australian television information archive

The Island

Episode 1
February 17, 1974 (ABC)
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: James Gatward

On its way from England to Australia, the Mary Jane encounters a storm and sinks near an unknown island in the Pacific. The Lindburg family, Sergeant Holt, convict Harper, the boy David, Billy, who pretends to be a sailor, and the young Englishwoman Cathy are the only survivors and manage to reach an unknown island.

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

Note: this episode guide has been made from German sources. Episode summaries have been translated into English and the Germanified character names have been reverted to English.

The Rest of the Journey

Episode 2
February 24, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: James Gatward

The island, initially a place of rescue, soon seems like a prison to the survivors of the Mary Jane. The shipwrecked survivors quickly realize that they must be on one of the many South Sea islands, far from the Australian mainland.

Cast: Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

The Man from the Sea

Episode 3
March 3, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: Frank Arnold

The shipwrecked survivors have built themselves a shelter and are surviving on fish and coconuts. Another survivor appears on a raft: the convict Irving, who pretends to be sick and lets the others take care of him. Holt remains suspicious nonetheless. And Irving is indeed thinking of escaping.

Cast: Don Barkham as Irving, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

A Handful of Gold

Episode 4
March 10, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: James Gatward

A storm destroys everything the castaways have painstakingly built up over five weeks. Jan Lindburg suggests building a weatherproof hut. Billy, Irving, and Holt, however, have their minds elsewhere: they have found some gold coins, the remains of the ship's cash.

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Don Barkham as Irving, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

The Other Side of the Island

Episode 5
March 17, 1974
Writer: Ralph Peterson
Director: Frank Arnold

While searching for shells on the beach, the two shipwrecked children David and Angie encounter natives. They flee into the jungle and come across the hermit Thomas Fletcher. He came to the island a few years ago after being shipwrecked. At that time, he was able to save a few chickens, pigs, and goats.

Cast: Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Don Barkham as Irving, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

The Savage

Episode 6
March 24, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: James Gatward

During a trip to the spring, teacher Cathy discovers an injured native. When she tells the other castaways about her encounter with the savage, they begin to hunt him down. Cathy, who feels sorry for him, tries to help him without the others knowing.

Cast: Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Don Barkham as Irving, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

The Rebels

Episode 7
March 31, 1974
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Frank Arnold

The two convicts, Billy and Irving, decide to fend for themselves because they keep getting into arguments with Sergeant Holt. David joins them because he doesn't want to lose Billy. They have problems with their food supply, so teacher Cathy helps them out for a short time. Days later, David comes down with a fever because something was wrong with the food.

Cast: Don Barkham as Irving, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

The Stone Men

Episode 8
April 07, 1974
Writer: Ralph Peterson and Ian Stuart Black
Director: Henri Safran

Building a large boat to leave the island proves more difficult than expected for the castaways. Resignation sets in. Then, during a walk, they encounter natives. Irving uses the new acquaintance for a dubious business deal.

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Don Barkham as Irving, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

Sail Ho!

Episode 9
April 14, 1974
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Henri Safran

The survivors still haven't given up hope of being rescued soon. Finally, they decide that the only way to attract attention is to light a huge fire. They set fire to a huge pile of wood and wait. But at first, their efforts are unsuccessful. Then Sergeant Holt spots a ship passing in the distance. Is this finally their rescue?

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Don Barkham as Irving, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

Another Paradise

Episode 10
April 21, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Director: James Gatward

A teenage native lands on the island in his dugout canoe. Pursued by two fierce-looking warriors, the boy flees into the jungle. A short time later, he encounters David and is able to explain what he is afraid of. David helps the boy escape and befriends him. Will he see him again?

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg, David Nock as Chief's Son

Babes in the Wood

Episode 11
April 28, 1974
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Henri Safran

After Jan sends the children David and Angie into the jungle to look for turnips, they meet Irving on the way. He joins them to help. When they have collected enough turnips, they start on their way back. But they stray from the path and find themselves deeper and deeper in the jungle. When Irving injures his knee, the whole thing turns into a dangerous adventure.

Cast: Don Barkham as Irving, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg

Dry Land

Episode 12
May 05, 1974
Writer: Ted Roberts
Director: Henri Safran

The island is suffering from heat and drought. Everyone is suffering greatly, except for Irving. The others suspect that he has a secret water supply somewhere. When Angie's life is in danger, they try to uncover Irving's secret, but initially without success.

Cast: Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, Don Barkham as Irving, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg

Esmeralda Log

Episode 13
May 12, 1974
Writer: Ian Stuart Black and Ted Roberts
Director: James Gatward

During an expedition on the island, Cathy and Jan come across an abandoned camp surrounded by cornfields. In a hut, they find the logbook of a shipwrecked vessel.

Cast: Fred Haltiner as Jan Lindburg, Isobel Black as Cathy Dunbar, John Bowman as Billy Rose, Renate Schroeter as Eva Lindburg, Don Barkham as Irving, Peter Gwynne as Sergeant Holt, Volker Eckstein as Mr Fletcher, Alan Cinis as David Harper, Lexia Wilson as Angie Lindburg