Before Hollywood descended on the southern Riverina township of Hay, in NSW, to film part of ‘Mad Max Furiosa’ in 2022 the tiny township already boasted an impressive bio.

Australian writer and bush poet Joseph Furphy's lived and worked in Hay when he began writing his 1890's epic Such is Life.

The short film called Child Lost on Goolumbulla is based on just one scene in the novel -which depicts the story of a helpless child lost in the bush. Andrew Furphy - a direct descendant of Joseph Furphy, produced the film with actor John Derum, who also acted in the 2013 docu-drama.

Filmed on Thelangerin Station, the production boasted a cast of locals, who made the production both possible and engaging.

Katie Schiller starred as ‘Mary’ the lost child with her real-life father Brett playing ‘Rory’, the father of her character, and sister Felicity also appearing. The film also saw appearances from Hay’s best horsemen; Ted Circuitt, Barry Nisbet, Ivan Job, Sam Coleman, Laurie Stevens, Richard Cannon and Ray Miller, as well as Bill Ryan, Bob Gaston, Derek McFarland, Fi Gaston in supporting roles.

The flat, dry, saltbush landscape of Thelangerin made the haunting story of loss of a child both sorrowful believable; a reality of many early settlers.

Below: A gallery of images from the 2013 production ‘Child Lost on Goolumbulla’ (Images: Bush Lit Productions)

The wide expanses of the Hay Plains make the location perfect for road trip, coming of age movies, such as 1997s ‘True Love and Chaos.’

The movies starred Naveen Andrews, Hugo Weaving, Miranda Otto and Ben Mendelson, amongst a cast of Australian actors, written and directed by Stavros Kazantzidis. The cast stayed in Hay during the stint and mixed with locals at the former Caledonian Hotel one weekend, chatting and shouting drinks. Hugo Weaving had shot to fame in the cult classic Priscilla Queen of the Desert (1994) but was friendly and approachable with the late-night crowds at The Cal.

Hay first appears on screen, where Weaving’s character is meant to be dropped off at one of the South Hay services stations. The location then flicks rapidly to another area of NSW – which was confusing for locals! – and Weaving’s character ends up back with the road tripping characters of Andrews, Otto and Mendelson.

“True Love and Chaos was filmed at the Caltex and I still have all the autographs from the crew,” Jenni Teusner recalled. “And yes - some of us are actually in the film.”

The iconically Australian bar of the Commercial Hotel is the next filming location, popping up in the move some 30 minutes later. Local actor David Shea put in an admirable performance as a pub patrol, as Otto danced to the jukebox and Weaving played pool on the well-worm table of The ‘Merch.

The Hay Plains also provided the perfect backdrop for the travelling scenes.

True Love and Chaos used several locals as extras in scenes filmed in Hay. Locals remember Hugo Weaving, Noah Taylor and Ben Mendelson as very friendly.

The dark comedy series ‘Mr Inbetween’ also took advantage of the Hay Plains as a desolate back drop to a hitman on the run.

The Australian series starred Scott Ryan as gun for hire Ray, alongside Brooke Satchwell and Matt Nable, and the episodes filmed in 2021 near Hay were directed by the talented Nash Edgerton.

Crighton’s Engineering were tasked with erecting a windmill at a crossroads north of Hay.

Cameraman Charlie Whittaker posted on his social media, when filming ‘Mr Inbetween’ near Hay, wrapped in 2021.

In 1979 the acclaimed Australian classic ‘My Brillant Career’ was filmed at ‘Kywong’ just north-east of Hay on the Jerilderie Road. The movie was filmed in reverse order and everything at 'Possum Gully', the property which is seen as drought-stricken at the start of the film, was shot on the Hay Plains.

‘Possum Gully’ was the fictional home of Sybella Melvyn, played by Judy Davis, who dreams of escape a life of poverty and drought.

Sam Neill and Max Cullen also starred in ‘My Brillant Career’ and the film went on to win a slew of awards from the Australian Film Institute (AFI) and British BAFTA awards, including best film, best direction and best actress.

Judy Davis starred in the 1979 film ‘My Brilliant Career,’ directed by Gillian Anderson and partially filmed south of Hay. (Image: screenaustralia.gov.au)

Released in 2009 ‘Charlie and Boots’ starring Shane Jacobson and Paul Hogan as father and son also filmed in Hay, including a droving scene at the 16 Mile Gums on the Cobb Highway.

But it was the Lachlan Street ‘accident’ scene that stole the show. Charlie and Boots narrowly avoided a collision with a carful of lady bowlers, played by locals Lesley Hurst, Anne Hurst, Pat Woods and Bub Hurst. The steely eyed bowlers kept their cool, despite a torrent of abuse from Hogan’s character, and Lesley is named in the film credits as ‘Lady Bowler.’

A film grab from ‘Charlie and Boots’ starring Shane Jacobson and Paul Hogan, showing the vastness of the Hay Plains.

In the 1980s the wide stretches of straight roads were ideal for car commercials, and Holden produced a television ad for their latest Holden Commodore, featuring the children of form Hay residents Mick and Jenny Robertson.

Toyota, Hyundai and Ford Mustang’s have all filmed on the long, flat stretches around Hay and in the late 1970s Paul Hogan flew over the Hay Plains in a stunt plane, around Burrabogie Station, filming a television ad for the all-new Winfield Yellow cigarettes.

Aussie rocker Shannon Noll chose Hay to film the film clip to his 2004 hit ‘Drive’. The clip opens with Noll playing a mechanic at the former Walter’s Motors garage in Lachlan Street. He watches as a city couple peels in, arguing loudly, but soon Noll takes off with the couple’s hotted up XB Falcon, and the girlfriend.

The shunned boyfriend flags down a truck – belonging to Chris Garner – and gives chase along the Cobb Highway, as Noll sings and drives across the Plains. They fleeing pair stop off town and end up partying at The Commercial Hotel, before Noll returns the car to his disgruntled customer and takes off into the sunset with the woman.

The clip was filmed on the wedding day of Jacqui and Brett Hargreaves, from Hay, who still have the autographed serviettes from the day.

The mini-movie went on to be named best music video of 2004.

When Hollywood rolled into town in March 2022, to film ‘Furiosa’ on the plains near the legendary One Tree Hotel, the town of Hay was swamped with stunt riders, crew and a whole lot of shrouded-in-secrecy vehicles.

The Town boomed as accommodation filled and movie folk spilled from every pub, club and coffee shop but there was just one thing missing; no-one spotted the star Chris Hemsworth.

Filming was done in top secret but whispers where that the middle Hemsworth brother was not scheduled to film in Hay, much to the disappointment of locals.

The fifth Mad Max film ‘Furiosa’ is set to be released in May 2024, with the residents of Hay keen for a premiere screening, and to be part of the sixth film ‘Mad Max: The Wasteland’ which is currently in pre-production.