Mansion in My Brilliant Career reboot brings buzz to rural town

The historic Yallum Park mansion, featured in the Netflix reboot of My Brilliant Career, has sparked renewed interest in the rural South Australian town of Penola. Built in the 19th century for a pastoralist-turned-politician, the 17-room double-storey homestead remains remarkably well-preserved. Andy and Annie Clifford, who inherited the property in 1914, welcomed the filming crew of 140 who spent four months at the site, living upstairs while shooting the period drama.

The series, with a budget in the tens of millions including government incentives, was filmed at Yallum Park last year. While some locals are unsure about the tourism impact, the Clifford family is optimistic about the increased visibility the production will bring to their town. Location manager Scott McCarten described the mansion as having a distinctly Australian character, with its grand entrance perfect for horse and carriage arrivals.

Since the show's global release, website data shows a significant surge in interest for Yallum Park, with a third of the annual traffic coming in just eight days after the launch. However, the Cliffs' own floristry store owner, Diane Williams, remains skeptical about long-term tourism benefits, emphasizing the need for targeted advertising to attract visitors.