Australian Walkabout (radio program)

Australian Walkabout

Company type	Radio program
Industry	Broadcasting
Founded	May 15, 1947 (1947-05-15)
Headquarters	Australia
Area served	National (Australia)
Products	Radio documentaries
Parent	Australian Broadcasting Commission

Australian Walkabout, promoted as a "series of factual features narrating the captivating story of contemporary Australia," was aired by the Australian Broadcasting Commission beginning 15 May 1947 at 9:15 pm on Thursday nights. It was broadcast on national channels 2FC and 2NA, as well as regional stations 3AR, 4OG, 5CL, and 7ZL. The premiere episode focused on Moonta, South Australia's "Little Cornwall".

Ethos

In August 1947, the ABC's publication ABC Weekly emphasized the program's pioneering style:

"During wartime, actuality broadcasts introduced a fresh radio method featuring vivid firsthand narratives from battlefronts and domestic industries. Australian Walkabout extends this innovation by taking recording equipment into regional Australia to conduct direct interviews and document local histories. Its goal is to conserve the early accounts of Australia's pioneers through genuine reenactments performed in authentic locations. Weekly, audiences travel to destinations such as Geraldton, Hobart, Townsville, or Wagga Wagga, promoting deeper connections between metropolitan and rural communities and increasing awareness of the unique challenges faced by different regions."

Subject matter

Utilizing wire recorders to obtain live audio, the series produced "authoritative" documentaries broadcast nationwide. Journalist Colin Simpson recorded in areas like Arnhem Land and the Tiwi Islands, capturing "Aboriginal ceremonies and songs never previously heard on Australian radio... alongside native bird calls." For the episode "Death Rite for Mabalung," aired 15 March 1949, Simpson documented a mourning ritual at Delissaville, Northern Territory. In Tasmania, he also showcased industrial operations such as a contemporary paper mill converting ancient timber into pulp. Other contributors featured included Dymphna Cusack, who authored and presented Newcastle : Blood on Coal in 1947; Bulletin cartoonist Oswald Pryor, who participated in a series about copper mining at Moonta; and novelist George Farwell with his piece "Mildura : They Built Upon Sand."

Episodes

Significant broadcasts included:

• 15 May 1947, 9:15 pm: Moonta, South Australia's "Little Cornwall", focusing on the copper mining community
• 19 June 1947, 9:15 pm: Wagga Wagga, reported by Colin Simpson
• 26 June 1947, 9:15 pm: Geraldton, detailing its history and World War II evacuations amid fears of Japanese invasion. Produced by John Cairns, written by poet Alexander Turner
• 21 August 1947, 9:15 pm: Lismore, presented by Colin Simpson
• 30 August 1947, 9:15 pm: Newcastle : Blood on Coal, delivered by Dymphna Cusack
• 18 September 1947, 9:15 pm: Bendigo, The Golden City by Fitzmaurice Hill, broadcast from Melbourne Showgrounds
• 25 September 1947, 9:15 pm: The Derwent Valley : Paper and Pride, covering the operations of Australian Newsprint Mills at Boyer, by Colin Simpson
• 16 October 1947, 9:15 pm: George Farwell's Mildura : They Built Upon Sand, focusing on the irrigation scheme by the Chaffey Brothers
• 30 October 1947, 9:15 pm: Tasmanian Tiger Country, presented by Colin Simpson
• 6 November 1947, 9:15 pm: Lord Howe Island, recorded by Frank Legg alongside P.M.G. sound technician Dave Tapp
• 4 December 1947, 9:15 pm: Yallourn

Response

Australian Walkabout was frequently commended in the ABC Weekly for its informative content. In 1948, the ABC rescheduled the program to an 8pm timeslot to better suit young audiences.

Demise

The show ended its run in March 1949. Nearly a decade later, in 1958, after television was introduced in Australia, the ABC developed a TV adaptation of Australian Walkabout that maintained the original's thematic focus. This version was sponsored by the BBC, filmed by Charles and Elsa Chauvel, and produced by Alan Sleath from the BBC.