The Allan Labor Government is backing a new television mini-series based on national sporting icon Evonne Goolagong Cawley AC MBE - the first Aboriginal woman to play professional tennis.
Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks today announced that the new mini-series Goolagong is being filmed in locations across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
The three-part event mini-series is based on the inspiring true-life story of world champion tennis player Evonne Goolagong, one of Australia's most loved female sporting heroes.
The journey will take us from the tiny NSW regional town of Barellan, where an eager eight-year-old Aboriginal kid first peered through the cyclone wire fence of a tennis court to the centre courts of the world, where Evonne would reach the world number one ranking and endear herself to millions around the globe.
The production will inject over $9 million into the Victorian economy and create an estimated 1300 jobs for Victorian screen workers, including 100 crew, 1200 cast and extras, and seven skills development opportunities for emerging First Peoples screen creatives and workers.
Set to broadcast on the ABC and produced by leading Victorian production company Werner Film Productions, part of BBC Studios, Goolagong has been developed with the support and participation of Evonne Goolagong Cawley. Evonne and her husband Roger Cawley are associate producers of the series.
Esteemed Indigenous screen leaders including Director Wayne Blair, writer Steven McGregor, and co-producer Danielle Maclean, join producer Joanna Werner and writer Megan Simpson Huberman to bring this long-awaited dramatic portrait of Evonne Goolagong Cawley to the screen.
Rising star Lila McGuire plays Evonne Goolagong Cawley with Marton Csokas as her coach Vic Edward, Felix Mallard as her husband Roger Cawley, and Luke Carroll as her father Kenny Goolagong.
Goolagong includes dramatic tennis matches from 1970 through to 1980, which are being filmed at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club and Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club, along with a purpose-built set of Wimbledon's Centre Court, which is currently under construction.
The production is also filming on location in Kyneton, Seaford, Seymour, Sunshine, Tallarook and Woodend. Post-production and visual effects work will also take place in Victoria.
Goolagong has received support from the Labor Government's Victorian Production Fund and Victorian Screen Rebate and will premiere on ABC in 2026. The series is being sold globally by BBC Studios.
As stated by Minister for Creative Industries Colin Brooks
"Evonne Goolagong Cawley is one of Australia's most loved sporting champions and one of our all-time tennis greats. We're proud to support this mini-series which will bring the tennis legend's inspiring story to the screen, with a team of extraordinary First Peoples storytellers.
"This will be another production proudly made in Victoria, telling a uniquely Australian story while creating jobs for local screen workers - in metropolitan and regional areas - and boosting our state's economy."
As stated by VicScreen CEO Caroline Pitcher
"This story will resonate with all Australians and will deepen our connection to Evonne as both First Peoples woman and athlete, and her unique strength, resilience, and vulnerability as she navigates her life's journey."
As stated by Werner Film Productions Producer Joanna Werner
"It's a huge privilege to be bringing Evonne Goolagong's extraordinary life story to the screen - she is such an incredible inspiration for so many."
"From the outset, it was important to us that this series be developed with authenticity and in close collaboration with Evonne herself, and we are thrilled that she is an Associate Producer of the series along with Roger Cawley."
"Filming in Victoria has allowed us to tap into world-class locations, crew, and post-production talent, and we're proud to be working with such a passionate and experienced team, led by our brilliant director Wayne Blair."
"We're incredibly grateful to the ABC for their support in helping this project become a reality, and excited that BBC Studios will share Evonne's powerful story with audiences around the world. Evonne is a trailblazer whose story deserves to be told on this scale, and we're honoured to be part of bringing it to life."
As stated by Co-Producer Danielle MacLean
"Goolagong will be filmed on the lands of the Boonwurrung (Bunurong), Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung, Dja Dja Wurrung, and Taungurung Peoples of the Kulin Nations.
"We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of these lands and pay our respects to Elders past and present. From the very beginning, we have engaged in meaningful consultation to ensure the series honours First Nations culture, community and Country as we know this process will only enrich the production."
"First Nations voices are at the heart of this project, with strong representation across cast and crew."
