Unveiling The Epic Filming Locations of The Pacific- A Glimpse Into the WWII War Drama's Iconic Sets
The Pacific, a war drama, was predominantly filmed in Australia Its filming locations include Queensland and Victoria, as well as various city and suburban locations in Melbourne
Summary
The Pacific series, although taking place in different Pacific Ocean regions, was entirely shot in Australia, highlighting the country's ability to depict diverse landscapes.
The filming for the show was done in various locations in Queensland, including Port Douglas, Mossman, Mowbray National Park, and Rocky Point. These locations were chosen to showcase Australia's beautiful beachy and tropical environments, which were a perfect fit for the show's beach scenes. In addition to Queensland, Melbourne also served as a filming location for The Pacific, offering a mix of urban and suburban settings. The scenes were shot in Central City Studios, Flinders Street, Swanson and Flinders streets, as well as suburban areas like Bundoora, creating a diverse range of settings for different episodes of the show.
Filmed entirely in Australia, The Pacific, a World War II drama, realistically portrays the wartorn Pacific Theater despite its actual filming locations. The collaborative effort of Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, who previously worked together on Band of Brothers, resulted in a series that depicts the heroic stories of real-life soldiers Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone. Despite not showing footage from specific locations such as Guadalcanal, Peleliu, or Iwo Jima, The Pacific effectively captures the intensity of the Pacific's wartime struggles during World War II.
Queensland, Australia
The filming of The Pacific took place in various locations across Queensland, Australia from August to November 2007. One notable area where filming occurred was in and around Port Douglas, which is known for its beautiful beaches and tropical atmosphere. Other significant Queensland locations included Mossman, Drumsara Plantation, Mowbray National Park, and Rocky Point. Mossman offers a rural and tropical setting, Mowbray National Park features lush forests and waterfalls, and Rocky Point provides another picturesque rural beach environment.
It can be inferred that a large portion of The Pacific was filmed in Queensland, particularly scenes that showcased tropical and beach environments. One example is the fourth episode, "Gloucester/Pavuvu/Banika," where Leckie and the 1st Marine Division land in Cape Gloucester and face the challenges of the hot and rainy jungle. It is likely that this episode was based on the filming in Queensland. Additionally, the fighting in Guadalcanal and the story of John Basilone in The Pacific also highlight the time the production spent in Queensland.
Victoria, Australia
The Pacific cast and crew traveled to Victoria, Australia between November and February 2008 for filming. Two specific locations were chosen for shooting. The first was the rural town of Lara, near the You Yangs. The You Yangs are a collection of granite ridges that rise above the flat Werribee Plain. Filming took place in Lara for approximately one month before moving to a sand quarry on Sandy Creek Road. This location is near the port city of Geelong and filming continued there for the next two to three months.
The scenes filmed in Lara primarily relate to The Pacific episode 1, titled "Guadalcanal/Leckie." In this episode, Leckie and his fellow soldiers arrive in Guadalcanal and navigate through tall grass with mountains in the background. These mountains are likely to be the You Yangs, while tall grass is common in Lara. Conversely, later episodes such as episode 7 and 9 were probably filmed on Sandy Creek Road. These episodes depict Sledge in sandy, rocky, and barren areas, which correspond perfectly to the sand quarry used for filming.
City Locations In Melbourne, Australia
A final leg of filming for The Pacific took place in the urban areas of Melbourne, Australia, with the Central City Studios at Melbourne Docklands serving as a major location. This setting likely featured in various average scenes, such as the Basilone family's Christmas dinner and John Basilone's return to America to sell war bonds. Other notable locations include Flinders Street, the intersection of Swanson and Flinders streets, and Flinders Street Station. In episode 3 of The Pacific, titled "Melbourne," Leckie and the Marines arrive in the city for a much-needed break. Undoubtedly, the filming done in Melbourne was incorporated into this episode, as the troops are welcomed with cheers of support from the city.
Suburban Locations In Melbourne, Australia
The Pacific was also filmed in suburban areas of Melbourne, specifically in Bundoora. Public buildings in this suburb, such as Mornington Railway, La Trobe University's Ernest Jones Hall, the Railway Hotel, Scotch College, and Melbourne High School, served as filming locations. It is highly likely that these places were used in Episode 3 of The Pacific, where Leckie finds respite from the war in Melbourne. The locations visited by Leckie and his fellow soldiers in that episode are probably sourced from this filming session. This is the sole instance where the location in The Pacific aligns with the actual filming site.
