Reborn show must return to ‘Pearl Bay’
BRING it back home.
That is the key message from Geelong’s tourism body, which is lobbying Channel 9 to film its reboot of SeaChange in Barwon Heads and St Leonards.
The original ABC series was a cultural phenomenon, generating its own cottage tourism industry on the Bellarine Peninsula and wooing city slickers to move to the coast.
Tourism Geelong and the Bellarine executive director Roger Grant said a return to Pearl Bay would not be right without it being brought back to this region.
He said stars Sigrid Thornton, David Wenham and John Howard were vocal supporters of the Bellarine.
“They were passionate about the region. Let’s hope the network and the producers feel the same … and all of its qualities are still remembered,” Mr Grant said.
“We’re campaigning for SeaChange to film back in its original beginnings and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it’s back on the Bellarine.”
Much has changed in the then-modest locations that made up the fictional town.
Diver Dan’s boatshed is now the quality At the Heads restaurant, while Meredith’s pub, the St Leonards Hotel, has had a modern makeover.
But tourists can still stay in Laura’s Beach House, in the local caravan park.
And its legacy has endured in the St Leonards Seachange Estate, which has several streets referencing the show.
These include Pearl Bay Passage, Diver Dan Lane, Jelly Junction and Gibson Grove.
The original series ran for three seasons, from 1998 to 2000.
It has gained legions of new fans in recent years, after being made available on streaming services Netflix and Stan.
Channel 9 yesterday confirmed that production on the new series of SeaChange would begin in 2019.
Thornton (Laura Gibson) and Howard (Bob Jelly) will reprise their starring roles.
However, there is no indication about whether other key cast members, such as Wenham and Kerry Armstrong, will return.
Mr Grant remembers SeaChange fans regularly inquiring at visitor information centres about where famous landmarks from the show were located.
“It had a big impact. It really captured people’s imagination,” he said.
“The show was so successful not only because of the stars, but also because of the destination.”
The show spawned SeaChange tours, which for several years after the series ended regularly brought busloads of tourists down from Melbourne to get the Pearl Bay experience.
Barwon Coast Committee also prepared a self-guided walk for visitors, while displays relating to the show were presented.
In a statement, Thornton said she was “absolutely thrilled” to be returning to Pearl Bay after nearly two decades.
“Time has passed and the world has changed, so as we revisit this rich and strange place I trust we’ll all delight in the chance to explore how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.”