Barrier Reef (TV series)

Not to be confused with Great Barrier Reef (TV series).

1971 Australian TV series or program

Barrier Reef

Also known as| "Minus Five"
Genre| Adventure
Created by| Fauna Productions
Developed by| John McCallum and Lee Robinson
Directed by|

* Brian Faull
* Eric Fullilove

Creative directors|

* Ron Taylor,
* director of underwater photography

Starring|

* Joe James
* Harold Hopkins
* Ken James
* George Assang
* Rowena Wallace

Theme music composer| Eric Jupp
Country of origin| Australia
Original language| English
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 39
Production
Production locations| North Queensland, Great Barrier Reef
Running time| 30 minutes
Production company| D.L. Taffner
Original release
Network| The 0-10 Network
Release| 12 February 1971 (1971-02-12) –
2 May 1972 (1972-05-02)

Barrier Reef was an Australian television series that was first screened domestically in 1971.[1] However, 19 episodes had already premiered on British television on BBC1 between 5 October 1970 and 15 February 1971 and four more aired between 5 April and 3 May 1971 in advance of Australian broadcast.

## Premise

[edit]

Barrier Reef was about a group of marine biologists on board a sailing ship called the New Endeavour,[2] researching around the Great Barrier Reef, off Queensland, Australia. "It was the first series in the world to feature extensive colour underwater filming on location".[3]

## Cast

[edit]

### Main

[edit]

* Joe James as Ted King
* Harold Hopkins as Steve Gabo
* Ken James as Kip Young
* George Assang as Jack Meurauki
* Rowena Wallace as Tracey Deane
* Helen Morse as Joan Norris
* Judy Morris as Gail Smith
* John McCallum as Gordon Lewis
* Tristan Rogers

### Guests

[edit]

* Ben Gabriel as Sergeant Dwyer
* Judy McBurney as Annette Conway
* Judy Morris as Gail Smith
* Kevin Miles as Edwards
* Reg Gorman as George
* Stewart Ginn as Travis
* Terry McDermott

## Production

[edit]

Filming for the series began at Hayman Island in September 1969.[4] The show was almost entirely filmed in North Queensland and at the time the show was reported to be the most expensive series ever produced in Australia and one of the few Australian series to be produced outside Sydney or Melbourne. Barrier Reef was produced by Fauna Productions who also created the uniquely Australian hit TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, using some of the same crew and cast members.[5]

Like the Skippy series, Barrier Reef showcased iconic Australian locations in colour film as the series was intended for an international audience (despite Australia not broadcasting colour television at that time). The show was screened in many countries across the world, giving international audiences a glimpse of what the stereotypical Australia was like.[6]

The show was originally called Minus 5.[7]

## Reception

[edit]

In contrast to TV shows like Riptide or The Outsiders this series was made in Australia, using Australian scripts, featuring Australian leading actors, and covering scientific topics that were uncommon on TV. It was broadcast by BBC, in the US by NBC, and also by TV stations in Canada, Japan, South America, South Africa and numerous European countries.[3] The series had 39 episodes.[4] It was re-run in various markets for many years.

In 1976 Robinson said the series had just recovered its costs.[8]

## See also

[edit]

* Ron Taylor
* Valerie Taylor

## External links

[edit]

* Memorable TV
* Barrier Reef at IMDb
* Barrier Reef at AustLit
* Who remembers the 1970s TV show 'Barrier Reef'?

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 74
2. ^ "An adventures series about the crew of a scientific search and recovery team working for General Trust Corporation aboard the barquentine 'New Endeavour', which houses the sophisticated 'Minus Five' electronic equipment". Archived from the original on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011.
3. ^ a b "Barrier Reef". Classic Australian Television. Archived from the original on 22 April 2011. Retrieved 22 April 2011. "Barrier Reef was sold to over fifty countries, including Britain where it was screened by the BBC. In the U.S. it was picked up by NBC, who were impressed by the underwater scenes, which they called 'glug glug'. Other countries that bought the series included Canada, Japan, South America, South Africa and most of Europe."
4. ^ a b Alexander, Malcolm (30 November 2023). "Barrier Reef: 1970 Australia". Television Heaven. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
5. ^ Denis O'Brien (3 January 1970). "Once more with dignity: Googie and John". Personality. The Bulletin. Vol. 92, no. 4685\. p. 14\. ISSN 0007-4039. nla.obj-1722018701. Retrieved 4 May 2023 - via Trove.
6. ^ "Who remembers the 1970s TV show 'Barrier Reef'? | State Library Of Queensland". www.slq.qld.gov.au. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
7. ^ "0-10 GETS -5". Now. No. 23\. New South Wales, Australia. 10 September 1969. p. 2. Retrieved 4 May 2023 - via National Library of Australia.
8. ^ Robinson, Lee (15 August 1976). "Lee Robinson" (Oral history). Interviewed by Graham Shirley. National Film and Sound Archive. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2024.

* v
* t
* e

Lee Robinson

Feature films|

* The Phantom Stockman (1953)
* King of the Coral Sea (1954)
* Walk Into Paradise (1956)
* Dust in the Sun (1958)
* The Stowaway (1958)
* The Siege of Pinchgut (1959) (story only)
* The Restless and the Damned (1959) (producer only)
* The Intruders (1969)
* Nickel Queen (1971) (producer only)
* Attack Force Z (1981) (producer only)
* The Highest Honour (1983) (producer only)
* Skippy Saves Bushtown (1999)

Documentaries|

* Darwin Gateway to Australia (1946)
* Namatjira the Painter (1947)
* The Pearlers (1949)
* Crocodile Hunters (1949)
* Flight Plan (1950)
* Double Trouble (1951)
* Outback Patrol (1952)
* Bush Policeman (1953)
* Switch On Bigga (1954)
* The Power Makers (1957)
* Bring Out a Briton (1958)
* Rock'n'Roll (1959)
* Water: Our Problem (1962)
* Kondom Agaundo, M.L.C. (1962)
* Antarctic Pioneers (1962)
* District Commissioner (1963)
* The Unknown Ocean (1964)
* The Dawn Fraser Story (1964)
* In Song and Dance' (1964)
* The Legend of Lasseter (1979)

TV series|

* High Adventure (1950s)
* Adventure Unlimited (1965)
* Skippy the Bush Kangaroo (1968–71)
* Barrier Reef (1971–72)
* Boney (1972–73)
* This is Your Life (1975-76)
* Shannon's Mob (1975–76)
* Bailey's Bird (1979)
* Skippy: Adventures in Bushtown (1998–1999)

Radio|

* Chips (1951)

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