"We've been left out in the dark and we're not real happy about it." Those are the words of Whitsunday Regional Council mayor, Mike Brunker.

When Baz Luhrmann chose to shoot his latest film Australia, (view trailer below) in the town of Bowen, in Queensland, the locals were ecstatic.The media descended to capture the thrills and interview shop owners as about 600 Bowen residents accepted roles as extras, Nicole Kidman drank nightly at the pub and 100 became tour guides for visiting hordes.

Labourers were ntoshort of work either as Luhrmann had built a 6.5-hectare set converting part of the town into wartime Darwin.

Brunker, the mayor, was instrumental when the town of Bowen accepted Baz Luhrmann with open arm.

How things change.

Bruker says the city was promised a premiere screening of Baz Luhrmann's epic love story.. but distributors Fox Studios have refused to give away their plans.

"I hope they don't think they're going to send us a tape up one week before the opening of the movie and say here put something on, because obviously it needs to be organised."

The worldwide premiere is rumoured to be taking place in Darwin - despite much of the principal photography taking place in North Queensland.

More info

tourismbowen.com.au/