| A Place to Call Home | |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | |
 DVD cover art | |
| No. of episodes | 13 |
| Release | |
| Original network | Seven Network |
| Original release | 28 April – 21 July 2013 |
| Season chronology | |
The first season of the Seven Network television series A Place to Call Home , consisting of 13 episodes, premiered on 28 April 2013 and concluded on 21 July 2013. [1]
A Place to Call Home was announced in Channel Seven's 2012 line-up. [2] Seven Network's Angus Ross said that it would potentially premiere in late 2012, but wouldn't rush the show to air by a certain date unless "casting and other elements" were right. [3]
Set in Australia in the 1950s, A Place to Call Home is a compelling and romantic story of one woman's journey to heal her soul and of a privileged family rocked by scandal. Acclaimed actress Marta Dusseldorp leads the cast as Sarah Adams, a woman with a mysterious past who returns to Australia after 20 years in Europe.
Working her passage home aboard an ocean liner, Sarah becomes involved in the lives of the Blighs, a wealthy Australian pastoralist family. She develops an immediate connection with handsome and charming widower George (Brett Climo), as well as his modern young daughter Anna (Abby Earl) and withdrawn daughter-in-law Olivia (Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood). But it is when Sarah unwittingly discovers a potentially scandalous Bligh family secret that her future becomes forever linked with theirs.
Only the uncompromising matriarch of the family, Elizabeth (Noni Hazlehurst), and her grandson James (David Berry), know Sarah has uncovered this family skeleton. Elizabeth is intent on keeping it that way - and Sarah at arm's length. Bearing the scars of war and facing the animosity of a determined matriarch, it is time for Sarah to face life again and begin her journey towards healing and hopefully finding a place to call home.
Main
| Recurring
| Guest
|
On 28 June 2012, it was reported that Noni Hazelhurst had been secured in a lead role as Elizabeth Bligh. [4] A week later, on July 8, it was announced that Marta Dusseldorp and Brett Climo had joined Hazelhurst in the lead roles of Sarah Adams and George Bligh, respectively. [5] Frankie J. Holden, David Berry, Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood, Craig Hall, Abby Earl and Aldo Mignone were announced the following day, completing the main cast. [5]
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Australian viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "The Prodigal Daughter" | Roger Hodgman | Trent Atkinson and Bevan Lee | 28 April 2013 | 1,930,000 [6] | |
| Working her passage home aboard an ocean liner, Sarah becomes involved in the lives of the Blighs, a wealthy Australian pastoralist family. She develops an immediate connection with handsome and charming widower George, as well as his modern young daughter Anna and withdrawn daughter-in-law Olivia. But it is when Sarah unwittingly discovers a potentially scandalous Bligh family secret that her future becomes forever linked with theirs. | |||||||
| 2 | 2 | "The Welcome Mat" | Lynn-Maree Danzey | Trent Atkinson | 5 May 2013 | 1,539,000 [7] | |
| Warned by George about Doris' gossiping ways, Sarah proves a dab hand at deflecting her many leading questions - much to both Doris' frustration. At Ash Park, while Olivia remains feeling unwell and disconcerted by James' continued distance, it's Elizabeth who's the most put out - irritated by the fact Sarah continues to be the talk of the dinner table. But, alerted by James to the fact that her continued disparaging of Sarah is starting to raise eyebrows Elizabeth decides to allay suspicion by inviting Sarah to a fundraising concert at the local hospital. | |||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Truth Will Out" | Lynn-Maree Danzey | Trent Atkinson | 12 May 2013 | 1,447,000 [8] | |
| The horrors of the war cast a long, unwelcome shadow over Inverness as Jack heads out around town with Sarah on her first day at work. Unable to stop wondering about the woman James admitted to loving in Europe, Olivia searches for any memento he may have kept of her. It is in her wedding album that she makes the shocking discovery of who the person he loved is. | |||||||
| 4 | 4 | "The Mona Lisa Smile" | Mark Joffe | Trent Atkinson | 19 May 2013 | 1,377,000 [9] | |
| Yom Kippur is approaching and Sarah performs a mikveh in the local creek — a spiritual, cleansing ritual that's unfortunately witnessed by Doris Collins. But while Sarah finds it hard to deal with Doris' reaction to her nudity, it is Sarah's own, personal demons that she is struggling with most. The wealthy Swanson family visit inverness as Andrew, their handsome and extremely eligible son, hopes to impress Anna. | |||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Day of Atonement" | Mark Joffe | Rick Held | 26 May 2013 | 1,434,000 [10] | |
| Doris Collins witnesses Sarah performing a spiritual cleansing in the creek. The Blighs receive a visit from the Swanson family. Elizabeth hopes Anna will form a romantic attachment to their son, Andrew. Gino is harassed by Bert Ford, and Sarah later saves him from a beating. Olivia finally realises that James was in love with her brother, William. Anna and Gino have sex for the first time. | |||||||
| 6 | 6 | "That's Amore" | Lynn Hegarty | Hamilton Budd | 2 June 2013 | 1,457,000 [11] | |
| After learning Bert has been beating Eve, Sarah confronts him in the pub and humiliates him. Olivia confronts James with her suspicions and their marriage reaches breaking point. Anna asks Sarah to get her contraception after she has sex with Gino for the first time. Eve goes into labour and with the help of George, Sarah delivers the baby safely. Gino proposes to Anna. | |||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Boom!" | Lynn Hegarty | Tony Morphett | 9 June 2013 | 1,322,000 [12] | |
| Anna goes to visit her aunt Carolyn and purchases contraception. James contemplates committing suicide. George is asked by Henry Swanson and Robert Menzies to host a Japanese trade delegation. Elizabeth reveals that her husband was also a homosexual in the hope that it will help Olivia and James. Sarah returns home to be at her dying mother's bedside. Elizabeth collapses. | |||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Worlds Apart" | Lynn-Maree Danzey | Sarah Walker | 16 June 2013 | 1,467,000 [13] | |
| Elizabeth is rushed to hospital, and Jack reveals she has had a heart attack. Anna and Gino postpone telling their parents about their engagement. Carla finds Anna's diaphragm and learns of her relationship with Gino. Olivia admits she was hoping Elizabeth had died. Harry and James try to work together despite their sexual tension. George and Sarah go on a picnic and kiss. | |||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Cane Toad" | Lynn-Maree Danzey | Trent Atkinson | 23 June 2013 | 1,407,000 [14] | |
| Sarah and George begin a secret affair. Anna tries to push her father and Sarah closer so that he will approve of her and Gino. Olivia is overjoyed when her child begins to move. George's sister-in-law, Regina arrives after being summoned by Elizabeth. James and Harry continue to play down their feelings for each other. Sarah is greeted by Regina with a racist remark. | |||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Lest We Forget" | Ian Barry | Bevan Lee | 30 June 2013 | 1,448,000 [15] | |
| George hosts a Japanese trade delegation on Remembrance Day. Jack attends the event, but struggles with his memories of being held as a POW. He later gets drunk and tells Sarah he loves her. Sarah realises Regina's open hostility is caused by antisemitism. Gino fears his relationship with Anna is over. With Carolyn's help, Anna learns she is pregnant. | |||||||
| 11 | 11 | "True to Your Heart" | Ian Barry | Rick Held | 7 July 2013 | 1,385,000 [16] | |
| Elizabeth is released from hospital and is informed of George and Sarah's affair. After tension builds between himself and Harry, James and Olivia decide it best to move to Sydney. Carolyn reveals she is Anna's mother. Sarah slaps Regina after an incredibly racist comment. Despite Elizabeth's threats to disown him, George proposes to Sarah. | |||||||
| 12 | 12 | "New Beginning" | Mark Joffe | Hamilton Budd | 14 July 2013 | 1,452,000 [17] | |
| Much to Elizabeth's displeasure, Sarah accepts George's proposal. James and Harry share a sexually charged moment and kiss. Regina continues to dig deeper into Sarah's past. Anna suffers a miscarriage. Elizabeth and Olivia resolve their issues before she and James leave for Sydney. Bert blackmails the Blighs after discovering James' homosexuality. | |||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Secret Love" | Mark Joffe | Bevan Lee and Tony Morphett | 21 July 2013 | 1,494,000 [18] | |
| Elizabeth delivers Sarah with an ultimatum. George confronts James about his homosexuality. With Olivia by his side, James submits himself to electroconvulsive therapy. Anna and Gino's parents agree to let them have a trial marriage. Regina gets closer to discovering the truth about Sarah and gets Elizabeth's approval to pursue George. Carolyn tells Jack that he has a daughter, but does not say who it is. Bert turns up dead in the lake. | |||||||
The Farmer Wants a Wife is an Australian reality television series based on the British reality show Farmer Wants a Wife. The first eight seasons, hosted by Natalie Gruzlewski, aired on the Nine Network between 2007 and 2012, with a ninth season, hosted by Sam McClymont broadcast in 2016. A tenth season aired on the Seven Network when the series was revived for the second time in 2020.
Rake is an Australian television program, produced by Essential Media and Entertainment, that first aired on the ABC TV in 2010. It stars Richard Roxburgh as the rakish Cleaver Greene, a brilliant but self-destructive Sydney barrister, defending a usually guilty client. The fifth and final series went into production in October 2017 and premiered on 19 August 2018.
The Voice is an Australian singing competition television series. It premiered on the Nine Network on 14 April 2012, before moving to the Seven Network in 2021. Based on the original The Voice of Holland, and part of The Voice franchise, its first nine seasons aired on the Nine Network, with its tenth season commencing on the Seven Network on 8 August 2021.
Jack Irish is an Australian television drama series first broadcast on ABC TV on 14 October 2012. The series stars Guy Pearce as the title character, a former criminal lawyer turned private investigator and debt collector. Much of the action is set in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Adapted from the crime fiction novels by author Peter Temple, the telemovies and series Jack Irish were developed by Andrew Anastasios, Matt Cameron and Andrew Knight. They began as three feature-length movies, before being adapted into three six-episode series, the final one airing from June 2021.
The third season of the television drama series Winners & Losers was aired in three parts on the Seven Network in Australia. Season 3A – comprising 13 episodes – aired from 9 July to 25 September 2013 while Season 3B – comprising 13 episodes – aired from 28 January to 24 June 2014, before the immediate start of season 4. It replaced Packed to the Rafters due to the series ending. Season three follows the lives of Jenny, Bec, Sophie and Frances four months on from the death of Bec's husband Matt. Filming for the season began in September 2012 and wrapped in July 2013.
A Place to Call Home is an Australian television drama series, created by Bevan Lee for the Seven Network, which premiered in 2013. Set in rural New South Wales after World War II, it follows Sarah Adams, who has returned to Australia after twenty years abroad to start a new life and ends up clashing with wealthy matriarch Elizabeth Bligh. The main cast also includes Brett Climo, Craig Hall, David Berry, Abby Earl, Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood, Aldo Mignone, Sara Wiseman, Jenni Baird, Tim Draxl, and Frankie J. Holden. The show was cancelled after its second season, but obtained further funding and concluded successfully after a total of six seasons in 2018.
Marta Dusseldorp is an Australian stage, film and theatre actress. Her television credits include BlackJack, Crownies, Jack Irish and A Place to Call Home.
The second season of The Voice, the Australian reality talent show, premiered on 7 April 2013. Season 1 coach, Keith Urban left the show and was therefore replaced by Ricky Martin. This is the last season to feature Delta Goodrem and Seal until they both return in Seasons 4 and 6, respectively.
The second season of the Seven Network television series A Place to Call Home premiered on 11 May 2014 and concluded on 13 July 2014.
The fourth season of The Voice premiered on 28 June 2015. Ricky Martin and Joel Madden returned as coaches for the fourth season, with Madden pairing up with his brother, Benji Madden as a duo. In January 2015, it was announced that Jessie J would join the coaching line-up as well Delta Goodrem, who would return to the panel after a one-season hiatus; replacing former judges will.i.am and Kylie Minogue, respectively. This is the first season to feature two female coaches on the show. On 22 February 2015, it was announced that Sonia Kruger would be joining the fourth season as a co-host with Darren McMullen. Ellie Drennan from Team Jessie won the competition on 30 August, marking Jessie J's first and only win as coach, as well as the first female coach to win a season of the show.
The third season of the Seven Network television series A Place to Call Home premiered on SoHo on 27 September 2015 and concluded on 29 November 2015. The series is produced by Chris Martin-Jones, and executive produced by Penny Win and Julie McGauran.
First Dates is an Australian reality dating television show. The format is based on a British program of the same name. The first four seasons previously aired on Seven Network and were narrated by Sam Mac. The fifth season aired on Network 10 and was narrated by Tommy Little. The sixth season is set to return to Seven in 2024.
The fourth season of The Bachelor premiered on 27 July 2016. This season features Richie Strahan, a 31-year-old Rope Access Technician from Perth, Western Australia, courting 25 women. Strahan previously appeared on the first season of The Bachelorette Australia featuring Sam Frost, where he finished in third place.
The fourth season of Australian Survivor is a television series based on the international reality game show franchise Survivor. It is the second season to air on the Network Ten, following the network acquiring the broadcast rights to the Australian Survivor franchise in late 2015. Jonathan LaPaglia returned to host the series for his second season.
The eighth season of The Voice begins airing on 19 May 2019. Dubbed as the "All Stars" season, this season features a number of artists who had previously appeared on previous seasons of the show, as well as from The X Factor Australia and Australia's Got Talent. The coaching line-up consisted of returning coaches Delta Goodrem, Boy George, and Kelly Rowland, and new addition Guy Sebastian, replacing Joe Jonas.
Big Brother Australia 12, also known as Big Brother 2020, was the twelfth season of the Australian reality television series Big Brother. It began airing on 8 June 2020 on the Seven Network. It was the first season of the show to air on the Seven Network after it bought the rights to the series in 2019, following a six-year absence. The show was originally screened on Network Ten, then the Nine Network. Sonia Kruger returned as the host of the show.
Bay of Fires is an Australian television crime drama and dark comedy series, which screened on ABC Television from 16 July 2023. The eight-part series was co-created by Andrew Knight, Marta Dusseldorp and Max Dann. Filming began in June 2022 with Natalie Bailey and Wayne Blair each directing four episodes. Locations used include the west Tasmanian towns of Queenstown, Strahan and Zeehan. Dusseldorp also co-produced with Yvonne Collins. The series title references the actual Bay of Fires on Tasmania's east coast.