“Ever wondered what it feels like to step into your favourite TV show?” That’s the question Neighbours Backlot answers every day. Right here we get to experience the magic behind one of Australia’s longest-running dramas. Neighbours Backlot isn’t just a set. It’s a place where television history comes to life.
Ramsay Street is the heart of Neighbours. It’s the fictional cul-de-sac where the characters live. The street is set in Erinsborough, a fictional Melbourne suburb. For over 30 years, Neighbours has centred on the lives of Ramsay Street residents. The street was named after Jack Ramsay. Jack’s blackjack game with Sam Robinson decided the street’s name. Only six houses are regularly featured. These are numbers 22 to 32. Number 34 was only shown once in 2018.
Pin Oak Court in Vermont South is the real-life cul-de-sac doubling as Ramsay Street. Residents allow Neighbours to film external scenes in their yards. However, back yard scenes shifted to bespoke sets from 2013.
Neighbours creator Reg Watson wanted to show three families as friends in a small street. Location scouts found Pin Oak Court. Residents agreed to filming, expecting the show to last a couple of years. FremantleMedia pays homeowners an annual fee for filming rights. A full-time security guard manages the tourists.
The interior scenes were filmed at Network Ten’s Global Television studios in Nunawading. Now, the interior scenes are filmed at Global Television studios in Forest Hill. Early house decor aimed to be unobtrusive. Most furniture came from regular stores. Curtains hid painted window scenes.
Let’s talk about a few of the houses. Number 22 has seen many residents. When Neighbours began, Number 22 was empty. Clive Gibbons rented it in 1986. Later, Paul Robinson bought it. Many families and characters have lived there since. The fourth wall of Number 22 was first shown in 2022.
Number 24 was one of the original houses. The Ramsay family first lived there. Max Ramsay, his wife, and sons were the first residents. Madge Mitchell and her family later moved in. Lou Carpenter also lived there and took in lodgers. Harold and Madge Bishop bought the house. Harold gave the house to the Salvation Army.
Number 26 was home to the Robinson family when Neighbours began in 1985. Jim Robinson and his family lived there. After Jim’s departure, the house was home to the Martin and Scully families. The Number 26 set was at the centre of a fire in the 2010 season finale.
Number 28 is first owned by Des Clarke. Later, Karl and Susan Kennedy bought it. Karl and Susan took in various friends and family over the years. In 2019, 5 Pin Oak Court was sold for over $1 million.
Number 30 was occupied by the Brown family at the beginning of the series. Later residents included the Simpson and Handley families. Lou Carpenter bought the house at auction in 1999.
Number 32 is first seen in 1986 when Nell Mangel is introduced. The Martin family moved in later. In 2010, Michael Williams moved in. After Troy Miller died, Lucas Fitzgerald and Vanessa Villante bought the house.
Number 34 is on the corner of Ramsay Street. It was featured in the 8000th episode. Its owner, Valerie Grundy, died in the house. The house was sold to an unseen buyer in late 2024.
Ramsay Street has become famous. It is free of war, disease, hunger, and poverty. The sun shines and the outdoor pool is always warm.
Today, Neighbours continues to capture hearts. The Neighbours Backlot provides an unforgettable glimpse into the world of Erinsborough. Take a walk and relive your favourite Ramsay Street moments. You’ll leave with memories that last a lifetime.