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Australian children's programmes

by dfle3 • Created 10 years ago • Modified 4 years ago
All sorts!
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  • 39 titles
  • Adventure Island (1967)

    1. Adventure Island

    1967–19731173 epsTV Series
    8.3 (50)
    Children's pantomime-style series about the characters from the Kingdom of Diddley-Dum-Diddley.
    CreatorsJohn-Michael HowsonGodfrey PhilippStarsSue McIntoshNancy CatoLiz Richardson Harris
    Mentioned on a segment of the ABC TV arts programme The Mix (17/04/2016), with relation to an exhibition of ABC TV programmes which aired between (from memory), 1964 and 1974.
  • The Adventures of Long John Silver (1956)

    2. The Adventures of Long John Silver

    1956–195726 epsTV Series
    7.0 (194)
    Swashbuckling made for TVs episodes staring 'Legend' Robert newton as Long John Silver and argh 'Jim Larrd' as they face many new adventures......
    StarsRobert NewtonConnie GilchristKit Taylor
    Very surprised to see this was an Australian tv show! Stumbled upon this reference on the website classicaustraliantv.com. Apparently Australia's first ever tv series! The site says, in part:

    "The first television series to be produced in Australia was made before we had television. The Adventures Of Long John Silver was a 26 episode, half-hour series made for the English and American markets...It is somewhat ironic that this should be Australia's first television series".
  • Adventures of the Seaspray (1966)

    3. Adventures of the Seaspray

    1966– 33 epsTV Series
    8.3 (88)
    The story centred on widowed journalist Dan Wells, who is sailing the Pacific with on his 25-metre schooner "Seaspray", with his three children Mike, Noah and Sue, assisted by their Fijian crewman.
    StarsSusanne HaworthGary GrayLeoni Lesinawi
    I've got this in my Australian dramas list...Wikipedia not that informative about what its target audience was, but a link to another site describes it as a "family" series, so I'll include it here...where perhaps it most belongs...?
  • 4. The Adventures of Sebastian the Fox

    196313 epsTV Series
    The adventures of a cheeky fox who travels around Australia.
    StarsLarry StevensStewart WellerBarbara Brandon
    Hmm...I wonder if this is the show I have vague memories of as a child...think I may have tried to look up this show some years ago but using a search term like "20th century fox".
  • Barrier Reef (1970)

    5. Barrier Reef

    1970–197239 epsTV Series
    8.0 (46)
    Ted King is the captain of the research vessel New Endeavor in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Its crew of divers and scientists study the mysteries of the ocean with the latest high tech equipment and mini submarines.
    StarsJoe JamesHarold HopkinsKen James
    This came up via a link in Wikipedia to another site with information on "Adventures of the Seaspray". It's described at that other site as a "family" series, so I'll include it here too. Looking at the cast, it's notable for having famous Australian ocean photographers Ron and Valerie Taylor, who, I believe, were involved in the filming of the hit movie "Jaws". Also interestingly, it was picked up by the BBC and NBC in the USA...as well as in numerous other countries.
  • Curiosity Show (1974)

    6. Curiosity Show

    1974– 1 epTV Series
    8.7 (91)
    Educational show with a focus on science projects for children to make at home.
    StarsAlan FarwellPatsy BiscoeDeane Hutton
    "I'm glad you asked!".

    Apparently the hosts of this interesting educational/science series have brought the rights to this show and now have a You Tube channel devoted to it. Aimed at teenagers, I'd say.

    Here's their You Tube channel:

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ9oDWliqkUxGHsKVbkwQOw

    Wikipedia mentions that the format was picked up in the U.S. and had young hosts, as the network didn't believe that middle-aged hosts would rate well...even though it did in Australia. The U.S. version was called "3-2-1 contact".

    I was very surprised to learn that the Australian show was a spin-off from "Here's Humphrey"!! Their segment was introduced as "Humphrey B Bear's curiosity show".

    The Australian show also won "the coveted Prix Jeunesse in 1984, voted by peers from around the world as the best factual program for children".

    Not sure if this show created the catchphrase "here's one I prepared earlier".
  • 7. Science Demonstrations

    1969TV Series
    8.8 (37)
    American scientist Julius Sumner Miller hosts an educational science series produced in Australia and performs a variety of experiments involving various disciplines in the world of physics.
    StarJulius Sumner Miller
    Another Pr. Julius Sumner Miller title. Makes me think: Boy, they don't make shows like this any more, do they?

    Wikipedia states:

    This program was a series of 45 shows (approximately 15 minutes each).
  • Fat Cat and Friends (1990)

    8. Fat Cat and Friends

    1990–20112 epsTV Series
    7.3 (19)
    An educational children's show with segments teaching math, reading, and social skills through colorful animations and puppet characters.
    StarsYasmin KassimPatsy BiscoeWayne Anthoney
    For pre-schoolers.
  • 9. Fun Farm

    1956–1957TV Series
    StarPat Mondel
    Suggested by JeiceWarrior.

    Wikipedia states:

    "Debuted 29 October 1956, the series aired live on Sydney station TCN-9...The series was aimed at children from ages four to twelve".
  • 10. Gerry Gee's Jamboree

    195845mTV Special
    According to a TV listing, this was a variety special featuring ventriloquists and their dolls.
    StarRon Blaskett
    I can't find a listing for the "The happy hour" spin-off starring the ventriloquist doll of this name, "The Adventures of Gerry Gee "
  • The Girl from Tomorrow (1991)

    11. The Girl from Tomorrow

    1991–199224 epsTV Series
    7.9 (1.4K)
    In the year 3000, Alana is kidnapped by evil Silverthorn, after a time travel experiment goes wrong. He takes Alana to the year 1990. With the help of Jenny Kelly and family, Alana must find Silverthorn before the time capsule leaves.
    StarsKatharine CullenMelissa MarshallJames Findlay
    Hadn't heard of this series until someone started lobbying for it to be included in my live poll on the best Australian mini-series of all time.
  • The Girl from Tomorrow (1992)

    12. The Girl from Tomorrow

    19921h 44mTV Movie
    8.2 (277)
    A teenager from the year 3000 takes part in a time-travel experiment, but due to a malfunction finds herself sent back to the year 1990, along with a criminal from the year 2500. She must convince people of this time period that she is not crazy and that the criminal from the future must be stopped before he tries to take over everything.
    DirectorKathy MuellerStarsKatharine CullenMelissa MarshallJames Findlay
    Not exactly sure where this movie fits in...a sequel? A movie length adaptation of the original tv series?
  • 13. The Happy Go Lucky Show

    1957–1959TV Series
    Guests, competitions and other segments.
    StarsHappy HammondBob HorsfallPat McCormack
    Wikipedia states that the original title was "The happy show", which this site doesn't list. It changed its name later to "The Tarax show", after its sponsor.
  • Here's Humphrey (1965)

    14. Here's Humphrey

    1965–2008833 epsTV Series
    7.4 (61)
    Humphrey is designed to entertain and educate its audience as they join in the fun with the character of Humphrey B Bear. Humphrey enjoys exploring and pretending. He likes playing, singing, dancing and being with his friends.
    StarsAnthony O'DonohueHumphrey B. BearTony Balzan
    For pre-schoolers. Was on commercial tv but I recently heard that it was back on community television...which is now under threat by Malcolm Turnbull.
  • Hey Hey It's Saturday (1971)

    15. Hey Hey It's Saturday

    1971–201033 epsTV Series
    7.3 (291)
    Hosted by Daryl Somers, Hey Hey was a variety show, featuring sketches, performances, a talent show of sorts, and an array of celebrity guests, ranging from Australian television stars, to actors in big Hollywood blockbuster movies.
    StarsIan 'Molly' MeldrumDaryl SomersRussell Gilbert
    Incorrect title on this site...it's "Hey, hey, it's Saturday".

    Originally started as a children's programme but later morphed into an early evening institution...something adults would watch before going out for the night.
  • 16. It's Academic

    1961– 8 epsTV Series
    8.0 (22)
    A weekly quiz game featuring three teams of high school students from their respective schools. Each team had three members, one of whom was captain. Each game consisted of four rounds. In the first three rounds, teams answered questions one team at a time. A packet of ten question would be chosen from twenty packets by a captain of one of the other two teams, and play would proceed. In the first round, teams would be awarded ten points for a correct answer with no penalty for an incorrect answer. A team could pass if it couldn't come up with an answer, in which case one of the other two teams could try to answer at the end of the round. In the second round, teams would still be awarded ten points for a correct answer, but would be penalized ten points for an incorrect answer and five points if they passed on a question. In the third round, teams had the option of doubling point values. If they accepted (and almost always did), they would be awarded 20 points for a correct answer, penalized 20 points for an incorrect answer and ten points for a passed question. There was a two-minute time limit for each team. If a team answered all ten questions correctly, a 50-point bonus was awarded. The final round was known as the grab bag, a three-minute free-for-all in which anyone from any team could respond. A correct answer was worth 20 points, with a 20-point penalty for a wrong answer.
    StarsMac McGarryKatie BuennekeAsher Morse
    I can't find the listing for the first Australian edition of this show, which Wikipedia states:

    "An Australian version of the show aired on Network Ten and the Seven Network from 1968–1975, and was revived by Seven's Perth affiliate in 2001. Seven took the show national in 2005".

    I do remember a very funny parody of this show by The D-Generation...with VERY dumb student contestants!
  • 17. The Judy Jack Show

    1956–1957TV Series
    A children's program, featuring a mix of live and film segments.
    StarJudy Jack
    Suggested by JeiceWarrior.

    Wikipedia states:

    "The Judy Jack Show was one of the earliest Australian television series, and is notable as one of the first children's series produced in that country. The series debuted in 1956 on Melbourne station HSV-7. It continued into 1957, running for about a year before it was replaced with Young Seven".
  • Rodney Pearlman and David Morgan in The Magic Boomerang (1965)

    18. The Magic Boomerang

    1965–196645 epsTV Series
    8.5 (66)
    A boy has a boomerang and when he throws it everything around him stopped,except him ,so he can do whatever we wants, including stopping crime.
    StarsDavid MorganTelford JacksonPenelope Shelton
    Wikipedia describes this as a children's adventure series.
  • Mr. Squiggle and Friends (1959)

    19. Mr. Squiggle and Friends

    1959–1999963 epsTV Series
    8.1 (175)
    Mr. Squiggle is a marionette with a pencil for a nose, who visits his friends from his home at 93 Crater Crescent on the Moon, flying in his pet rocket (named Rocket).
    StarsNorman HetheringtonPatricia LovellJane Fennell
    Another iconic series for young children. Mr. Squiggle could, amazingly!, draw pictures which were upside down!!
  • Mulligrubs (1988)

    20. Mulligrubs

    1988–1996549 epsTV Series
    5.0 (14)
    Children's television show aimed at preschoolers, featuring storytelling, music, puppets and a animated face.
    StarsDi KiddGina ZoiaJo England
    Was recently watching the special "Network Ten 50 years young" and some of the guests commented on how they were scarred by the hostess of this young children's show.

    Wikipedia states:

    "About 550 episodes were made, with about 425 being stored intact at the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia.[1]

    The show was best remembered for the face (made up of just eyes, eyebrows, nostrils and mouth) on a blue screen that appeared occasionally during the program. The actress who played the part of 'the face' was Di Kidd".
  • Molly Broadstock, Monique Heath, Emmanuelle Mattana, Gemma Chua-Tran, Ashleigh Marshall, and Ciline Ajobong in Mustangs FC (2017)

    21. Mustangs FC

    2017–202039 epsTV Series
    7.5 (94)
    Mustangs FC is a goal kicking comedy drama about girls who are abandoning the sidelines and starting their local football club's first all female team.
    CreatorsRachel DavisAmanda HiggsStarsEmmanuelle MattanaAshleigh MarshallGemma Chua-Tran
  • Joel Lok, Dougie Baldwin, Rahart Adams, and Matt Testro in Nowhere Boys (2013)

    22. Nowhere Boys

    2013–201852 epsTV Series
    7.0 (2.7K)
    Four teenage boys, after getting lost in the forest, return to a parallel reality where they were never born, compelling them to navigate this alternate world.
    CreatorTony AyresStarsDarci McDonaldNicholas CoghlanMatt Testro
    Teen orientated adventure fantasy.

    Wikipedia states that the show has been renewed for a 2nd series.

    Update: There was an article in this week's Green Guide (13/11/2014) on a star of this show, Rachel Griffiths. She's appeared in numerous tv shows and movies, including U.S. shows like "Six feet under".
  • 23. Pick a Pint

    1960– TV Series
    A short-lived game show for children.
    StarPat Hodgins
    Suggested by JeiceWarrior.

    Wikipedia states:

    "Pick a Pint was an Australian television series which aired in 1960 on Melbourne station HSV-7. It was a game show for children and was hosted by Pat Hodgins. A 15-minute series broadcast on Fridays, it proved short-lived, running from February to May. The archival status of the series is not known".
  • Play School (1966)

    24. Play School

    1966– 2560 epsTV-YTV Series
    7.4 (394)
    Preschoolers are provided with learning opportunities through music, crafts, stories, games and information. The aim is to encourage a child to wonder, think, feel and imagine, striving to reflect a modern, diverse Australian society.
    StarsBenita CollingsJohn HamblinTeo Gebert
    Still extant series for pre-school children which has also had numerous hosts who became (or were already?) well known in the tv/industry industry.
  • The Rovers (1969)

    25. The Rovers

    1969–197039 epsTV Series
    8.1 (34)
    CreatorRoger MiramsStarsRowena WallaceNoel TrevarthenEdward Hepple
    An ocean based family adventure series, according to Wikipedia.

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