Home And Away: Brax and Ricky make first appearance in history-making episode set against WA’s Bullara Station

Home and Away fans have waited a decade for this moment, and now the beloved Summer Bay couple is back, making history as they return in a new chapter set in an unexpected corner of WA.

In Episode 41 of season 38, aired at 7pm on March 9, Brax (Stephen Peacocke) and Ricky (Bonnie Sveen) appear against the backdrop of the rugged outback, the scene of their tranquil life working on a cattle station, filmed at WA’s Bullara Station in Exmouth Gulf.

In case you need a reminder of where we last saw the duo on the series — Brax and Ricky drove off into the sunset 10 years ago after Brax faked his death during a desperate prison break and returned to Ricky, who ultimately chose to leave everything behind so they could build a new life on the run with their son, Casey (Austin Cutcliffe).

Brax is first seen riding a motorbike rounding up cattle before Ricky pulls up and a school-aged Casey jumps out of the car, followed by a wavy-haired, cowgirl-looking Ricky.

The scenes of a rural idyl, a world away from Summer Bay, are shaken when Ricky announces that Dean Thompson, Brax’s successor as leader of the River Boys, has called.

Later, after aerial shots of the WA’s north west set the scene, Brax reveals to Ricky after speaking to Dean that he’s considering doing a “favour” for the River Boys by allowing someone who needs “a place to lay low” come and stay at the farm.

Ricky protests, arguing they’ve got a whole new life that could be “destroyed” if the cops find out where they were.

Brax and Ricky stand by a fire looking up at the star-filled sky and Ricky acknowledges that Brax is likely going to allow the stranger to stay, joking that “once a River Boy, always a River Boy.”

As the credits roll, a teaser of the next episode shows Brax meeting Tane Parata (Ethan Browne) in the city, showing the backdrop of Elizabeth Quay in Perth.

The show’s long‑serving executive producer, Julie McGauran, who partnered with Tourism WA to bring the production to Western Australia, said the 38 cast and crew members who travelled for the shoot thoroughly enjoyed the experience, despite the remote filming location.

“Every single person (who we took to film there) would have two hands shooting up, ready to go back again,” McGauran said.

While the first WA-filmed episode just showcases Exmouth Gulf in the cattle station scenes, some of WA’s most iconic spots —including Ningaloo Coast World Heritage Area, Coral Bay, Charles Knife Canyon, plus Yardie Creek, Turquoise Bay and Shot Hole Canyon in Cape Range National Park — will feature in upcoming episodes.

Tourism Minister Reece Whitby said the focus on WA in a series that attracts one million viewers per episode and is a huge hit in the UK, is “major win” for the state’s tourism industry.

“These episodes will put our State’s natural beauty, relaxed lifestyle, and unique experiences in front of millions of viewers in Australia and key international markets, inspiring future travel and reinforcing Western Australia’s global appeal,” he said.

Home And Away airs 7pm Mon-Thurs on Seven and 7Plus.