It’s 6pm on a Thursday night in the tiny town of Pemberton, deep in WA’s Southern Forests region, and the local wine bar is alive.

Dotted about the place are a selection of grey nomads, enjoying a crisp sauvignon blanc at the end of a long day exploring the karri forests. But at other tables, an assortment of more unexpected people are packing out the tiny venue, enjoying beers or settling in for a night of wine and tapas. A large group enters and takes up its spot at the long table that’s been reserved at the centre of the bar.

A bar this heaving is a sight more commonly associated with the bustling streets of Northbridge, not the sleepy ex-timber town of Pemberton. But for several months in late 2024, it’s common occurrence as the ABC television series Mystery Road: Origin films in and

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