C/o The Bartons
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Children's drama television series |
C/o The Bartons—also referred to as Care of The Bartons or simply The Bartons in the UK and the Netherlands—is an Australian drama series for children that debuted on ABC Television in 1988.
History
The concept for the series was developed from Jocelyn Moorhouse’s 1986 short film, The Siege of Barton's Bathroom, which received funding through an Australian Film Commission grant in 1985. Moorhouse incorporated elements from her own life and named characters after her then-housemates. After producer Jenifer Hooks viewed the short, ABC, aiming to expand its children's drama offerings, commissioned Moorhouse to transform it into a full television series. The initial episode closely mirrors the original short film and features the series’ cast.
Description
The narrative follows Elly Barton, an eleven-year-old girl living in a suburban Australian household governed by strict parents and accompanied by three brothers. Elly frequently finds refuge in the backyard tree but often displays bossy and occasionally harsh behavior towards local children, including her closest friend Anita McPherson, who is based on Moorhouse’s childhood companion. Throughout the series, Elly’s character development unfolds through these relationships, with lessons conveyed subtly rather than explicitly.
Main / regular
- Olivia Harkin as Elly Barton
- Michael O'Reilly as Anthony Barton
- Matt Day as Paul Barton
- Ben Toovey as Douglas Barton
- Frankie J. Holden as Robert Barton
- Jennifer Jarman-Walker as Clare Barton
- Rosemary Smith as Anita McPherson
- Robert Essex as Mr (Laurie) Jensen
- Maureen Edwards as Miss Julia 'India' Snoller
- Alan Lovett as Mister Snoller
- Frank Webb as 'Skinner' Davies
- Natasha Kenneally as Susan Davies
- Christian Pellone as Vince Capaletti
Guests
- Lesley Baker – Mrs Davis (2 episodes)
- Louise Siversen as Angela (1 episode)
- Rachel Friend as Miranda (1 episode)
Production
- Filming took place from March until mid-August 1987, extending slightly beyond the original schedule.
- Jocelyn Moorhouse penned nearly half of the scripts herself, with additional writing by Noel Robinson, Shane Brennan, Greg Millin, and P. J. Hogan, who later directed the celebrated film Muriel's Wedding.
- The fictional setting of Banksiawood represents a large unnamed Australian city; most scenes were shot in Glen Waverley, a suburb within Monash City near Melbourne.
- Prominent locations such as the city centre, library, and council hall are featured in the episode titled Mr. Snoller's Black Bag.
- The Banksiawood Girl Guides appearing in Beautiful Beetroot were portrayed by actual members of the Glen Waverley Guide Troup.
- The shopping mall and cinema depicted in Suspected are the Century City Walk mall and Village Cinema located on Kingsway, Glen Waverley.
Release
The twelve episodes of c/o The Bartons were broadcast on ABC Television's The Afternoon Show from 29 February to 17 March 1988. The series aired only once domestically before distribution rights were sold to several European broadcasters through Revcom Television.
Episodes
| Nr. | Title | Director | Written by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Siege of the Bartons' Bathroom | Richard Sarell | Jocelyn Moorhouse |
| Mr. Jensen convinces Robert to remove the backyard tree, prompting Elly to barricade herself inside the bathroom to protect it. | |||
| 2 | The Barton League of Bird Lovers | Peter R. Dodds | Jocelyn Moorhouse |
| Elly and Anita initiate a bird lovers club; however, disagreements cause Anita to establish a competing group. | |||
| 3 | Half-time | Richard Sarell | Paul J. Hogan |
| After being benched all season on his Australian Rules Football team, Paul finally plays in the finals but secretly withdraws, feeling disconnected from the sport. Meanwhile, Anita learns that team captain Vince Capaletti favors Susan Davies. | |||
| 4 | Mr. Snoller's Black Bag | Mandy Smith | Noel Robinson |
| Elly grows suspicious that Mr. Snoller is plotting against Banksiawood. Questions arise about his mysterious black bag and Miss India’s role. | |||
| 5 | Three Little Pigs | Richard Sarell | Greg Millin |
| Red paint spelling "pig" appears on Mr. Jensen's trash bin. Jensen suspects Miss India, but Elly defends her innocence. | |||
| 6 | The Great Billycart Aid Race | Richard Sarell | Shane Brennan |
| Motivated by Bob Geldof's Live Aid appeal, Elly organizes a billycart race fundraiser called "Feed the World," engaging much of the community. | |||
| 7 | Position Vacant | Mandy Smith | Noel Robinson |
| Elly encourages Miss India to apply for a clerical position at the fire station, unaware that her own mother is also a candidate. | |||
| 8 | Musical Rooms | Mandy Smith | Greg Millin |
| Sibling rivalry leads to rearranged bedrooms. Elly confronts Paul about his smoking by confiscating cigarettes; Paul retaliates by stealing her diary. | |||
| 9 | Beautiful Beetroot | Mandy Smith | Jocelyn Moorhouse |
| After Anita persuades her, Elly joins the Girl Guides but faces hostility from leader Vivienne and an unpleasant camp experience involving beetroot meals. | |||
| 10 | Bartons on the Beach | Peter R. Dodds | Jocelyn Moorhouse |
| During a beach outing filled with romantic mishaps, Elly and Anita burn Anthony's Playboy magazine due to its portrayal of women, causing family tensions. | |||
| 11 | Suspected | Peter R. Dodds | Paul J. Hogan |
| Concerned that Paul's gentle nature damages his reputation, Anthony forces him through tests of masculinity which Paul fails; Anthony then tries to find Paul a girlfriend while Elly grapples with her own femininity. | |||
| 12 | Bye Bye Bartons | Richard Sarell | Jocelyn Moorhouse |
| Robert accepts employment requiring the family’s relocation from Banksiawood to Mirandavale, upsetting the children. Elly mourns losing her tree and friend Anita, who confesses her feelings for Paul without success; meanwhile, Mr. Jensen plans to renew his campaign against Elly’s tree after they move. | |||
Book
Moorhouse also wrote a children's book inspired by the series, entitled C/o The Bartons. This publication adapts several episode scripts, combining some plotlines to ensure smoother continuity—for instance, the episodes Half-Time and Musical Rooms are linked directly, with the boys' dispute revolving around a football game rather than study-related frustrations.
The book offers greater insight into the characters' inner thoughts and motivations and heightens the intensity of certain scenes. Key variations include Elly being portrayed as twelve years old (compared to eleven in the television series) and Banksiawood's location clearly established within Melbourne's metropolitan region, approximately 90 minutes from the coastline. Mirandavale is depicted as neighboring Banksiawood in the book, contrasting with the two-hour separation shown in the series.
The front cover displays photographs of Matt Day and Olivia Harkin, while a group image from The Great Billycart Aid Race appears on the back. Moorhouse expresses gratitude to actors from her short film and to writers of various episodes. Published by Puffin Books on 30 March 1989 (ISBN 9780140342574), a follow-up book was planned but ultimately never published.
Film
The short film that served as the foundation for both the series and book featured an almost entirely different cast; Frankie J. Holden is the sole actor who appears in all three formats. Among the notable performers are Rebekah Elmaloglou as Elly, Brendan Cowell portraying Paul, and Max Phipps in the role of Mister Jensen. This film has never been commercially distributed nor released on any home media platform.
Olivia Harkin
Olivia Harkin was cast as Elly at age eleven in 1987. Before her role in C/o The Bartons, she appeared alongside other schoolchildren in the Kaboodle episode titled Snow White and the Dreadful Dwarves. In 1992, she made a guest appearance on the Australian police drama Phoenix. Following this, she concentrated on stage acting but also featured in the 2005 independent Australian short film Lucy's Heart.
Her notable theatre credits include:
- Chicago (20 February 2003, Erindale Theatre, Wanniassa, ACT)
- Gross Indecency: The Three Trials of Oscar Wilde (2 May 2003, Theatre 3, Acton, ACT)
- Fiddler on the Roof (19 February 2004, Erindale Theatre, Wanniassa, ACT)