Titles curated by Tammy Burnstock
40 titles - sorted alphabetically or by year
1950s
Kindergarten Playtime television program – 1959
In 1959, two years after the Soviet Union’s Sputnik satellite is launched, Australia’s first pre-school television show tackles space travel.
Reg Grundy’s Wheel of Fortune television program – 1959
Reg Grundy’s television debut in 1959 was also his first game show.
1960s
Mr Squiggle and Friends – Episode 148 television program – c1960
Mr Squiggle is one of the most recognised children’s television characters. Although no longer on air, he continues to appear at exhibitions and science fiction conventions.
ABC Children’s TV Club – Monday Showcase television program – 1961
The iconic Children’s Hour on ABC radio morphs into television. This episode features artist Jeffrey Smart and Aroora the Red Kangaroo.
The Stranger – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1964
A stranger with an accent, amnesia and seemingly no heartbeat arrives at the home of the Walsh family in Australia’s first science–fiction series.
The Magic Boomerang – The Discovery television program – 1965
Tom uses a magic boomerang to find treasure, foil his greedy cousin’s plans and save the family farm.
Skippy – Be Our Guest television program – 1968
Clancy wants to make a good impression on her visiting mother. Instead, she gets lost in the bush where she is rescued by a group of Aboriginal men (played by visiting members of the Aboriginal Theatre from Yirrkala, Arnhem Land).
Skippy – Long Way Home television program – 1968
Dastardly Dr Stark kidnaps ‘no ordinary kangaroo’ Skippy for his own private zoo, but Skippy has other plans.
Play School – Trains Thursday television program – 1969
An early episode of iconic pre-school program Play School featuring presenters Don Spencer, Anne Haddy and Ruth Cracknell.
1970s
It’s Academic – Episode 40 television program – 1971
It’s Academic is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running quiz program in television history.
Adventure Island – Episode 1174 television program – 1972
A successful children’s show set on the magical Adventure Island, a ‘land that’s far across the sea’.
Why It Is So television program – 1973
Professor Julius Sumner Miller amazes and astounds his viewers with ‘light, optics and a brief adventure into modern physics’.
1980s
Sale of the Century – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1980
Host Tony Barber invites contestants to compete for prizes by answering general knowledge questions.
New Faces television program – 1982
A 1980s episode from the classic talent show hosted by Bert Newton.
BMX Bandits feature film – 1983
A young Nicole Kidman stars in a story of BMX bikes and wannabe bandits.
Play School – Bags Wednesday television program – 1984
An episode of the iconic pre-school program Play School from 1984, featuring presenters Noni Hazlehurst and John Hamblin.
Butterfly Island – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1985
A young Vietnamese refugee on the run complicates the Wilson family’s attempts to save idyllic Butterfly Island from a crooked resort developer.
The Henderson Kids – Series 1 Episode 2 television program – 1985
Teenage actors Nadine Garner, Kylie Minogue and Ben Mendelsohn feature in this classic 1980s children’s drama from Crawford Productions.
Kaboodle – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1987
An anthology of stories for children aged 5-12 years old produced by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in the late 1980s.
1990s
Mr Squiggle and Friends – Cheer Up television program – 1990
A 1990s episode of iconic children’s series Mr Squiggle and Friends created and performed by Norman Hetherington, written by Margaret Hetherington and co-presented by their daughter Rebecca Hetherington.
Wheel of Fortune – Series 3 Episode 1 television program – 1990
‘Baby’ John Burgess, ably assisted by Guinness World Record-holder Adriana Xenides, hosts the long-running game show.
Heartbreak High – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 1993
Edgy, fast-paced drama starring a young Alex Dimitriades and set in a multicultural urban high school.
The Ferals – An Explosion of Talent television program – 1994
This irreverent puppet-live action series about a mangy group of animals pushes the boundaries of children’s television.
Petals – A Boot Full of Petals television program – 1997
Petals is an animated series for preschool children which revolves around the adventures of five tiny flower ‘petals’ who live at the bottom of an overgrown garden.
Raw FM – What You Can television program – 1997
A series revolving around community youth radio station 99.9 Raw FM and the young people who run it.
Heartbreak High – Series 7 Episode 210 television program – 1998
Stolen goods, lawn bowls and a séance feature in this final episode of the groundbreaking 1990s teen drama.
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? – Series 1 Episode 5 television program – 1999
Immortalised by feature film Slumdog Millionaire (2008), this is the Australian version of the popular quiz show hosted by Eddie McGuire.
2000s
Cybergirl – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2000
Cybergirl crashes to earth. Pursued by evil replicant bounty hunters, she takes refuge with Jackson and his father Hugh.
The Saddle Club – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2001
Carole, Stevie and newcomer Lisa ride their way to true friendship in The Saddle Club.
Out There – Two Down Under television program – 2002
A comedy-drama for children set in an animal clinic in rural Australia.
Hoota and Snoz – Series 3 Episode 13 television program – 2003
Snoz and Hoota are squabbling rivals in this 3D computer-generated animated series. In this episode, Snoz finds a mini Hoota included with the breakfast cereal.
Hoota and Snoz – Series 3 Episode 3 television program – 2003
Squabbling duo Hoota and Snoz star in the first 3D computer-generated animated series produced in Australia.
The Adventures of Bottle Top Bill – A Windy Day television program – 2005
Bottle Top Bill and his best friend Corky must travel by flying machine to retrieve their washing, which has blown away in the wind.
RocKwiz – Series 1 Episode 1 television program – 2005
Hosted by Julia Zemiro, a no frills pub-style cult music trivia night broadcast on SBS.
Elephant Tales feature film – 2006
Elephant Tales tells the story of two orphaned elephant brothers Zef and Tutu and their search for a new future.
Lockie Leonard – The Human Torpedo television program – 2006
Based on Tim Winton’s novels, this series follows ‘surf rat’ Lockie Leonard who is starting high school in a new town on the WA coast.
Play School – Opposites Monday television program – 2006
Justine Clarke and Rhys Muldoon sing, march, make ‘surprise’ hats for each other, read a book and play games as they explore the weekly theme of ‘opposites’.
The Upside Down Show – Art Museum television program – 2006
A show for preschoolers using the talents of stand-up comedians the Umbilical Brothers.
H20: Just Add Water – Hocus Pocus television program – 2007
H2O: Just Add Water is about three teenagers facing everyday problems but with a twist – they become mermaids when in contact with water.
2010s
Go Back to Where You Came From – Series 1 television program – 2011
An immersive documentary in which six Australians test their prejudices by tracing in reverse the journeys taken by refugees to Australia.
