Though sometimes considered a soap opera, the storylines of the show's two 45 minute episodes screened over any one week formed a self-contained narrative block.

Although TEN turned the series down, rival TV station Seven Network picked up the series, stating that it liked the characters and setting.ĭavern's contribution to the industry was recognised when he was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame in 1991 and he was honoured with the Order of Australia Medal in 2014. In 1979 he entered the pilot episode for ACP to a script contest by Network Ten, who were looking for a new hit soap opera after the demise of Number 96 two years prior.

3.1 Main Cast (Seven Network series) 1981-1993įounding by creator James Davern (OAM) Ī Country Practice creator and Executive Producer (EP) James Davern, of JNP Productions, had previously worked on a similar type of rural-based series as the producer and director of the long-running Bellbird, which screened on Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1967–1977).

2.2 Network Seven cancellation & Network Ten continuation.

1 Founding by creator James Davern (OAM).

The series was eventually sold to, and broadcast in, a total of 48 other countries. At the height of its popularity, the show attracted 8–10 million Australian viewers weekly (at a time when the population of Australia was a mere 15 million). After the series was cancelled by the Seven Network in 1993, a reworked version of the series ran briefly on Network Ten in 1994.Īt the time of its cancellation, A Country Practice was the longest-running Australian TV drama however, by the late 1990s, that record was surpassed by Network Ten series Neighbours. It also featured a number of native Australian animals, particularly the iconic 'Fatso the wombat' adding to its enduring appeal both domestically and internationally. Several of the regular cast members became highly popular celebrities as a result of their roles in the series.

The show was made at both ATN-7's production facility at Epping, New South Wales, with exterior locations filmed in Pitt Town and in Oakville, which suburbs lie in the outskirts of Northwest Sydney, Australia.

Altogether, 1,058 episodes were produced. Main title caption in 1981, depicting the Wandin Valley ClinicĪ Country Practice is an Australian television soap opera which ran from 18 November 1981 to 5 November 1994 on the Seven Network, airing at 7:30 pm on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

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