The cast of a major new drama series being filmed at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, Victoria, has been revealed.
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The SBS series New Gold Mountain, due to be broadcast next year, will include Alyssa Sutherland, who starred in Vikings, as well as Yoson An, a Chinese-born actor who moved to New Zealand as child.
Production has now begun on the four-part series, which SBS is billing as its "most ambitious drama yet".
Described variously as a murder mystery series and a 'revisionist western', it sets out to tell the story of the Victorian gold rush from the perspective of Chinese workers who migrated in search of their fortune.
Other cast members include Christopher James Baker from True Detective, Dan Spielman (The Code), and Mabel Li.
The series is being produced by Goalpost Television and directed by Corrie Chen, whose previous credits include Homecoming Queens and Wentworth.
An SBS spokesperson said New Gold Mountain would be the most expensive SBS drama to date - adding that actual production costs were commercial in confidence.
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It was one of five Australian-based dramas announced by the network on Wednesday.
Yoson An will play the part of Leung Wei Shing, described as the headman of the Chinese digging camp, which he said was "probably one of the most layered and complex characters I've had the opportunity to explore."
Alyssa Sutherland, who will play a character called Belle, said she was "extraordinarily grateful" to have the opportunity to play what she called a "gutsy female" role.
She said the series would be "gripping and thought-provoking".
Key scenes for the series are being filmed at Sovereign Hill. It will also be shot around Melbourne and in other regional Victoria locations.
The plans for the series were revealed in Sovereign Hill's annual report, which was released last month.
