Sweet making machinery and lolly-pop paraphernalia seen in the film was loaned to the production by the Darrell Lea Historical Museum in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
"The Rocks", Sydney Town of 1873 for Playing Beatie Bow were re-created in a massive set on the backlot of the South Australian Film Corporation studios at Hendon, Adelaide, South Australia. Reportedy, the cost of this set build was AU $400,000. It took around ten weeks to complete with production designer George Liddle declaring it at the time ''the most extensive and finely detailed backlot built in Australia.''
This film was not successful at the Australian box-office when first released in 1986.
This picture was apparently rated PG instead of G (general audiences) in Australia because Abigail (Imogen Annesley) says the line "Oh, shit".