Barrier Reef (TV series)

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.

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

Barrier Reef
Also known as"Minus Five"
GenreAdventure
Created byFauna Productions
Developed byJohn McCallum and Lee Robinson
Directed by
  • Brian Faull
  • Eric Fullilove
Creative directors
Starring
Theme music composerEric Jupp
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes39
Production
Production locationsNorth Queensland, Great Barrier Reef
Running time30 minutes
Production companyD.L. Taffner
Release
Original networkThe 0-10 Network
Original release12 February 1971 (1971-02-12) –
2 May 1972 (1972-05-02)

Premise

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

Main

Guests

Production

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.[4]

Like the Skippy series, Barrier Reef showcased iconic Australian locations in colour film and was destined for an international audience. The show was screened in many countries across the world, giving international audiences a glimpse of what the stereotypical Australia was like.[5]

The show was originally called Minus 5.[6]

Reception

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 and was re-run in various markets for many years.

In 1976 Robinson said the series had just recovered its costs.[7]

See also

References
  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". Retrieved 22 April 2011.
  3. "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. 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.
  5. "Who remembers the 1970s TV show 'Barrier Reef'? | State Library Of Queensland". www.slq.qld.gov.au. 13 May 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  6. "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.
  7. Robinson, Lee (15 August 1976). "Lee Robinson" (Oral history). Interviewed by Graham Shirley. National Film and Sound Archive.
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