McLeod's Daughters started life as a 1996 TV movie pilot on the Nine Network, which became the highest-rated telemovie in Australian television history at the time.

Despite the telemovie's success and the network commissioning a 22-episode series, the project was shelved for four years and was only revived after the 2000 Sydney Olympics opening ceremony featured a 'Man from Snowy River' theme that highlighted the cultural significance of the bush to Australians.

Creator Posie Graeme-Evans developed the idea in the early 1990s, drawing on stories from friends who grew up in the country and on her love of South Australian landscapes as depicted in the paintings of Hans Heysen.

The role of Claire McLeod was initially intended for actress Laurie Foell, who was on hold for four months before production, until Lisa Chappell was invited to audition and won the part instead.

Bridie Carter, a NIDA graduate who had only had minor guest roles before, landed her first major screen role as Tess in McLeod's Daughters.

During production, Lisa Chappell learned how to ride a horse and shear sheep for her role.

The series was filmed on location at Kingsford, a 135-acre heritage-listed property north of Gawler in South Australia, which the Nine Network purchased in 1999 and which creator Posie Graeme-Evans called 'our very own backlot'.

Kingsford's historic homestead was built from Edinburgh sandstone that had been transported to Australia as ship ballast, and took over 30 years to construct, finishing in 1856; the run-down look of the property suited the McLeod family's lack of money for maintenance.

McLeod's Daughters was shot on Super 16 mm film and was the first Australian drama series to be delivered in HDTV format, using three cameras across main and second units.

Director of photography Roger Dowling used camera techniques to create the illusion that the show was filmed on a 50,000-hectare bush property, when in reality Kingsford was only about the size of a hobby farm.