Seven Little Australians (TV series)

Seven Little Australians was a 10-part TV series that aired on ABC Television in 1973.^[1] The mini-series was based on Ethel Turner's best-selling novel, Seven Little Australians.^[2][3][4]

Seven Little Australians
Genre	Drama
Based on	Seven Little Australians by Ethel Turner
Written by	Eleanor Witcombe
Directed by	Ron Way
Country of origin	Australia
Original language	English
No. of episodes	10
Production
Executive producer	Charles Russell
Running time	30 minutes
Production companies	ABC Ethel Turner Productions Australian Film Development Corporation
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	26 August (1973-08-26) – 28 October 1973 (1973-10-28)

The series was largely faithful to the book; differences include the fact that Judy was thin and waiflike in the book, she is more solidly built in the series. Meg's hair was long and dark, but in the book her hair is long and blonde.

Premise

Captain Woolcot is a widower with seven children. He marries again and his new wife takes on all the trials of bringing up seven spirited children.^[5][6]

Cast

Character	Actor
Captain John Woolcot	Leonard Teale
Judy Woolcot	Jennifer Cluff
Esther Woolcot	Elizabeth Alexander
The General	Christian Robinson
Meg Woolcot	Barbara Llewellyn
Pip Woolcot	Mark Clark
Nell Woolcot	Anna Hruby
Baby Woolcot	Tania Falla
Bunty Woolcot	Mark Shields-Brown
Martha	Ruth Cracknell
Aldith	Judy McBurney
Mr. Hassal	Peter Gwynne
Doctor	Nigel Lovell

Production

The project had been in development at the ABC for a number of years. Head of television drama, John Cameron, praised the contribution of American Charles Russell in working on the script. Cameron wrote, "For the adaptation to work, Charles insisted that the story had to be built around the father and his inability to express his deep love for his children, particularly his eldest daughter."^[7]

Cameron says investment funds came in part from Global Television and Twentieth Century Fox.^[7][8]

Filming started 2 January 1973. It was filmed in Sydney and on location near Bowral and Canberra.^[9] Cameron also recalled "Although it [the mini series] turned out very well, there were difficulties at every turn, and at some time during the production every member of the production team,... came to me to report that we could not do it, and should abandon the project."^[7]

Reception

The Sun Herald called it "the most moving, beautifully produced, senstiviely acted piece of children's drama we have done on television yet."^[10] The Bulletin called it "a joy to watch".^[11]

Overseas broadcast

The series was broadcast on US television as Seven Little Woolcotts.^[7] It rated highly in Sweden.^[12]

Awards

It won the Gold Logie in 1974 for Best New Drama.^[13] It also won several Penguin Awards^[14] and AFI Awards.^[15]

The series has been released on a 2-disc region 4 DVD set in Australia.

Episodes

1. "Fowl for Dinner" - 26 August (Sydney air date)
2. "What Are Fathers For Anyway?" 2 September
3. "Consequences" - 9 September
4. "All for the Worst" - 16 September
5. "Secrets" - 23 September
6. "Tomorrow Do Thy Worst" - 30 September
7. "Into the Sun" - 7 October
8. "Yarrahappini" - 14 October
9. "The Picnic" - 21 October
10. "Going Home" (final) - 28 October