The bustling little village of Millthorpe was transformed into the fictional town of Bush last week, as filming took place for a locally produced drama series set to air on SBS later in the year.

Classic cars and trucks were parked in the street, and flags hung from buildings, as the village stepped back in time to the 1940s.

While the Men are Away tells the story of the women left at home during World War II, while the men are fighting on the front lines. The series revolves around two Women's Land Army recruits who arrive in the country and undergo a course in race relations, rural politics, farming, spirituality, sexuality and personal growth.

While the Men are Away is expected to be released in September.

Filming has been taking place at different locations around the central west of the past few weeks, including the historic homestead “Ammerdown”, “Rose Farm” in Nashdale, as well as Millthorpe.

Co-creator and executive producer of the series, Alexandra Burke is eager to see the finished product, which she says will finally showcase the often-forgotten women on the homefront during World War II.

“The World War II genre has been done many times. It’s often about the diggers and their experience of war, so it’s quite exciting to now look at other people's experiences that maybe the history books have left out,” Alex said.

It was the rich history of the central west that played a massive part in inspiring the television series.

“You had internment camps for Germans and Italians, and the Japanese prisoner of war camp in Cowra, Aboriginal reserves in Cowra, the Women's Land Army that was also in Cowra. It was just such a real melting pot – a lot of different people. And by all accounts there was really a lot of interaction and a lot of stories,” Alex said

Orange-based film company Arcadia, of which Alexandra is a founding partner, pitched the idea for the series to SBS, who were excited to get involved.

Once given the “green light” it was off to the writing room, led by experienced showrunner Kim Wilson.

“Kim is just wonderful. She’s written for basically every Australian show under the sun: A Place to Call Home, Wentworth, Packed to the Rafters, Neighbours, and so it was really wonderful to have her experience in the room,” Alex said.

“We have a really lovely emerging young cast. It’s kind of a breakout role for a lot of them, but they’re brilliant.”

A coup for the small Australian production was the signing of Italian actor, Michela De Rossie, who plays immigrant “Frankie” in the series.

“She’s one of the most exciting actors working in Italy today. She’s worked in the U.S, and she was in the Sopranos: The Many Saints of Newark and she’s the lead in the upcoming Italian series called Briganti, which is directed by the director of Vikings, and that series is going to be huge,” Alex enthused.

For Arcadio, who are proudly based in Orange, finally having the opportunity to film in the local area has been very rewarding.

“We’re seeing the footage as it comes in each day and it’s so beautiful – I mean you don't get sunsets anywhere like here, and they've been captured on film. I really feel like this show will showcase the beauty of Orange and its surrounds,” Alex said.

“It’s been such a big dream of ours at Arcadia, to develop and create a project in our hometown… It’s all led to this beautiful, very funny, very emotional, dramatic comedy and it’s an absolute joy.”