Bay of Fires (TV series)
| Company type | Production company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television production |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Hobart , Australia |
Key people | Marta Dusseldorp (co-producer) |
Bay of Fires is an Australian series blending crime drama with dark humor, which debuted on ABC Television on 16 July 2023. The show was co-created by Andrew Knight, Marta Dusseldorp, and Max Dann, with production commencing in June 2022. Direction duties were split evenly between Natalie Bailey and Wayne Blair, each overseeing four episodes. Filming occurred in several towns in western Tasmania, notably Queenstown, Strahan, and Zeehan. Alongside starring, Dusseldorp also took on the role of co-producer with Yvonne Collins. The title draws inspiration from the real-life Bay of Fires located on Tasmania’s eastern shoreline.
Dusseldorp portrays Stella, a woman placed under witness protection in the fictional community of Mystery Bay, situated near Strahan. The town’s inhabitants are predominantly distrustful and engaged in illicit activities. Stella must safeguard her children, Iris (played by Ava Caryofyllis) and Otis (Imi Mbedla), while adjusting to her new environment. Other significant characters include Jeremiah (Toby Leonard Moore), a handyman; Airini (Rachel House), an ASIO agent; Frankie (Kerry Fox), a powerful crime matriarch; and Thaddeus (Matt Nable), a cult leader. The late veteran actor Tony Barry appears posthumously as Joseph, Jeremiah’s father; he passed away in December 2022 after completing filming.
On 8 February 2024, ABC confirmed renewal for a second season, introducing Alex Dimitriades as Allessandro, the husband of Anika. The sophomore season premiered on 15 June 2025.
Synopsis
Anika, CEO of the financial firm ProsperAus, becomes the target of an assassination attempt orchestrated by her de facto partner Johann. ASIO operative Airini provides Anika with a new identity—Stella—and relocates her along with her children Otis and Iris to the remote town of Mystery Bay in Tasmania. This isolated community is known for its high involvement in criminal enterprises and residents under witness protection. Stella encounters numerous challenges stemming from limited local resources.
As she cautiously builds trust with Jeremiah, Stella meets other locals such as Frankie, who controls drug trafficking operations as a criminal matriarch, and Thaddeus, who leads a cult. A government official named Robin investigates suspicious payments but is abducted; during ensuing events, Stella unintentionally kills him and, aided by Jeremiah, conceals the body. Otis engages in selling marijuana at school and develops feelings for Elysha. After Stella destroys Jeremiah's marijuana crop and faces a mock trial by townsfolk, she persuades them she can bring financial gain despite threats from Frankie. Otis and Elysha become involved with Thaddeus’ sect. Together, Stella and Jeremiah disrupt one of Frankie's drug deliveries, inciting her anger. Stella later rescues Otis and Elysha from danger. Johann arrives in Mystery Bay searching for Anika; she organizes local residents to intercept ProsperAus' money laundering operations.
Cast and characters
- Marta Dusseldorp as Stella Heikkinen (née Anika Van Cleef): former ProsperAus CEO targeted by assassins; relocated to Mystery Bay with her children.
- Toby Leonard Moore as Jeremiah Gurvan: tow-truck operator and farmer; ally to Stella.
- Ava Caryofyllis as Iris Heikkinen: Stella's imaginative daughter.
- Imi Mbedla as Otis Heikkinen: adopted son of Stella; intelligent yet cynical; involved in local drug trade.
- Nicholas Bell as Graham Gordon Ellery: blind resident at local hotel; former supervisor of witness relocation.
- Pamela Rabe as Magda (Madeleine Kokoris): ex-Australian intelligence agent with keen observational skills.
- Alex Dimitriades as Allessandro (S2): spouse of Anika; father to Iris and Otis.
- Tony Barry as Joseph Gurvan: Jeremiah’s father; former farmer burdened by debt.
- Kerry Fox as Frankie McLeish (Vicky Stiles): crime matriarch overseeing drug distribution and violence.
- Matt Nable as Thaddeus (Jonathan Stiles): cult leader and arms dealer.
- Emily Taheny as Jodie: local tavern owner and Jeremiah’s romantic interest.
- Roz Hammond as Heather: assistant to Magda.
- Rachel House as Airini/"Irene": ASIO assistant director investigating ProsperAus activities.
- Robert Rabiah as Reg Brown: owner of Thai restaurant working under Frankie.
- Bob Franklin as Connor (Ryan Raymond Greene): fake mechanic with eccentric hobbies.
- Oscar Redding as Arthur (Edward Stiles): Frankie's brother struggling with substance abuse.
- Ilai Swindells as Sammi: IT specialist initially employed by Frankie.
- Nikolai Nikolaeff as Johann Mueller: senior ProsperAus employee who contracts assassins against Anika.
- Paul Roukchan and Vanya Essin as Ruslan and Yakov: Chechen henchmen working for Johann.
- Ben Knight as Tarquin (Benjamin "Ben" Rooney): ex-bikie affiliated with Frankie’s operations.
- Kim Ko as Bong Cha (Mai Fong): motel proprietor managing the town’s surveillance network.
- André de Vanny as Jason: local police officer who overlooks Frankie's illegal activities.
- Stephen Curry as Francis Pike: murdered for selling Gurvan property to Stella.
- Yael Stone as Robin Ricketts: public servant from Department of Finance probing payments linked to Mystery Bay.
- Emily Milledge as Brony: ward of Frankie caring for an infant.
- Mitchem Everett as Jack: son of Frankie and her enforcer.
- John Stanton as Douglas: retired CEO of ProsperAus; Anika's father.
- Peter Sammak as Drago: operative working for Frankie.
- Rhys Muldoon as Vance Horsley: Deputy Secretary at Attorney-General's office who established Mystery Bay’s witness relocation program in 1983.
- Anthony Sharpe as Manfred: unpredictable school bus driver with a troubled history.
- Scott Wells as Charlie: Post Office employee befriended by Jack.
- Sandy Gore as George: judge consulted by Airini during investigations.
- Brigid Zengeni as Bethel: follower within Thaddeus' cult.
- Ben Winspear as Rowan Furness: Robin’s superior at Department of Finance; spouse of Marta Dusseldorp.
- Jalen Sutcliffe as Stretch: henchman working for Frankie.
- Mackenzie Grant as Elysha: adherent of Thaddeus; love interest of Otis.
'Notes'
Production
The inaugural season, consisting of eight episodes, was developed by Andrew Knight, Marta Dusseldorp, and Max Dann, with production handled by Archipelago Productions—a company established in 2018 in Hobart by Dusseldorp and her partner Ben Winspear—alongside Fremantle. Living in Tasmania since 2018, Dusseldorp collaborated with Knight, who is based in Melbourne, to create the concept through Zoom meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. The writing team includes Knight, Dann, and Sarah Bassiuoni. Dusseldorp incorporated her personal insights on cultural transitions from moving out of a major city.
The series title draws inspiration from the actual Bay of Fires located on Tasmania’s east coast, while the fictional setting of Mystery Bay is positioned near the island’s west coast. Initial funding of A$1.5 million was secured in October 2021 from the Tasmanian Government via Screen Tasmania. Additional financial support was provided by ABC, Screen Australia, Film Victoria, and Fremantle.
Principal photography commenced in June 2022 but encountered scheduling disruptions due to ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks. Key filming sites across Tasmania included Queenstown for airstrip scenes, interiors, and street shots; city sequences were captured in Sandy Bay; school and residential scenes were filmed in Strahan; and the main street of Mystery Bay was portrayed by locations in Zeehan. The on-location shoot lasted approximately 16 weeks.
Before the first season aired, the Tasmanian Government committed funding for a second season. Official confirmation of renewal arrived on 8 February 2024, with production for season two starting on 9 May 2024.
Release
The initial two episodes of Bay of Fires had their premiere at the Sydney Film Festival on 17 June 2023. The series officially launched on ABC TV and ABC iview on 16 July 2023 and later became available for streaming in the United Kingdom via ITVX beginning 23 May 2024. ABC announced that the second season is scheduled to broadcast from 15 June 2025.
Critical reception
David Knox from TV Tonight awarded Bay of Fires four out of five stars, emphasizing its setting of a "declining minetown main street" and its "vividly eccentric cast" as major attractions that enhance its compelling storyline. In contrast, Luke Buckmaster writing for The Guardian critiqued the first four episodes as lacking focus, describing the show as an "uninspiring and oddly toned fugitive drama" that left him unsure about its narrative trajectory. Mel Campbell of Screen Hub remarked that the series "oscillates between comedy and drama in a manner that can be both tense and exasperating."
On the other hand, Anna Hickey-Moody from The Conversation commended the show as "arresting, dry, and brisk," viewing it as a representation of Australian Gothic through its examination of urban-rural divides and small-town isolation functioning as mechanisms of social control. Kevin Perry at TV Blackbox noted that it "expertly combines dark humor with surprising plot developments to create an engaging story." Actor Matt Nable, who portrays Thaddeus, described his involvement as "[a] truly intriguing concept and an exceptionally unique role." Furthermore, Bridget McManus of Brisbane Times praised Rachel House’s portrayal of Airini, highlighting how she "instills both fear and amusement... embodying a mysterious figure of authority."
Series Two
| No. | Episode Title | Original Broadcast Date | Viewership | ABC iview Release Date | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | "Collective Responsibility" | 15 June 2025 | 437,000 | 15 June 2025 | |
| 10 | "The Chosen" | 22 June 2025 | 306,000 | ||
| 11 | "Arm In Arm" | 29 June 2025 | 284,000 | ||
| 12 | "Stick To the Recipe" | 6 July 2025 | 240,000 | ||
| 13 | "Weird Is the New Normal" | 13 July 2025 | 246,000 | ||
| 14 | "How to save a Life" | 20 July 2025 | 237,000 | ||
| 15 | "Bury Me Deep" | 27 July 2025 | 237,000 | ||
| 16 | "All's Well That Ends"
"|3 August 2025 "|249,000 |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AACTA Awards | Best Television Drama Series | Marta Dusseldorp, Yvonne Collins, Archipelago/Fremantle |
Template:Nom |
| Screen Producers Australia | Drama Series Production of the Year | Bay of Fires | Template:Nom |
Home media
The DVD edition of Bay of Fires Season One was made available through Acorn Media on 13 September 2023.