The Rams Film Location Guide
Welcome to this interactive film location guide that showcases the landscapes and locations used in the film Rams that was released for general exhibition in October 2020. Filmed against the rural backdrop of Mount Barker, in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia, the story and cinematography combine to showcase the region and its many and varied attractions.
Table of Contents
(please click or tap on the headers below to be taken to that section)
Synopsis
The film follows two estranged brothers on adjoining sheep farms who haven’t spoken to each other in four decades. A rare disease threatens their livestock and the brothers must find a way to work together.
In 2015 the story was originally released as Hrútar, filmed in Iceland and created by writer-director Grímur Hákonarson. In the same year it won the Un Certain Regard Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Australian producers Janelle Landers and Aidan O’Bryan loved the film at first viewing and started discussing how the work could also be set in Western Australia – but with a new context. WA screenwriter Jules Duncan has taken the essence of the original script and created a fresh interpretation of the film from an Australian perspective.
The Cast
- Sam Neill (Colin)
- Michael Caton (Les)
- Miranda Richardson (Kat)
- Wayne Blair (Lionel)
- Leon Ford (De Vries)
- Travis McMahon (Fergo)
- Asher Keddie (Angela)
- Hayley McElhinney (May)
- Kipan Rothbury (Frenchie)
- Will McNeill (Jackson)
- Asher Yasbincek (Sally)
Some may say the most pampered and looked after cast on Rams have four legs, and its hard to disagree. Locke the Dorset horn ram was a regular on set and was provided with his own cast "caravan", his own harem (the ewes Susie, Charlie and Mel) and fed the best green pasture that Mount Barker could provide. Flown in from New South Wales after months of training by Kirstin Fedderson (Kirsko Film Animals), Locke is only two years old but is already a regular on film sets, having appeared previously in the television series Lambs of God.
"It turns out they're probably the best paid actors on the whole film". (Jeremy Sims – Director).
When the sheep are centre stage they have another couple of wranglers to ensure they stay concentrated and don't miss the cues and calls from the Assistant Director. Tig and Sage both play the part of the hero sheep-dog and were also trained by Kirstin. Tig was already a professional sheep trialling dog so the film aspects of training were easy to teach - she is a natural.
The Shire of Plantagenet has a rich agricultural history since mixed farming was established in the late 1800's. Local sheep and sheep dogs were considered during casting calls but in the end it was the past film experience that saw these important stars of the show being imported from "Over East".
The Producers
"We had been scouting around Australia and Western Australia in particular for a while and I happened to be in the region (of Mount Barker) separately," says producer Aidan O'Bryan. "I saw a sign for a lookout, drove to the top of a hill and took in this amazing view. From there I could see the ocean, the two mountain ranges, and a town nestled within this little valley and I thought - 'what if it's here'?" (Aidan O'Bryan - Producer)
The crew kept searching for a location but O'Bryan couldn't shake the vista from atop the hill. Sheep farming is a key part of the local community in Mount Barker and when the production eventually stumbled across the perfect farm location it appeared all signs had led there.
The Director
“I am excited to have the chance to take this elegant and powerful tale and set it in the place that I spent my summers growing up."
Welcome to Mount Barker, an agricultural town rich in history and heritage that has diversified into viticulture and tourism. Mount Barker is a significant wine growing region and features some award winning wineries with cellar doors that take in the picturesque views of the farmlands and rolling hills. Here you can enjoy seasonal produce and discover specialist display gardens, craft galleries and wander heritage trails and scenic drives.
Getting There
Situated a scenic 363km (4 hours) drive from Perth, the journey south crosses the ranges of the Darling Scarp before descending to the wheatbelt region of rolling hills and pleasant farmland. The route passes through a number of farming towns that service the wider community and all feature some charming village shops and plenty of choices for en-route refreshments.
The town of Kojonup offers cafes and bakeries that deserve a stop and taste. In addition to refreshments there are also a number of historical buildings including the military barracks built in 1845. The Kodja Place – a purpose built rammed earth building housing a multi-faceted display of artefacts, stories, exhibits and images tells the story of the region.
Mount Barker - Some History
Mount Barker was first explored in late 1829, nearly four years after the establishment of the penal colony at Albany. The penal colony's surgeon Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson with a small party consisting of two convicts, an Aboriginal guide named Mokare, a soldier and a Mr Kent, Albany's commissariat officer, set off from Albany on 2 December 1829 to explore the hinterland.
"we observed that its banks were covered with luxuriant grass, sprinkled with yellow buttercups which put us in mind of home and the gently swelling lightly wooded adjacent hills are well adapted for sheep-walks" (Dr Thomas Braidwood Wilson).
A rough track was eventually established between Perth and Albany which had reached Mount Barker by late 1835 and by 1860 the traffic on the track was sufficient for William Cooper to build the Bush Inn to cater for passing trade.
The area has always been agriculturally rich. Mixed farming was established towards the end of the nineteenth century and by 1910 there were 75 commercial orchards (mostly concentrating on apple growing) in the area. In 1917 the Mount Barker Fruitgrowers Cool Storage Co-operative was established. It was closed in 1975 and the orchards have largely given way to a thriving grape growing industry with high quality vineyards producing a range of excellent wines.
(Information taken from the Shire of Plantagenet website).
The Plantagenet Hotel
Built in 1912, The Plantagenet Hotel is exactly the type of hotel you would expect to see in rural Australia. Designed in the Federation style (prevalent from 1890-1915 and named after the Federation of Australia) the hotel features ornate ceilings, a grand staircase and apple carved motifs in both the upper balustrades and posts.
The interior of the lounge bar required no alteration for filming. Just add some enthusiastic local extras, cast, crew, especially prepared food and some liquid refreshments and the stage was set.
Cue the locals
Stay and Eat
Accommodation is available at The Plantagenet, with shared facility rooms located in the hotel or motel units at the rear of the hotel. The hotel's cafe, is open daily offering breakfast, coffee and cake and light lunches whilst the lounge bar offers evening meals with a delicious roast served every Sunday. Reservations can be made online here.
Around Town
There are a number of locations that were used in the film, including the local shops, supermarket and, of course, the main street which appears in a number of scenes. All these locations are within easy walking distance of each other so step out the door, and discover Mount Barker.
Plantagenet Wines
Located a short walk from the Main Street, Plantagenet Wines has been producing high quality wines since 1974 when English migrant Tony Smith harvested his Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that he planted in 1968.
Plantagenet has once again been rated a 5 Red Star Winery in the James Halliday Wine Companion 2019.
The Mount Barker Visitors Centre
The Mount Barker Visitor Centre is located in town in the beautifully restored heritage railway station. Open 7 days a week, the friendly volunteers have a wealth of knowledge about the region and can answer all your questions, whether it be accommodation, restaurants or activities. Visit their website for more information.
The Museum
Located a short distance from the Plantagenet Hotel, the Historical Society Museum features the old police station alongside a number of historical objects related to the region.
The Main Street
There are a number of delightful old buildings in the main street area, along with cafes, supermarket, traditional butcher and a collectables treasure trove with a great record collection.
Further Afield
The area surrounding Mount Barker has a number of attractions, those that were used in filming and those that are situated nearby and are a must visit.
The Mount Barker Lookout
To get a broad overview of the landscape and see the ranges that both dominate and provide a host of activities in the region a visit to the Mount Barker lookout is highly recommended. Situated a short 3km drive from town, the view is astounding. The Porongurup and Stirling Ranges dominate whilst to the north farms and bush reach to the horizon in a golden haze. To the south, the coast beckons, with the deep blue of the Southern Ocean appearing in the distance on a clear day.
The Signs
The disease that strikes the sheep is not fictitious. Ovine Johne's (pronounced 'yoh-nees') disease is an infectious fatal wasting disease of sheep. Often abbreviated to OJD, it can have severe economic effects in sheep flocks if it is left uncontrolled.
The Grimurson Farm
The property that we ultimately chose had beautiful views across to the Stirling Ranges and a fantastic old house, which although in poor condition when we discovered it, should suit Les perfectly with just a few touch-ups. However, in order to tell the story properly and depict a clear and graphic divide between the two brothers' lives, we decided that we needed to build a house for Colin. (Clayton Jauncey - Production Designer)
"In my mind, Les had the house that the family were raised in - the ancestral heritage home - and Colin had the lesser one which he probably built himself in the early to mid-70s," says Jauncey. "We put a lot of effort into creating a fake asbestos product, which would've been popular at the time but is no longer in use today. We cladded the outside with this substance and used it for interior lining as well. We were also very fortunate to be able to find items like windows and floorboards and other things from local salvage parts in Albany which expedited the build."
The end result was a real live set; a house on stumps built alongside the existing 1890's heritage farmhouse on the property, which allowed the actors to walk out the door, into the real world and experience actual interactions, as opposed to a studio set.
"…the landscape features in its remoteness and its harshness because that underscores the kind of emotional life that these guys have. That they are survivors on the farm. And that the landscape is remote and harsh, savagely beautiful but you know cutoff. And I think that really mirrors where our two brothers are, perfectly." (Steve Arnold, ASC- Director of Photography)
Please note that the farmhouse is on private land and is not accessible to the public.
Shifting the sheep
There are two locations within the region that were used to showcase the shifting of the sheep to safer ground as the brothers struggle to keep the breed alive. Both are easily accessible from Mount Barker and they provide the opportunity for both a picnic and a discovery of some of the beautiful wildflowers that abound during spring.
The Old Bridge
This rustic bridge with its adjacent concrete replacement provided some perfect angles for the camera crew. Cameras were mounted on the newer bridge as well as the edge of the older wooden structure. It was a beautiful misty spring morning for filming and the added smoke from machines provided a magical moment.
Wildflowers
From late August to November the whole of Mount Barker erupts in a profusion of colour as the region welcomes both spring and the wildflower season. With over 1500 species of plants in the Stirling Ranges alone, there are many locations to observe and photograph these beauties.
There are wild flower trails close to Mount Barker (Reservoir Loop Trail and Moondurup Reserve) with maps, booklets and advice all available from the Mount Barker Visitor Centre.
Mount Barker Landscapes
No matter what road you take around Mount Barker, the landscape strikes you with its beauty. In spring, the green rolling hills and changing weather present a full palette of colour and vistas.
Farm Roads and Back Roads
Many locations were chosen for single scenes that are merged together into seamless scenes that is the magic of cinema. It was against these different backdrops that the cast and crew both set up and worked, bringing the essence of the region to the big screen.
Both the farm and farmhouses were filmed on private property but it is very easy to get a feel for the locations by taking any of the myriad roads that branch out from Mount Barker to both national parks.
The Beach Scene
The furthest location from Mount Barker is the beach scene which was filmed at Gull Rock Beach at Ledge Bay in Gull Rock National Park near Albany. Situated a scenic 50 minute drive south of Mount Barker, there are two locations to visit.
Gull Rock National Park takes its name from the small island situated off shore. As well as providing several good fishing spots there are a number of tracks through the bush that offer some wonderful views and the opportunity to discover many different species of wildflowers (in season) including the last significant stands of scarlet banksia in the region.
The beach is a popular summer swimming spot as it provides shelter from the prevailing south-easterly winds.
National Parks
The backdrop to many of the scenes and locations in Rams are two mountain ranges. Both National Parks and from two very different geological periods, the Stirling and Porongurup ranges are icons of the Mount Barker region.
Porongurup National Park
The granite of Porongurup National Park is some of the oldest in Australia and provides a direct link to a much colder part of the world. Formed 1200 million years ago, the rounded peaks are the remnants of a large mountain range that originally joined Australia to Antarctica during the Precambrian period.
The Porongurup Inn is the perfect place to start this adventure. The cafe serves a great selection of food and drink and the very friendly owners are very happy to wrap your made to order food requirements, allowing you to have an instant picnic en route.
Within the national park the forest and picnic area located here is a great place to stop and explore. Set amongst towering Karri trees, there is a bbq area, clean toilets and lots of picnic benches to make use of the afore-mentioned snacks. The area is also the start point for a number of walks (100m to 4km).
Following the marked route (above) there are some great spots to pause and view both the closer granite of the Porongurup's and also openings in the Karri trees that provide broad vistas across to the Stirling Ranges.
Returning to the main road continue back towards your starting point and then turn into the signposted point for the Granite Skywalk. This 2 kilometre walk starts at the picnic area and will take you through the forest before reaching the base of Castle Rock via an elevated walkway. From here the final ascent will take you up a 6 metre ladder and some spectacular views.
The Porongurup sub region features some award winning wine varietals including shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and pinot noir but the locally produced riesling is some of the best you can taste. The micro climate of this area with cooler nights and and daytime temperatures that can also be a little cooler than the nearby plains has produced something special. More information can be found here.
Stirling Range National Park
The beautiful silhouettes of the Stirling Ranges provide a somewhat mystical feel to the region. Matthew Flinders recorded the first European sighting of the inland mountain range he named Mount Rugged in January 1802 during his exploration of the southern coast of Australia.
"The irregular shaped mountains still in sight being seven leagues inland, and these entirely distinct, are beginning to shew themselves. Except these we see nothing inland."
(taken from www.environment.gov.au)
Aboriginal Heritage
The Mineng and Goreng people are believed to have originally lived in and around the mountains. Many Creation stories reflect the mystery and danger of the jagged peaks of the Stirling Range, particularly Bluff Knoll. The Nyoongar people of the area referred to Bluff Knoll as Bular Mial (many eyes) or Bala Mial (his eyes), as they believed the rocks on the bluff were shaped like the eyes of an ancestral master spirit that are visible on the mountain.
A Road Trip
There are a number of ways to experience the Stirling Ranges and the National Park website here has plenty of information about tramps and picnic places. You can enjoy a fabulous day trip from Mount Barker that incorporates a scenic drive through the Porongurup Ranges (as above) before continuing on to the Stirlings and the 42km route that will take you back towards Mount Barker.
Take Chester Pass Road from Porongurup National Park north. To get a close view of Bluff Knoll (or take the tramp to the top) continue to the Bluff Knoll Cafe here where you can stop for sustenance before travelling a further 6km to the Bluff Knoll viewpoint and carpark. You then return to the Stirling Range Drive. From here it is a loose metal (graded for 2WD) drive through the ranges.
There are many viewpoints on the drive and the route is also the starting point for a number of tramps within the national park. White Gum Flat is the great shaded picnic spot. At the Western Lookout there are views of Baby Barnett Hill and Mondurup Peak. In the height of the wildflower season, the surrounding area is ablaze with colour.
Upon reaching the end of the scenic drive you can then return back to Mount Barker.
Vineyards
Within the Great Southern Region there are five distinct wine sub-regions: Albany, Denmark, Frankland River, Mount Barker and the Porongurups. The Rams cast and crew enjoyed their relaxation time visiting the local vineyards of Mount Barker and Porongurup. Whilst visiting the region you can enjoy a relaxing day visiting them as well.
West Cape Howe Wines
West Cape Howe was founded in 1997 and soon became one of the most popular wine brands in Western Australia. Over time it has acquired some of the oldest vineyard resources in the state, giving it un-equalled access to the best and most consistent quality fruit that the cool Great Southern wine region has to offer.
Mount Barker offers the wine traveller a chance to try many classic wine varieties grown and made to perfection. Vineyards in the area are;
- Arcadia Wines is a family run vineyard on Red Gum Pass Road, Kendenup W.A. in the Mount Barker Wine region. The vineyard was first planted in 1997 on fertile slopes that dip into the picturesque creek known locally as “Dead Man’s Creek.” When we first traveled to Kendenup we discovered our own piece of rural paradise. Unknown to us at the time, it had been discovered before by Gaye’s Great Grandparents and Grandfather, all of whom were born right here in Kendenup. The amazing views of the Stirling Ranges inspired the name “ARCADIA”, much used in Greek and Roman poetry as a place where people were believed to enjoy the perfect life. For us a place to enjoy good wine, good food and good friends. The ever changing panorama of the Stirling Ranges makes for the perfect setting in which to do just that.
- Galafrey Wines is a family-owned winery, established in 1977 by Ian Tyrer (1946-2003) Galafrey has continued to prosper under the management of mother and daughter team, Linda and Kim Tyrer and with Kim's Husband Nigel Rowe, who maintain a hands-on role to ensure that the Galafrey philosophy lives on.
- Gilbert Wines are fourth generation farmers who take pride in growing and sharing the flavours of the region. They have a wine tasting cellar, a cafe with alfresco dining and great views and a culinary garden that you can wander through.
- Poachers Ridge Wines.
- Windrush Wines and Café, is a boutique vineyard, cellar door, cafe and gift shop overlooking established gardens, vineyard to the Mount Barker hills. The setting is relaxed but stylish, the wines are beautiful and the food is tasty and provides for food intolerances.
The Community of Mount Barker
In compiling this film tourism guide, the community of Mount Barker deserve a special mention.
"At Mount Barker itself, they’ve been the most generous, open hearted people you could ask for who gone to great lengths to make this possible for us. I think without the cooperation and the help from Mount Barker this film couldn’t have been made." (Michael Caton, Les)
Acknowledgements
The producers would like to thank the people of Mount Barker, the Shire of Plantagenet and the Great Southern Region for their support.
Rams received major production investment from Screen Australia, Screenwest, Lotterywest and the Western Australian Regional Film Fund. Roadshow Films will distribute throughout Australia and New Zealand with worldwide sales through WestEnd Films.
The Rams Film Location Guide was developed for Screenwest by Ian Brodie. Images courtesy of We are Wasted Pty Ltd & Ian Brodie. www.ianbrodie.net. Photographers included David Dare Parker, Courtney McAllister and Merlyn Moon.