Netflix sets release date for Ōamaru’s East of Eden as October 1

Published on 28 August 2026

Once dismissed as an eyesore, Ōamaru’s heritage precinct has become a powerful story of transformation. Its derelict buildings and forgotten streets have been brought back to life as a nationally significant visitor destination—one that now contributes an estimated 1.5% of Ōamaru’s GDP. Most remarkably, a single stretch of road, Harbour Street, generates around $10 million for the local economy. What was once overlooked is now one of Ōamaru’s greatest assets - preserving its past, attracting visitors and powering its future.

That foresight of some dedicated residents and the Local Council has given Ōamaru more than a beautifully preserved precinct - it has created a ready-made film set with global appeal. The town’s remarkably intact Victorian streetscapes have helped establish Ōamaru and the wider Waitaki district as one of New Zealand’s most distinctive screen locations, attracting major international productions alongside New Zealand and Australian projects.

Two recent productions show just how brightly Ōamaru now shines on the world stage. In February 2026, Michael Portillo and the BBC’s Great Railway Journeys team filmed in the Heritage Precinct, capturing the town’s railway history, Victorian architecture and SteamPunk character for an international audience.

Even more excitingly, Ōamaru’s streets were transformed into 1900s California for Netflix’s seven-part adaptation of East of Eden, based on John Steinbeck’s classic novel and starring Florence Pugh. Filmed in early 2025 with local people appearing as extras, the series is scheduled to hit screens in October 2026—placing Ōamaru’s extraordinary heritage before viewers around the world.

For Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust Property Manager Jacob Barwick, the arrival of East of Eden brought an unmistakable buzz to Ōamaru—captivating the public and impressing the production crew from the moment they stepped onto the set.

“The crew were amazed by the precinct,” Jacob said. “They covered the streets with shingle, and that was almost all it took they said it felt like stepping straight back into the 1880s. They told us there was nowhere else in the world quite like it.”

Securing Ōamaru as a filming location was more than a year in the making. Location scouts returned several times before the town was confirmed, and by December 2024, props and costumes were beginning to arrive ahead of filming in January 2025.

“We all had to sign non-disclosure agreements, of course, but it was an open set, so people were always nearby, watching the transformation unfold,” Jacob said. “There were even bus tours organised.”

“We couldn’t reveal what was being filmed or when, but we could let people know when the streets would reopen. That meant the community could stay informed - and share in the excitement as Hollywood came to town.”

Helping bring East of Eden to life was the Trust’s restoration officer, John Baster - an accomplished model-maker whose remarkable film career made him ideally placed to assist with the production’s period detail.

Before returning to Ōamaru, John spent many years at Wētā Workshop, where he led the Miniatures Team and worked on landmark productions including The Lord of the Rings trilogy and King Kong. This time, his skills were put to work much closer to home.

“I helped wherever I could,” John said. “A few of the props are still scattered around the precinct - including a wardrobe used in the murder scene and one of the planter boxes.”

One detail stood out to him - a collection of bottles, complete with original Lanes Emulsion labels from the famous tonic once manufactured in Ōamaru.

“That was a wonderful Ōamaru touch,” John said. “The production used the original Lane’s labels on the bottles. Now those props are displayed in the very building where the tonic was once made. Today it’s home to the Victorian Wardrobe. It’s a lovely moment where local history, heritage and film all come together.”

For those who are interested, Lane’s Emulsion was an unforgettable blend of cod liver oil, beechwood creosote, brandy and fresh egg yolks, with cinnamon, saccharin and other secret flavourings added to disguise its famously powerful taste. It may not sound like a modern blockbuster ingredient—but on the set of East of Eden, this unmistakably local remedy became a small prop with a big story.

ENDS