Yuku free message boards

Quote:

---

Hollywood comes to town but leaves locals in the dark
December 23, 2006 - 6:19PM

TWO of Hollywood's biggest stars came to town but even the mayor didn't know they were secretly filming in his neighbourhood.

Camelot, a grand house at Camden on Sydney's outskirts, was the secret location for filming during the week of Baz Luhrmann's Australia, featuring Australian superstars Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

A source close to the set revealed that Kidman and Jackman were in Camden for interior and exterior scenes on Wednesday and Thursday. But filming was so secret that Camden Mayor Chris Patterson, who lives four doors away from the house, didn't even know the stars were in town.

Mr Patterson said he had no idea Kidman and Jackman had been just down the road. He said filming was not subject to council approval.

But it's understood the house and property were used for early scenes in Luhrmann's movie about an English aristocrat who inherits a property in the Northern Territory during World War II.

"Nicole and Hugh were both here," a source from the set said last week.

"They were both very nice, very charming.

"Nicole is a very beautiful, friendly lady and Hugh was great. He sat down with the owner and had a chat with him for about an hour."

It is understood the actors were flown into Camden by private helicopter, landing at Camden Airport, which is near Camelot.

The house was brought by Camden businessman Brendan Powers and his wife, Rachel, in 1999 for $2.6 million.

"It is a really beautiful house, lovingly restored ... and the gardens are looking just amazing," the film source said.

Kidman had earlier practised her riding scenes at the equestrian centre at Moore Park. Jackman, who was pictured wearing a holster on the Camden set, is also expected to ride horses extensively in the film.

Camelot is set among rolling green pastures with horses and well-established cottage-style gardens.

Entry to the main house is by a winding, tree-lined drive.

The historic mansion was built in 1888, was constructed from brick and has a romantic silhouette of turrets, chimney stacks, gables, arched verandas and projecting bays.

Kidman remained in Sydney yesterday, spending most of the morning inside her Darling Point home.

The actor received a handful of visitors at her house before lunchtime.

---