australian television information archive

The Coffee Royal Affair

The first episode traces the Coffee Royal Affair (1929) following the forced landing of Australian hero Kingsford-Smith and the crew of the Southern-Cross aircraft on the banks of the Glenelg river in the far north Kimberley after encountering bad weather. Unable to contact searchers by radio, and ill prepared in terms of survival gear, they had to sweat it out and make do with the meagre food supplies on board and with what they could scavenge in the bush, until found several days later.
One of the aircraft flying in to participate in the search, the Kookaburra, was forced down in the Tanami Desert with engine trouble. It was unable to take off again because of thick scrub and the crew of two, also ill prepared for such an event, perished before help arrived.

The Cannibal Convict

Alexander Pierce escaped the cruel prison colony of Sarah Island, Macquarie Harbour on Tasmania's bleak west coast, in the company of seven other prisoners. In their battle with dense scrub and rough country they found precious little to eat until they turned to cannibalism, eating the weakest in turn. Pierce was the only survivor. He was recaptured, and confessed all, but he was not believed as the authorities thought he has covering for his mates! Returned to Sarah Island, he escaped again with one companion—and ate him too. When recaptured he confessed and he was believed this time. He was tried and hung in Hobart.

The Great Misadventure

The tale of Burke and Wills is re-evaluated and Les speculates how a knowledge of bush tucker may have changed the outcome of this ill-fated party.

The Best of Them All

Follow the footsteps of the determined explorer John McDouall Stuart who became the first European to cross the continent from South to North.

The Dutch Settlement

The evidence for a Dutch settlement in Australia 100 years before the commonly accepted starting date for European settlement.

Gold Fever

Les travels to Central Australia to investigate discoveries that claim to throw new light on the legend of Lasseter's lost reef.

The Passionate Prussian

Retracing Ludwig Leichardt's 1844 expedition from Moreton Bay to Cape York and the Victoria settlement in Arnhem Land and the mystery of his final disappearance.

Into The Vilest Country