Netflix is bringing one of Australia’s best-loved novels to the screen again, this time as a lush six-part period drama. My Brilliant Career filming locations showcase some of the most beautiful landscapes in South Australia, from historic country towns to rolling vineyards that perfectly capture rural Australia at the turn of the 20th century. Whether you’re curious about the upcoming Netflix adaptation or planning a road trip inspired by the series, here’s everything to know about the story and the real places where it was filmed.
TL;DR
My Brilliant Career is an upcoming six-part Netflix adaptation of Miles Franklin’s classic Australian novel. Filming took place across South Australia, with publicly confirmed production in Penola, the Southern Barossa, and Adelaide Studios. While Netflix has not yet revealed a scene-by-scene filming map, these regions form the heart of the series’ authentic rural setting and can all be visited on a scenic South Australian road trip.
What is My Brilliant Career?
My Brilliant Career is an upcoming Netflix Original period drama consisting of six episodes. It is based on Miles Franklin’s landmark 1901 novel of the same name, one of Australia’s most influential works of literature. Netflix officially commissioned the series in June 2025, with production beginning shortly afterward.
The story follows Sybylla Melvyn, a spirited young woman growing up in rural Australia at the turn of the twentieth century. Determined to become a writer, Sybylla refuses to accept the limited future expected of women in her era. Her ambitions become even more complicated when she develops a romance with Harry Beecham, forcing her to choose between love and independence.
Cast and crew
The series stars Philippa Northeast (Territory, The Newsreader) as Sybylla alongside Christopher Chung (Slow Horses, Blitz) as Harry. The cast also includes Anna Chancellor, Genevieve O’Reilly, Kate Mulvany, Jake Dunn, Alexander England, Sherry-Lee Watson, and Miah Madden.
Behind the camera, Liz Doran serves as creator, showrunner, and co-writer. Alyssa McClelland directs the first three episodes, while Anne Renton directs episodes four through six. The series is produced by Jungle Entertainment for Netflix with support from the South Australian Film Corporation (SAFC).
When will My Brilliant Career be released?
Netflix has officially confirmed that My Brilliant Career will premiere in August 2026. While the exact release day has not yet been announced, the six-part Australian period drama will stream exclusively on Netflix worldwide.
This article will be updated once Netflix reveals the official premiere date.
My Brilliant Career filming locations
Production took place entirely in South Australia, beginning in mid-2025. With a reported budget of around A$17 million, the project became the largest television production ever made in South Australia at the time, employing roughly 400 local cast and crew members. Rather than relying on one location, the production travelled across several regions to recreate the novel’s rural Australian setting.
| Filming location | What it was used for | Open to visitors? |
|---|---|---|
| Penola | Historic rural landscapes and countryside | ✓ |
| Southern Barossa | Farms, vineyards and country scenery | ✓ |
| Adelaide Studios | Interior sets and production facilities | No |
Penola and South Australia’s Limestone Coast
Much of the outdoor filming took place around Penola, a historic country town approximately 388 kilometres south-east of Adelaide. Located within the renowned Coonawarra wine region, Penola is famous for its distinctive terra rossa soil, heritage streetscape, and surrounding farmland, all of which naturally suit a period drama set in rural Australia.
Beyond its wine reputation, Penola is also closely associated with Saint Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first Catholic saint, whose former schoolhouse and heritage sites remain popular attractions. The area’s quiet roads, century-old buildings, and expansive countryside required relatively little modern alteration, making it an attractive filming base.
Visitors today can stroll through Petticoat Lane, explore local wineries, and discover the region’s history while experiencing the same landscapes that helped bring My Brilliant Career to life.
The Southern Barossa
Production also filmed throughout the Southern Barossa, one of Australia’s best-known wine regions, located about an hour northeast of Adelaide.
Although the Barossa is internationally recognized for its vineyards, the region also offers rolling farmland, golden paddocks, stone cottages, and gently undulating hills. These timeless rural landscapes closely resemble the Australian countryside described in Miles Franklin’s novel, making them ideal for portraying turn-of-the-century New South Wales.
If you’re visiting after watching the series, the Barossa offers far more than filming locations. Boutique wineries, farmers’ markets, cycling trails, and heritage villages make it one of South Australia’s most rewarding destinations even without its Netflix connection.
Adelaide Studios
While South Australia’s countryside provided the series’ sweeping outdoor scenery, interior sets and controlled filming environments were created at Adelaide Studios in Glenside.
Operated by the South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Studios has hosted numerous Australian and international productions thanks to its purpose-built sound stages and production facilities. Although the studios themselves are generally not open for public tours, Adelaide serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding filming regions.
Can you visit the My Brilliant Career filming locations?
Yes, although with one important limitation.
Netflix and the production team have publicly confirmed the regions where filming took place, but they have not released a detailed scene-by-scene filming guide identifying every farm, road, or historic building used in the series. For now, visitors can explore the broader filming regions of Penola, the Southern Barossa, and Adelaide while enjoying the landscapes featured throughout the production.
As additional filming sites become publicly identified after the series premieres, this guide will be updated with more specific locations.
Turn the filming locations into a road trip
A self-drive itinerary is the best way to experience the landscapes featured in My Brilliant Career.
Start in Adelaide, where international and domestic flights arrive daily. From there, drive about one hour northeast into the Southern Barossa to explore vineyards, historic villages, and scenic country roads. Continue southeast for roughly four hours to reach Penola and the wider Limestone Coast, where heritage buildings, cellar doors, and peaceful rural scenery await.
Late winter through early spring (August to October) is one of the best times to visit. During these months, many canola fields bloom bright yellow across South Australia, while vineyards begin their spring growing season, creating some of the state’s most photogenic landscapes.
The story behind the story
This is not the first screen adaptation of Miles Franklin’s novel. The celebrated 1979 film, directed by Gillian Armstrong, became one of the defining works of the Australian New Wave and helped launch the international careers of Judy Davis and Sam Neill.
Nearly five decades later, Netflix’s adaptation introduces Sybylla’s story to a new global audience while showcasing another generation of spectacular Australian filming locations.
Frequently asked questions
Where was My Brilliant Career filmed?
The series was filmed in South Australia, with publicly confirmed production taking place around Penola, the Southern Barossa, and Adelaide Studios.
Was My Brilliant Career filmed in New South Wales?
No. Although the original novel is set in rural New South Wales, Netflix filmed the series entirely in South Australia, whose historic towns and countryside closely resemble the novel’s setting.
Can visitors see the exact filming locations?
Not yet. Only the broader filming regions have been officially confirmed. Individual filming sites have not been publicly identified, although more locations may become known after the series is released.
If you love period dramas and their real locations
If period dramas inspire your travels, you might also enjoy exploring where Bridgerton Season 4 was filmed in England, the real-life locations behind Wuthering Heights (2026), and other notable filming destinations featured across LalaHappy. Planning your own screen-tourism adventure? Don’t miss our guide to the best apps for finding real filming locations around the world.
