Netflix Series Brings $19M and 100 Jobs to Small WA Town

Gingin, a quiet historic town in Western Australia's Wheatbelt region, just became an unlikely Netflix star.

The streaming giant chose this community of 78 kilometers north of Perth to film "Breakers," its first series set in Western Australia. The production is transforming the rural town and its stunning coastal neighbor Lancelin into the backdrop for a thriller about two American backpackers who stumble into a mysterious surfing community.

For a region that's struggled to attract tourists, the timing couldn't be better. The series is creating 100 local jobs and pumping $19 million into the state's economy.

"Tourism is vital and I think it's something that has been lacking in Gingin," said Carrie Edwards, manager of the Gingin Community Resource and Visitor Centre. She hopes seeing familiar locations on screens worldwide will finally put the town on travelers' maps.

This isn't Gingin's first brush with fame. The town's pub and tire shop appeared in last year's Australian drama "Run" about the infamous Postcard Bandit bank robber. But Netflix brings global reach that local productions can't match.

The Ripple Effect

The benefits stretch far beyond the immediate cash injection. Gingin just earned Film Friendly Western Australia certification from Screenwest, joining coastal towns like Albany and Busselton in actively courting film productions.

Shire President Linda Balcombe sees it as opening a new revenue stream for the region. "We're trying to make filmmakers' jobs easier so they can come in, do what they need to do and our local businesses can benefit from their spend," she said.

The social impact matters just as much as the economic one. Balcombe noticed something special happening around town: "It's increased the buzz of the town. It's started the conversation that more could come."

Edwards loves that Gingin hasn't lost its character in pursuit of tourism dollars. "We are still quite quaint, which is rare these days, with many of our coastal towns being overdeveloped," she said. "Gingin just is what it is, what you see is what you get."

The longtime residents are already excited about spotting their hometown on Netflix, even if some need their neighbors to explain what streaming is. "The oldies will just love it," Edwards said. "They're all very patriotic and proud of the town."

From the Lancelin Sand Dunes to the rural countryside, Western Australia is proving it has the diversity to compete with any film location in the world.