Picnic at Hanging Rock, Australia - What happened to the girls? A true story?

Picnic at Hanging Rock is a 1975 Australian mystery film directed by Peter Weir, based on the novel of the same name.

Is this movie based on a true or fictional story?
To this day, there is still a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding surrounding the story by the general public.

Both the novel and movie indicated that the girls met a supernatural and mystical ending.

It`s a really fascinating movie, but I wonder: is it really based on a true story? Someone claim that it is a true story and that it actually happend in Australia.

Hanging Rock is located in a rural setting approximately 80km (1 hour) to the north of Melbourne.

On a beautiful summer's day, St. Valentine's Day, 1900, a party of virginal Australian schoolgirls from an exclusive finishing school prepare for an excursion to Hanging Rock, a magnificent natural monument drenched in a mysterious atmosphere. Four girls went onto the rock to explore the upper slopes. Only one returned two days later. She never remembered what happend. The other girls have never been found. There are lots of theories about the girls dissapearence.

Something supernatural? Or could it be a plausible explaination? Will the truth ever be revealed?

This movie premiered at the Hindley Cinema Complex in Adelaide, South Australia on 8th August 1975. It became one of the first Australian films to reach an international audience, receiving international acclaim and commercial popularity, and thus has an important place in both cinematic and Australian history. The film stars are Helen Morse, Rachel Roberts and Vivean Gray.

Website for Hanging Rock: http://www.hangingrock.info/

You can also visit Joan Lindsay's house at Langwarrin on the Mornington Peninsula http://www.nattrust.com.au/trust_properties/mornington_peninsula/mulberry_hill

Comments about the novel and movie: http://www.castleofspirits.com/picnicathangingrock.html