australian television information archive

Nobody's Man

Episode 1
UK: July 06, 1975
Aus: September 07, 1975
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Don Chaffey

1860 promises to be a good year for cattleman Ben Hall until ex-convict bushranger Frank Gardiner escapes from a road gang into the Wheogo district, bringing the New South Wales Mounted Police after him and his ruthless companions, Piesley and Troy.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Hugh Keays-Byrne as Piesley, Paul Bertram as Patsy, Jack Charles as Dargin, Michael Aitkens as Troy, Tom Farley as Walsh, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Diana McLean as Helen, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Ian Dyson as Owen, Kevin Healy as Jock, Ted Hepple as Dan, Judith Fisher as Eileen, Ralph Cotterill as Sergeant, Michael Caton as Corporal, Neva Carr-Glynn as Old Ma, Chris King as Warrigal

The Vow

Episode 2
UK: July 13, 1975
Aus: September 4, 1975
Writer: Frank Nesbitt
Director: Don Chaffey

A cattle muster becomes a shambles when Gardiner and his friends arrive. Escaped convict John Piesley is out to kill Ben Hall. Piesley and Gardiner arrive at the cattle muster at the McGuires'.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Hugh Keays-Byrne as Piesley, Paul Bertram as Patsy Daley, Jack Charles as Dargin, Tom Farley as Walsh, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Diana McLean as Helen, Alfred Bell as McGuire, John Ewart as Big Jim, Ian Dyson as Owen, Chris King as Warrigal, Justine Saunders as Jununju, Vince Martin as Bow, Martin Phelan as Fordyce, Michael Aitkens as Troy, Peter Collingwood as Circuit Judge

The Promise

Episode 3
UK: July 20, 1975
Aus: September 21, 1975
Writer: Allan Prior
Director: Don Chaffey

Gardiner plans to use Ben Hall's wedding as a diversion to rescue Johnny Gilbert from Wheogo prison.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Hugh Keays-Byrne as Piesley, Jack Charles as Dargin, Tom Farley as Walsh, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Diana McLean as Helen, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Paul Bertram as Patsy Daley, Chris King as Warrigal, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Kevin Healy as Jock, Martin Phelan as Fordyce, Vince Martin as Bow, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, Ian Dyson as Owen, Ken Goodlet as Captain Adams, John Cousins as Bacon, Saviour Sammut as Brady, Ray Marshall as Lockhart, Ernest Butchard as Priest

A Cruel Season

Episode 4
UK: July 27, 1975
Aus: September 28, 1975
Writer: Eleanor Witcombe
Director: Frank Arnold

When Ben Hall loses most of his livestock from the drought, his wife Biddy asks him to sell his horses and move south to Victoria. Garndiner reconnects with Johnny Gilbert who has escaped custody. Sergeant Garland is given orders to rid the district of bushrangers. Piesley seeks revenge.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Alister Smart as Taylor, Hugh Keays-Byrne as Piesley, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Brian James as Morrison, Ben Gabriel as McKenzie, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, Ric Hutton as Cowper, Alexander Archdale as Pollard, Brian Anderson as Parsons, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, Diana McLean as Helen, Judy McBurney as Rebecca, Delia Walsh as Alison, Michele Morgan as McGuire Child, Vanessa Morgan as McGuire Child

Blind Justice

Episode 5
UK: Aug 3, 1975
Aus: Oct 5, 1975
Writer: Tony Morphett
Director: Don Chaffey

After trying to steal Ben Hall's horse, old bushranger Saucepan Billy Williams, the joins up with outlaws Frank Gardiner and Johnny Gilbert. Ben agrees to sell Gardiner his horse in exchange for some money and a share of the army supplies the trio are planning to steal from a supply wagon. When Saucepan Billy kills the guard during heist, Ben Hall's horse is recognised and Ben is arrested for murder. Biddy uses the money from the sale of Ben's horse to hire a lawyer.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Les Foxcroft as Saucepan Billy, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Tom Farley as Walsh, Jack Charles as Dargin, Alister Smart as Taylor, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Ian Dyson as Owen, Don Barker as Delaney, Peter Collingwood as Circuit Judge, Graham Ware as Sgt. Spencer, Gerry Duggan as Hagman, John Cousins as Bacon, Diana McLean as Helen, Paul Bertram as Daley

Going Home

Episode 6
UK: Aug 10, 1975
Aus: Oct 12, 1975
Writer: Tony Morphett
Director: Peter Maxwell

Ben has left his pregnant wife to seek his fortune in the gold fields. Frank Gardiner tracks down Ben to get him to go home to Biddy who is holding down their homestead with help from Jack Taylor who has taken an interest in her. Ben leaves for home after striking it rich but is robbed on the way home. He returns to the mining camp to start over only to break his leg in an accident. After giving birth, Biddy tries to join Ben in the mining camp but returns home furious believing Ben has taken up with another woman. Recovered, Ben return home to find Biddy and the baby have moved in with Jack. Now alone, Ben joins up with Frank Gardiner.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Don Barker as Delaney, Alexandra Hynes as Mary, Frank Gallacher as Goobang Mick, Alister Smart as Taylor, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Peter Armstrong as Matt Graves, Colin Taylor as The Parson, Greg Saunders as Digger

The Rock

Episode 7
UK: Aug 17, 1975
Aus: Oct 19, 1975
Writers: Jessey Laskey Jnr & Pat Silver
Director: Don Chaffey

Feeling he has nothing to lose, Hall has joined Frank Gardiner and his gang to rob a government gold coach. Gardiner's disordered crew pull off the heist but the troopers are quickly in pursuit. Meanwhile Biddy, still in love with Ben, leaves Jack and returns to Ben's homestead where Ben finds her upon returning from the job.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Paul Bertram as Daley, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Martin Phelan as Fordyce, Vince Martin as Bow, Alister Smart as Taylor, Tom Farley as Walsh, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Diana McLean as Helen, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, Ken Goodlet as Captain Adams, Jack Charles as Dargin, Phillip Ross as Commissioner Mitchell, Tom Oliver as Long Tom Coffin, John Ewart as Big Jim, Peter Reynolds as Pike, Frank Lloyd as Potato, Allan Penney as Old Punch, Frank Hamilton as Murphy

Yellowback

Episode 8
UK: Aug 24, 1975
Aus: Oct 26, 1975
Writer: Michael Lindsay
Director: Frank Arnold

Ben brings supplies to Gardiner who hiding out in a cave after the coach robbery. Gardiner hopes to escape and start a new life as a "decent citizen" with Kate, Biddy's sister. Under pressure from parliament and the press, the police organise a manhunt. They arrest Gardiner's gang and nab Biddy as a lure for Ben.

Ben is soon arrested and joins the others in jail under the shadow of the gallows. Patsy Daley turns on the rest of the gang seemingly sealing their fates but Gardiner is able to sneak in to see Patsy in jail and warns him to keep Ben off the gallows. The next day Patsy changes his story to implicate Frank Gardiner and the others but not Ben. With no one able to place Ben at the scene of the robbery, and Pottinger's previous failed attempt to prosecute Ben for murder looming large, Ben is released. Ben and Biddy farewell Gardiner and Kate as they head off to start a new life.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, John Castle as Gardiner, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Sandra Lee Paterson as Kate

With: Paul Bertram as Daley, Martin Phelan as Fordyce, Vince Martin as Bow, Tom Farley as Walsh, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Jack Charles as Dargin, Les Foxcroft as Saucepan Billy, Brian James as Morrison, John Cousins as Bacon, Ben Gabriel as McKenzie, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Ian Dyson as Owen, Melissa Jaffer as Mrs. Daley, Frank Gallacher as Goobang Mick, Alexandra Hynes as Mary, Max Osbiston as Buchanan, Ed Thompson as Mr. Daley, Chris King as Warrigal

A Greater Love

Episode 9
UK: Aug 31, 1975
Aus: Nov 2, 1975
Writer: Lindsay Galloway
Director: Peter Maxwell

Troopers sweep through Wheogo in search of Frank Gardiner as Captain Adams has given Inspector Pottinger a deadline to bring in Gardiner, Gilbert and Hall. Ben is using his share of the gold to buy goods and equipment for his friends and neighbours. One of those men, Kate Owen's aggrieved husband, gives Pottinger the names of the people who have been aiding the gold robbers. Pottinger arrests them all and parades his shackled captives past Ben's homestead expecting Ben will turn himself in to spare the others. After his release from custody, turncoat Patsy Daley is shot and killed.

Ben dictates a will to the local priest and once again asks his friend Jack to look after Biddy should something happen to him. Ben provides Pottinger a full confession in exchange for a two hour headstart. Captain Adams is shocked Pottinger would let Ben walk free but Pottinger is confident Ben will lead them to Gardiner and Gilbert. Adams orders Ben be immediately apprehended forcing Ben to make a frantic escape under a hail of bullets. Ben declares war on the troopers and blows up the new Wheogo police outpost.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Alister Smart as Taylor, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Tom Farley as Walsh

With: Jack Charles as Dargin, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Paul Bertram as Daley, Ken Goodlet as Captain Adams, Diana McLean as Helen, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Ian Dyson as Owen, Ben Gabriel as McKenzie, Ric Hutton as Cowper, Alexander Archdale as Pollard, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, Melissa Jaffer as Mrs. Daley, Ed Thompson as Mr. Daley, Harold Hopkins as Vane, Chris King as Warrigal, John Kernahan as Joe Burke, Scott Humphries as Mickey Burke, Adrian Bernotti as Dunleavy, Gerry Duggan as Hagman, Tony Wager as Priest, Kate Fitzpatrick as Lettie, Michele Morgan as McGuire Child, Vanessa Morgan as McGuire Child

The Attack

Episode 10
UK: Sept 7, 1975
Aus: Nov 9, 1975
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Don Chaffey

After overwhelming the troopers in command of a convict road-gang, Ben Hall has the prisoners swap places with the troopers to rob a passing military coach. Along with provisions and payroll are documents which reveal more troopers are being sent to Wheogo to deal with Ben and take over the Wheogo valley. Still in disguise, Ben visits Pottinger to warn him to turn back the troopers — or he will. Ben again must escape under gunfire. Captain Adams orders all forces be put into capturing Ben Hall.

Ben returns home. He wants Biddy to take the baby and go to Jack Taylor's where she will be safe but she refuses. Sgt Garland keeps watch outside and moves to apprehend Ben the next morning despite the arrival of Ben's friends, Johnny Gilbert and Long Tom Coffin. In the ensuing shootout, Biddy is injured. Ben and Coffin lead the troops away allowing Gilbert to take Biddy and the baby to Jack Taylor's.

Ben and his men stage an attack on the troopers moving into Wheogo. The soldiers are killed and their supplies are destroyed. In the fallout of the ambush, Pottinger, having already refused a promotion to Sydney, is asked to resign. He refuses and threatens to call for an inquiry into Captain Adams's decision to leave the barracks unmanned to purse Ben. Pottinger is allowed to stay on while Adams is shuffled off to Sydney. Jack Taylor asks Ben to leave Biddy so he can be with her but Ben refuses.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Alister Smart as Taylor, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Tom Farley as Walsh

With: Jack Charles as Dargin, Brian James as Morrison, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Tom Oliver as Long Tom Coffin, Harold Hopkins as Vane, Ken Goodlet as Captain Adams, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, John Cousins as Bacon, Barry Hill as O'Meally, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, George Hines as Captain Crane, Bill Hunter as Bunter, David Williams as Road Sergeant, Reg Gorman as Coach Sergeant

The Legacy

Episode 11
UK: Sept 14, 1975
Aus: Nov 16, 1975
Writer: Ray Johnson
Director: Frank Arnold

Ben Hall wage a series of skirmishes against Sgt Garland and his troopers who are forcibly evicting squatters from the Wheogo valley. Pottinger agrees to meet with Ben who wants a deal to ensure the settlers can stay on their land. Pottinger agrees to put the proposal to the premier but the land is granted to a wealthy land owner instead. Ben threatens Buchanan, the new land owner, to keep out of Wheogo and their meeting ends in a shootout that results in Buchanan losing interest in the valley unless it can be secured by the law. Pottinger is sure Ben Hall will be apprehended once the land in Wheogo valley is assigned to the settlers and the deal is agreed to. Angela accepts Pottinger's marriage proposal.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Alister Smart as Taylor, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Tom Farley as Walsh

With: Tom Oliver as Long Tom Coffin, Max Osbiston as Buchanan, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Harold Hopkins as Vane, Barry Hill as O'Meally, Jack Charles as Dargin, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, Brian James as Morrison, Ric Hutton as Cowper, Alexander Archdale as Pollard, Melissa Jaffer as Mrs. Daley, Ed Thompson as Mr. Daley, Diana McLean as Helen, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Chris King as Warrigal, Robin Bowering as Fleming, Tommy Dysart as Haigh, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, Delilah Walsh as Alison, Jennifer Cluff as Catherine, Craig Ashley as Dick

The Pursued

Episode 12
UK: Sept 21, 1975
Aus: Nov 23, 1975
Writer: Ray Johnson
Director: Don Chaffey

A price is put on Ben Hall's head along with the freedom to shoot him on sight. While the troopers search the valley for Ben, he and his gang stage a daring bank robbery and flee into the bush. Two of Ben's men are captured and Johnny Gilbert is shot and killed by Dargin, Ben's former stockman who is now working as a tracker for the troopers.

Garland leads a relentless pursue of Hall and Coffin through the valley but his failure earns him the wrath of Pottinger who wants results — he has vowed to Angela he will resign and move with her to London once Hall is hanged. Ben confronts Pottinger in his home as he is dining with Angela. Ben warns him to call off his men and promises a cessation in hostilities. Pottinger tries to shoot Ben as he is leaving only to fatally shoot himself while drawing the gun gifted to him by Angela.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Alister Smart as Taylor, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Tom Farley as Walsh

With: Jack Charles as Dargin, Ruth Cracknell as Ma Walsh, Tom Oliver as Long Tom Coffin, John Orcsik as Gilbert, Harold Hopkins as Vane, Barry Hill as O'Meally, Alfred Bell as McGuire, Diana McLean as Helen McGuire, Elizabeth Alexander as Angela, John Brunskill as Tinpot Timmins, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, John Cousins as Bacon, Kevin Healy as Jock, Chris King as Warrigal, Clive Marshall as Baynham, Kevin Manser as Lovell, James Bowles as Trooper with Spade, Mitchell Morgan as McGuire Child, Jennifer Brown as McGuire Child

Once Upon a Time

Episode 13
UK: Sept 28, 1975
Aus: Nov 30, 1975
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Don Chaffey

Garland takes over as Inspector and personally oversees a patrol to capture Ben Hall. Ben avoids the troopers and returns home to see Biddy one last time. The troopers scour the valley for Hall, searching the settlements of anyone who knows him. Dargin finally locates Ben sleeping in the bush and informs Garland. The troopers surround Ben with a plan to move in at first light. Hall awakes to find himself in Dargin's gunsights. Ben pleads, 'don't let them hang me, Billy', but Dargin can't shoot. Ben forces the matter and reaches for his pistol triggering a relentless volley of fire from the troopers that cuts him down.

Starring: Jon Finch as Ben, Evin Crowley as Biddy, Alister Smart as Taylor, Brian Blain as Pottinger, Vincent Ball as Garland, Tom Farley as Walsh

With: Jack Charles as Dargin, Tom Oliver as Long Tom Coffin, Frank Gallacher as 'Goobang' Mick, Alexandra Hynes as Mary, John Cousins as Bacon, Frank Hamilton as Murphy, Jessica Noad as Alma, Willie Fennell as Piper, Anne Haddy as Eileen, Al Thomas as Holland, Steven Brown as Baby Hall, Roger Thwaites as Havilland, Bill Hunter as Burton, Rob Steele as Salloway, Kevin Manser as Bank Manager, Bodie Leigh as Makepeace, Marge Timberley as Mary Meggs