Abstract. Shell-model calculations for upper fp-shell nuclei using realistic interactions are reported. Valence nucleons beyond the N=28=Z core are considered to fill levels of the normal parity upper fp-shell and the unique parity configurations that consists either of the g 9/2 level or the whole gds-shell. These two cases are handled within a standard M-scheme approach and an SU(3) picture, respectively. Results for low-lying energy spectra, single-particle occupancies and symmetry properties of the eigenstates are reported. Various truncations are considered that key on the number of nucleon pairs allowed to occupy the unique-parity space. The calculations demonstrate the importance of the unique-parity space to the structure of upper fp-shell nuclei.