Rosehaven: tonight's the night

Rosehaven writers and lead actors Luke McGregor and
Celia Pacquola in a preview image set in New Norfolk.

THE long-awaited first episode of the ABC TV comedy series Rosehaven will premiere on national television tonight.

Filmed at New Norfolk, Geeveston and other southern Tasmanian locations last winter, the first series of Rosehaven will consist of eight 30-minute episodes.

The first two episodes were screened at a launch event at the State Cinema in Hobart on Monday night. This was attended by the cast and crew, ABC representatives and invited guests including Derwent Valley councillors. A representative of the national broadcaster told the audience it was hoped Rosehaven would have a long run.

Filming inside the Historical Centre in New Norfolk.

Action in High St during the filming
of Rosehaven.

Cast and crew on the real estate agency set in High St.

Shooting exterior scenes outside
McCallum Real Estate.

Arts Minister Vanessa Goodwin MLC said it was exciting for all involved to see the end results of their months of hard work appear on the big screen. "The government, through Screen Tasmania, invested $450,000 into the series alongside co-financiers the ABC and Screen Australia, with 90 local cast and crew employed and $1.8 million injected into the local economy," Ms Goodwin said.

"A number of Tasmanians including Katie Robertson, Kris McQuade and Noela Foxcroft have lead roles in the series, and Screen Tasmania supported nine attachments for emerging Tasmanian filmmakers to get their first taste of a professional set," she said.

"The Tasmanian screen industry has had an extraordinary year and Rosehaven follows closely on from the success of The Kettering Incident, with these successes soon to be followed by feature films Lion and The Light Between Oceans, and animated series Fanshaw & Crudnutt and Little J & Big Cuz," Ms Goodwin said.

Rosehaven will screen on ABC TV on Wednesdays at 9pm and will be repeated on ABC2 at 8.45pm on Saturdays. Preview clips and cast interviews can be seen here.