Australians (TV series)

Australians (also known as Michael Willesee's Australians) is a thirteen part anthology documentary drama series which screened on the Seven Network in 1988.

A lavishly illustrated spin-off coffee table book was released the same year. It was written by Roger McDonald and published Bantam Books.

The series was not the idea of Willesee's, but his company, Transmedia was involved.

Episodes
The episodes focused on famous individuals (with one exception covering soldier settlers):
 * Les Darcy⁣ – starring Peter Phelps
 * Private John Simpson⁣ – starring Robert Willox
 * Vivian Bullwinkle⁣ – starring Rachel Ward
 * Mary Mackillop⁣ – starring Lorna Lesley
 * Lottie Lyell⁣ – starring Odile de Clezio
 * Lola Montez - starring Linda Cropper
 * Clyde Fenton
 * Jack Davey⁣ – starring Rhys McConnochie
 * Betty Cuthbert
 * Gordon Bennett
 * John Norton - starring John Ewart
 * Errol Flynn - starring Christopher Stollery

Ep One – Les Darcy
March 1, 1988. Written by John Upton, directed by Kevin Dobson.

Cast

 * Peter Phelps as Les Darcy
 * Gia Carides as Winnie O'Sullivan
 * Gus Mercurio as Tex Rickard
 * Robin Howering as William Hughes
 * Nikki Coghill as Lilly Molloy

Reception
The Age called it "a thumbnail sketch".

Ep Two – Private John Simpson
March 8, 1988. Written by Roger McDonald. Directed by Henri Safran.

Cast

 * Robert Willox as John Simpson

Ep Three - Vivian Bullwinkle
March 15, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Rod Hardy.

Cast

 * Rachel Ward as Vivian Bullwinkle
 * Barry Quinn as Private Kinsley

Ep Four - Mary MacKillop
March 22, 1988. Written by John Misto. Directed by Mark Callan.

Cast

 * Lorna Lesley as Mary MacKillop
 * Kerry Armstrong as Matron

Ep Five - Lottie Lyell
March 29, 1988. Written by Anne Brooksbank. Directed by Ben Lewin

Cast

 * Odile de Clezio as Lottie Lyell
 * Michelle Fawdon as Melena Longford
 * Judi Farr as Ma (Mrs Lyell)
 * Joy Hruby as Mrs Whittle

Ep Six - Lola Montez
April 5, 1988. Written by Tony Morphett. Directed by Ian Gilmour.

Cast

 * Linda Cropper as Lola Montez
 * Nicholas Eadie
 * Peter Whitford
 * Danny Adcock as Harry Seekamp

Ep Seven - Clyde Fenton
April 12, 1988. Directed by John Power.

Cast

 * Scott Burgess
 * Kerry Armstrong
 * Bruce Spence as Cecil Cook

Ep Eight - Jack Davey
April 19, 1987. Written by Geoffrey Atherden. Directed by George Whaley.

Cast

 * Rhys McConnochie

Ep Nine - Betty Cuthbert
April 26, 1988. Written by Denise Morgan. Directed by Kathy Mueller.

Cast

 * Deborah Kennedy as June Ferguson
 * Lynette Curran as Mrs Cuthbert

Ep Ten - Gordon Bennett
May 3, 1988. Written by John Misto.

Ep Eleven - Soldier Settlers
May 10, 1988. Directed by George Ogilvie.

Ep Twelve - John Norton
May 17, 1988.

Cast

 * John Ewart as John Norton

Ep Thirteen - Errol Flynn
May 24, 1988. Written by John Lonie. Directed by Michael Carson.

Cast

 * Christopher Stollery as Errol Flynn
 * Nell Schofield
 * Timothy Conigrave
 * Terence Donovan (actor)
 * Rhys McConnochie
 * Jeanette Cronin