been confirmed that production for season two will relocate to the Northern Territory, which will see a major shift in visual style. The choice of location indicates the producers may intend to take the Deadloch world beyond, to other landscapes and different storytelling opportunities.
In the end, the locations are what make the show so enticing. By setting a fictional town within real Tasmanian landscapes, the series captures a kind of authenticity that viewers can get lost in, but that, if they choose, can lead them out in the real world.
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Edited by Amey Mirashi