Production in Bowen is scheduled to start on May 14, and the population of the Queensland town is rapidly increasing as new crew members arrive each day.

Most crew members are in town to transform the waterfront area into 1940s Darwin, where part of the film is set. "At the moment they are building an entire set to represent Darwin during World War II," Tourism Bowen manager Therese Saad said. "That's well and truly under way and it looks amazing."

It's understood that Kidman and Jackman will be travelling with a heavy security contingent and have insisted bodyguards be continually stationed at their accommodation in town.

Channel Seven news has distanced itself from a cameraman who was allegedly roughed up by Kidman and Urban's minders while they visited the Royal Easter Show on Monday.

The cameraman was a freelancer, not employed by the network, who provided the footage of the couple and Kidman's nephew, Hamish, during their low-key visit to the show.

The footage clearly showed a hand going over the camera lens before the shot went distinctly shaky - a sign that, after some less than pleasant experiences with Australian paparazzi, Kidman's people are not afraid to get physical, if need be.

"People like to look at the places where famous movies have been made and I have no doubt that we'll see a huge increase in tourist numbers due to this film."

While locals are hoping to get their own 15 nanoseconds of fame with roles as extras in the movie, the strapping Brunker reveals his celluloid career was over before it even began.

The idea has been supported by 72-year-old town matriarch Merle Jochheim, a descendent of Bowen's founding father and the owner of Jochheim's Pies. In fact her pie shop played a pivotal role in Luhrmann's decision to film Australia in the town.

"We're getting a group of locals together. We will be able to tell people when they arrive what's happening on the day, where they are filming, where they can go and where they can't go, what they can do and what they can't do."

Mrs Jochheim was behind the counter of her shop in March last year when she saw a stranger standing in the main street with a look of intense concentration on his face.

Faraway Downs, the homestead on the station inherited by Kidman's character, Lady Sarah Ashley, is to be built at the Carlton Hill station outside Kununurra.

The team will be filming there for at least one month after the WA Government lobbied heavily to be involved, throwing in $500,000 as an incentive.

Interestingly, Luhrmann toyed with the idea of calling the film Faraway Downs before settling on Australia. The jury's out on whether that was a sound decision.

The Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre threw a cocktail party on Friday night to celebrate the completion of refurbishments to the facility and the reopening of the pavilion, where the Australia cast have been going through their paces.

Centennial Parklands Equestrian Centre manager Dee Vodden said the production company has been renting stables at the centre, although they have brought in their own trainers and horses.

"They have all sorts of horses but they are mainly stockhorses," she said. "They're all beautifully taken care of so I'm sure they will all look good in the film."

Contrary to reports, rising star Joel Edgerton has not been cast in one of the supporting roles in Australia, alongside Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson and David Wenham.

Otto's daughter Gracie is involved with Matthew Newton, who has been charged with assaulting Brooke Satchwell while she was working on the television series Dangerous with Edgerton.

Officers from Leichhardt police station sought statements from the cast and crew of Dangerous as part of their investigations last year. The matter is scheduled to be heard in Downing Centre Local Court in June.

Other new cast members to be announced include screen veterans Ray Barrett and Bill Hunter along with indigenous cast members Lillian Crombie and Ursula Yovich.

Australia's first indigenous film star, David Gulpilil, has also been cast, which may explain why he failed to appear in Darwin Magistrates Court last month where a 12-month apprehended violence order was placed on him to protect his wife, Miriam Ashley, whom he has been accused of assaulting.

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