When it comes to iconic Australian reality television shows, you’d be hard-pressed to surpass MasterChef.
From the changing theme songs to those dramatic, sweeping entrances where our judges and contestants enter the kitchen each episode, the show serves as both a form of entertainment and inspiration for all who tune in.
Beloved by home cooks across the country, if you’re like us, you’ve probably found yourself dreaming of what it would be like to have access to the MasterChef kitchen.
While it may seem like an impressive set-up, you’d be surprised to know that the filming location for the series doesn’t look like it does on your screens all year round.
Find out more about it below.
Where is MasterChef Australia filmed?
MasterChef Australia is filmed in a purpose-built studio at the Melbourne Showgrounds in Flemington and has been since the very first season premiered way back in 2009.
Specifically, the beloved reality cooking competition is filmed inside Centenary Hall, a heritage-listed building that was first built in 1934 to accommodate displays of farm and dairy produce and district exhibits during the annual Royal Melbourne Show.
As well as MasterChef Australia, Channel Nine’s Lego Masters and Channel Seven’s Thank God You’re Here have also filmed in the space.
The Sydney Morning Herald has previously reported that Centenary Hall is “soundproofed and air-conditioned” and houses a “fully functional commercial kitchen, boucherie, herb garden, locker garden, wine reception area, 120-seat restaurant, and pantry” – making it the perfect venue to film MasterChef.
Where do contestants stay when they go on MasterChef?
Because the show is filmed in Melbourne, contestants stay in serviced apartment accommodation.
An anonymous source previously told Refinery 29 Australia that contestants had their own bedrooms in units, and two people generally shared an apartment.
The smaller apartments were introduced in 2020 to ensure things could go ahead safely in the pandemic, and have stayed in place ever since. Before this, hopeful cooks stayed in a multi-million-dollar mansion in Canterbury.
