A trio of Brisbane homes have showcased the Queensland capital to the world as part of the hit Netflix series, Boy Swallows Universe.
The seven-part series, based on Trent Dalton’s best-selling book, was shot entirely in Brisbane’s outer suburbs in 2022, as the production crew attempted to create the look and feel of the 1980’s.
According to realestate.com.au, Eli’s home, which was owned by his criminal stepfather Lyle Orlik, was filmed on location in a three-bedroom property in the Logan suburb of Beenleigh.
Ahead of filming, the house underwent a retro interior makeover, was painted blue, and had a patio and fence added by production crews.
The house last sold for $395,000 in 2015, was listed again for $426,000 in 2018, but eventually rented out when it didn’t sell.
Weekly rent was $310 in 2016, jumping to $440 in February 2023 when it was last rented through Donna Starkins of RE/MAX Revolution.
Ms Starkins said the house was repainted in a cream colour after being used for filming and then rented out.
“From what I’ve heard there are people driving past to see it,” Ms Starkins said.
Eli Bell’s father’s home was also featured in the series and production crews used a cream-and-green house with bay windows and a poinciana tree out the front on an elevated double block in Wavell Heights.
While a classic Queenslander with a pool and tennis court in the blue-ribbon streets of Chelmer was used when Eli and Gus went with their stepfather Lyle to buy a secondhand Atari game console.
The Stones Corner Freemasons building was used as The Courier-Mail headquarters, which has since been demolished.
In the rental listing, the Beenleigh house that belonged to Lyle in the series is described as a “neat and tidy Queenslander” with three spacious bedrooms and a sunroom at the entry, large bathroom, open-plan eat-in kitchen, huge yard and a double carport.
According to the production designer on the series, the area has been changing rapidly, with buyers purchasing properties and demolishing them because of their affordability.
The designers feared that had they waited a few more years to film the show, much of the 1980s character of the area would have been lost.
