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The 'magical' reason Chinese tourists are flocking to the University of Sydney

Several Chinese websites claim the Harry Potter films were partly shot at the University of Sydney.

A resemblance to the Harry Potter universe's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has seen Chinese students flock to Sydney University.

A resemblance to the Harry Potter universe's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has seen Chinese students flock to Sydney University. Source: SBS News

If you go to the University of Sydney, you might notice some striking similarities between its Quadrangle and the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry of Harry Potter fame.

In fact, several Chinese websites have taken that a step forward - claiming the Harry Potter blockbuster films were actually filmed at the university in an effort to attract tourists.

"Our tour guide told us this is where one of the scenes of Harry Potter was filmed," one tourist told SBS News, as they wandered through the Quad.

While Sydney University bears a resemblance to Durham Cathedral in the United Kingdom - where the Hogwarts scenes were actually shot  - no parts of the film were shot in Australia.

This tour operator states that the University is "one of the locations of the film Harry Potter."
This tour operator states that the University is "one of the locations of the film Harry Potter." Source: https://www.fittravel.com.au/product/syd86681/

But that has not stopped tourists. Even the university has noticed an uptick in foot traffic through the Camperdown campus as Potter fans try and grab a glimpse of witches and wizards.

Dr Jamie Fraser is the senior curator of the Nicholson Museum, which sits inside the Quadrangle building, and said he had noticed a significant rise in tourists from predominately Chinese groups visiting the University. 

"There's been an astonishing increase in visitors throughout the university campus, in two years in February we've had more than a 4000 people increase since 2017 to 2019," he said.

Sydney University's architecture dates back to the 1920s.
Sydney University's architecture dates back to the 1920s. Source: SBS News

"One reason for that is the neo-Gothic architecture of our main quadrangle and people come to the front desk of our museum and ask us can you please show us where Harry Potter was filmed."

Another Chinese tourist visiting the Quadrangle told SBS News the university building was "very famous" for its apparent part in the Potter-verse.

"This place filmed or I think it filmed Harry Potter, it's very famous and I've seen looks of my classmates who have come here to take photos that are so beautiful so that's why I really wanted to come here," he said.

SBS approached the tour guide taking the group around the university but she decline to speak.

This tour operator states that the University is "one of the locations of the film Harry Potter."
This tour operator states that the University is "one of the locations of the film Harry Potter." Source: Supplied

2 min read

Published

Updated

By Lin Evlin

Presented by Justin Sungil Park



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