A Place to Call Home (TV series)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television drama |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | Bevan Lee |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom |
Key people | Bevan Lee (developer) |
| Products | Television series |
A Place to Call Home is an Australian drama television series developed by Bevan Lee for the Seven Network, debuting in 2013. The narrative unfolds in post-World War II rural New South Wales, centering on Sarah Adams (portrayed by Marta Dusseldorp), who returns to Australia after two decades overseas and finds herself at odds with the affluent matriarch Elizabeth Bligh (Noni Hazlehurst). The principal ensemble features Brett Climo as George Bligh, Craig Hall as Dr. Jack Duncan, David Berry as James Bligh, Abby Earl as Anna Bligh, Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood as Olivia Bligh, Aldo Mignone as Gino Poletti, Sara Wiseman as Carolyn Bligh, Jenni Baird as Regina Standish, Tim Draxl as Henry Fox, and Frankie J. Holden as Roy Briggs. Although the show was initially cancelled following its second season, it secured further funding that allowed it to continue and ultimately conclude after six seasons in 2018.
Primary recurring characters
- Marta Dusseldorp plays Sarah Adams, a woman raised in the Catholic faith who converted to Judaism for love. She is employed at the local hospital near the Bligh estate and experiences significant upheaval upon discovering that her husband may have survived World War II.[1]
- Noni Hazlehurst portrays Elizabeth Bligh, the determined matriarch of the Bligh family who initially views Sarah as a threat to their social reputation. She is aware of James’ homosexuality but insists he maintain his marriage. Later in the series, she relocates to Sydney and adopts a more laid-back approach.[1]
- Brett Climo appears as George Bligh, Elizabeth’s son and Sarah’s protector who develops romantic feelings for her. A widower and father to James and Anna (the latter actually Carolyn’s secret child), George seeks public office and inherits the family estate. He eventually fathers a child with Sarah.[1]
- Craig Hall plays Dr. Jack Duncan, Carolyn’s former partner and Anna’s biological father. He is a committed physician at the Bligh hospital who, despite personal challenges, supports his family and rekindles his relationship with Carolyn.[1]
- David Berry acts as James Bligh (regular in seasons 1–4 and 6; recurring in season 5), George’s son struggling with his sexual identity amid societal expectations. He marries Olivia but undergoes severe conversion therapies before ultimately relocating to France with William to live openly.[1]
- Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood portrays Olivia Bligh, James’ English wife unaware of his true feelings toward her brother. She grapples with their troubled marriage and hides a miscarriage, which affects family relations.[1]
- Abby Earl plays Anna Bligh, secretly the daughter of Carolyn and Jack but raised by George and Elaine. She marries farmer Gino during financial difficulties and becomes a novelist; later she has a child with Henry.[1]
- Frankie J. Holden appears as Roy Briggs, a kind-hearted farmer who offers Sarah shelter and friendship when she arrives.[1]
- Sara Wiseman portrays Carolyn Bligh (regular from season 2–6; recurring in season 1), the rebellious daughter of the Bligh family estranged until Anna’s true parentage is revealed. She later works under Sir Richard Bennett.[1]
- Tim Draxl acts as Dr. Henry Fox (regular from season 3–6), a physician who saves George’s life and befriends James, aiding him in embracing his identity. Henry faces manipulation by Regina due to morphine addiction but ultimately co-parents Anna’s daughter and later marries Harry.[1]
- Deborah Kennedy plays Doris Collins (regular seasons 4–6; recurring seasons 1–3), Inverness’s notorious gossip whose observations prove valuable despite initial clashes with Sarah.[1]
- Dominic Allburn appears as Harry Polson (regular seasons 1 & 6; recurring season 4), Amy’s gay brother with a past romantic involvement with James. After enduring violence and blackmail, he stabilizes his life and forms a lasting partnership with Henry.[1]
- Aaron Pedersen portrays Frank Gibbs, an Aboriginal war veteran confronting racism and trauma. Encouraged by Carolyn to pursue his art, he forms a bond with Jack through shared military experiences that fosters healing and trust.[1]
Principal Former Characters
- Aldo Mignone portrayed Gino Poletti (seasons 1–4), a young Italian farmer deeply devoted to agriculture, yet his ambitious ventures frequently end in failure.
- Jenni Baird played Regina Standish (seasons 1–5), the affluent and widowed sister of George's deceased wife. Known for her cold and manipulative nature, she pursues George’s inheritance with ruthless determination. After being confined for murder, she reappears to support Sarah and George against Sir Richard before succumbing to a morphine overdose administered by him.
- Matt Levett appeared as Andrew Swanson (guest: season 6; regular: season 2; recurring: season 1), a privileged heir competing for Anna Bligh’s affection.
- Ben Winspear took on the role of Doctor Rene Nordmann (regular: season 3; recurring: season 2), Sarah Adams’ first love and spouse, rescued from Nazi captivity. He faces psychological challenges and brain injuries that complicate his adjustment.
- Brenna Harding featured as Rose O'Connell (regular: season 4; recurring: season 3).
- Robert Coleby portrayed Douglas Goddard, a retired manager of an Australian war veterans’ club who marries Elizabeth Bligh and passes away in season 5.
Recurring Cast
- Heather Mitchell as Prudence Swanson, Elizabeth’s affluent Sydney friend from the upper class, who regards Sarah with disdain.
- Judi Farr as Peg Maloney, Sarah’s supportive aunt residing in Sydney who aids her during challenging moments.
- Krew Boylan and later Amy Mathews as Amy Polson, maid at the Bligh household and sister to Harry. Under Regina’s manipulation, she becomes a spy; her termination profoundly impacts Elizabeth. Amy’s likeness to her brother causes James to experience nausea following aversion therapy.
- Dina Panozzo as Carla Poletti, Gino’s mother, initially disapproving of his relationship with Anna due to religious differences but eventually accepting it.
- Angelo D'Angelo as Amo Poletti, Gino’s father.
- Jacinta Acevski as Alma Grey.
- Scott Grimley as Norman Parker (driver).
- Rick Donald as Lloyd Ellis-Parker, a portrait artist who shows romantic interest in Olivia.
- Erica Lovell as Eve Walker, sister to Amy and Harry Polson, involved in a complicated relationship with Bert Ford.
- Michael Sheasby as Bert Ford, brother-in-law to Amy and Harry, noted for his aggression and intolerance. His mysterious death affects several characters deeply.
- Mark Lee as Sir Richard Bennett, a powerful newspaper magnate accustomed to getting his way.
- Conrad Coleby as Matthew Goddard, son of Douglas who returns after his father’s death and pursues Olivia.
- Avital Greenberg-Teplitsky as Leah Goldberg/Gold (Seasons 1 & 2).
- Madeleine Clunies-Ross as Leah Gold, a young Jewish woman living in Inverness.
- Elliot Domoney as David Bligh, son of George and Sarah (Seasons 5 & 6).
- Milly Alcock as Emma Carvolth (4 episodes).
- Nicholas Bell as Neil Burton (3 episodes).
Production
The inception of A Place to Call Home followed the completion of Bevan Lee’s "domestic trilogy" consisting of Always Greener, Packed to the Rafters, and Winners & Losers. Lee drew creative inspiration from Douglas Sirk’s 1950s films like Written on the Wind and All That Heaven Allows. His vision was to craft a melodramatic romance set against the emotionally charged post-war era of the 1950s—a stark contrast to the relative tranquility of modern times. The screenplay was collaboratively written by Lee and Trent Atkinson.
Noni Hazlehurst was the first actor announced for the cast, followed by Marta Dusseldorp—who assumed the lead role—alongside Brett Climo and Frankie J. Holden. The principal cast was rounded out by newcomers David Berry, Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood, Abby Earl, and Aldo Mignone.
The narrative primarily unfolds within the fictional Ash Park estate and the nearby rural town of Inverness in New South Wales. Inverness is represented through filming locations in Camden and the Southern Highlands. Meanwhile, Ash Park scenes are shot at Camelot, a heritage-listed estate located in Kirkham near Camden. Sydney serves as an additional setting for key events, with most urban scenes captured indoors.
Season one filming took place from July through December 2012 utilizing Sony F65 cameras—the first Australian television production to employ this technology. In June 2013, the series was renewed for a second season that aired between May and July 2014.
Although a third season was commissioned initially, Channel Seven opted not to continue with it in mid-2014. Subsequently, Foxtel negotiated an agreement with Channel Seven to produce and broadcast season three on its SoHo channel while retaining the original cast and crew. Seasons three and four premiered on Foxtel platforms in 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Season five was announced in November 2016, advancing the storyline from 1954 to 1958. Production recommenced in February 2017 with the season debuting on Foxtel's Showcase channel in October that year.
In December 2017, Foxtel confirmed a sixth and final season which aired from August through October 2018, bringing the series to its conclusion.
Broadcast
During the announcement of its 2012 schedule, the Seven Network prominently featured A Place to Call Home as one of its new series. Angus Ross from Seven mentioned a possible premiere towards the end of 2012, depending on casting and production progress. The inaugural season consisted of thirteen episodes, with the pilot episode debuting on 28 April 2013 at 8:30 pm, taking over the timeslot previously occupied by Downton Abbey.
International
After its initial broadcast in Australia, A Place to Call Home was shown on New Zealand's TV One.
In the United Kingdom, the first and second seasons were first broadcast on BBC2 starting 17 November 2014, followed by season three on 25 February 2016, and season four on 13 February 2017. The fifth season transitioned to a daytime slot on BBC1 beginning 13 March 2018, with the sixth and final season airing on BBC1 from 11 February 2019.
Viewers in the United States and Canada can stream all six seasons via Acorn TV, while American Public Television distributed the first four seasons to various TV stations.
In 2020, the entire series became available for streaming in Sweden through SVT Play, Norway via NRK TV, and Finland on YLE TV1. That same year, Greece started weekday broadcasts on ERT2 under the translated title "Μια Καινούργια Αρχή" (A New Start).
Home media
| Title | Set details | DVD release dates | Region B | Special features | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 | scope="col" style="width:12em; font-size:100%;" | |||
| A Place to Call Home – Season 1 |
|
3 March 2015 | 23 February 2015 | 8 August 2013 |
| |
| A Place to Call Home – Season 2 |
|
30 June 2015 | 23 February 2015 | 17 July 2014 |
| |
| A Place to Call Home – Season 2: Revised Edition |
|
— | — | 29 October 2015 | — |
|
| A Place to Call Home – Season 2: Collector's Edition |
|
— | — | 29 October 2015 | — |
|
| A Place to Call Home – Season 3 |
|
5 April 2016 | 14 March 2016 | 7 April 2016 | — |
* New finale for season two included * Picture gallery * Recaps of season three episodes (region four exclusively) |
| [[A Place to Call Home season 4 | < span style ="color:white;"> A Place to Call Home – Season 4 </ span > |
* Number of discs :3[upper-alpha 4] * Total episodes :12 |
28 February 2017 | 6 March 2017 | 26 April 2017 | — |
Region one exclusives: * Interviews with cast and crew * Behind-the-scenes featurettes * Photo gallery |
|- ! scope ="row" style ="background:#98A8C2; color:#fff;" | [[A Place to Call Home season 5 | < span style ="color:black;"> A Place to Call Home – Season 5 </ span >
| * Number of discs :3[upper-alpha 5] * Total episodes :12 |3 April 2018||2 April 2018||28 March 2018||data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — | * Q&A session with Jenni Baird (region one only)
|}
Box sets
| Title | Set details | DVD release dates | Special features | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Region 1 | > Region 2 | > Region 4 | |||
| A Place to Call Home – Seasons One & Two |
|
data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — || data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — || 29 October 2015 |
| ||
| A Place to Call Home – Complete Seasons One through Three |
|
data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — || 14 March 2016 || 1 September 2016 |
| ||
| A Place to Call Home – Complete Seasons One through Four |
|
data-sort-value="" style="background: var(--background-color-interactive, #ececec); color: var(--color-base, inherit); vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | — || 6 March 2017 || 26 April 2017 |
| ||
| A Place to Call Home – Complete Seasons One through Five |
|
Template:TableTBA || Template:TableTBA || Template:Start date │ df=yes │ 2018 │ 03 │ 28 |
| ||
Notes
Soundtrack
The album titled A Place to Call Home – Music from Seasons One through Five was released on October 20, 2017.
Reception
In a column published in the Jewish digital magazine Tablet in 2021, former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Oren commended the series. He characterized Sarah as "among the most intricate characters in modern television—principled, passionate, resilient, and courageous," emphasizing that A Place to Call Home successfully portrays Jewish themes, God, and Israel respectfully without mockery while maintaining strong viewership figures.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Production | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Award of Distinction for Telefeatures, TV Drama & Mini Series | John Stokes | Season 1, Episode 9: "Cane Toad" | Template:Won |
| Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Production | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Most Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Cast Members | Season 1 | Template:Nom |
| Year | Category | Nominee | Production | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Most Outstanding Drama Series | N/A | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | |
| Most Popular Actress | Marta Dusseldorp | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| Most Popular New Talent | Abby Earl | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| 2016 | Best Actress | Marta Dusseldorp | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | |
| Most Outstanding Supporting Actor | David Berry | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | Jenni Baird | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| Best Drama Program | N/A | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| Most Outstanding Drama Series | N/A | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| 2017 | Best Actress | Marta Dusseldorp | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | |
| Most Outstanding Supporting Actress | Jenni Baird | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom | ||
| Most Outstanding Drama Series | N/A | A Place to Call Home | Template:Won | ||
| 2018 | Most Outstanding Drama Series | N/A | A Place to Call Home | Template:Nom |
External links
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- Articles with short description
- 2013 Australian television series debuts
- 2018 Australian television series endings
- 2010s Australian drama television series
- Australian LGBTQ-related television shows
- Historical drama television series
- Australian English-language television shows
- Seven Network original programming
- SoHo (Australian TV channel) original programming
- Showcase (Australian TV channel) original programming
- Television series by Endemol
- Television series by Seven Productions
- Australian television series revived after cancellation
- Television series set in the 1950s
- Television shows set in New South Wales
- 2010s LGBTQ-related drama television series
- Television series about Jews and Judaism
- Pages with reference errors