| Genre: | children's drama |
| Based On: | novel by Ethel Turner |
| Director: | Ron Way |
| Country: | Australia |
| Language: | English |
| Num Episodes: | 10 |
| Executive Producer: | Charles Russell |
| Runtime: | 30 min |
| Company: | ABC Ethel Turner Productions Australian Film Development Corporation |
| Network: | ABC |
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]
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.
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]
| Character | Actor | |
| Captain John Woolcot | ||
| 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 | |
| Nigel Lovell |
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."[6]
Cameron says investment funds came in part from Global Television and Twentieth Century Fox.[6]
Filming started 2 January 1973. It was filmed in Sydney and on location near Bowral and Canberra.[7] 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."[6]
The Sun Herald called it "the most moving, beautifully produced, senstiviely acted piece of children's drama we have done on television yet."[8] The Bulletin called it "a joy to watch".
The series was broadcast on US television as Seven Little Woolcotts.[6] It rated highly in Sweden.[9]
It won the Gold Logie in 1974 for Best New Drama. It also won several Penguin Awards[10] and AFI Awards.[11]
The series has been released on a 2-disc region 4 DVD set in Australia.