Homicide (Australian TV series)

Homicide

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television production
Founded	1964
Headquarters	Melbourne , Australia
Products	Television drama series
Parent	Crawford Productions

Homicide is an Australian television police procedural drama series aired on the Seven Network and produced by Crawford Productions. It was developed as a successor to Crawfords' radio program D24.

Following self-funding of the pilot episode, Hector Crawford spent almost a year presenting the show to commercial broadcasters before Melbourne’s HSV7 agreed to commission it in 1964, despite Sydney’s ATN initially declining.

Synopsis

The narrative centers on a fictional homicide unit within the Victoria Police tasked with solving diverse criminal cases. Many storylines drew inspiration from actual incidents but featured invented characters. The show was broadcast from 20 October 1964 until January 1977, covering a period of 12 years and 6 months and producing a total of 510 episodes (including the pilot, designated with an 'A' suffix). This achievement established Homicide as Australia’s longest-running weekly primetime drama and held the record for the highest episode count in its genre for many years.

When Blue Heelers concluded in 2006, it matched this episode total. However, Homicide maintained a longer broadcast span and greater overall runtime due to five episodes of feature length.

Main Cast

Actor	Role	Tenure	Character
John Fegan	Jack Connolly (Inspector)	1964–1969, 204 episodes	A gruff yet compassionate Irishman who advanced from constable through the ranks. He takes extended leave before retiring in episode 204, "Chain of Evidence".
Terry McDermott	Frank Bronson (Detective Sergeant)	1964–1966, 59 episodes	A skilled detective known for his tough but witty demeanor. He is married with children and is fatally shot by an escaped convict in episode 58, "Vendetta".
Lex Mitchell	Rex Fraser (Detective)	1964–1965, 28 episodes	A young, impulsive ladies' man newly assigned to the squad. Promoted and transferred after episode 27, "Fifth Column".
Leonard Teale	David 'Mac' Mackay (Senior Detective / Detective Sergeant / Detective Senior Sergeant)	1965–1973, 358 episodes	A determined officer with strong principles regarding justice. Initially demoted following Bronson’s report but later promoted to Inspector and transferred in episode 383, "Assassin". Returns in the final episode to assist the team. The longest-serving cast member.
Leslie Dayman	Bill Hudson (Senior Detective)	1966–1968, 104 episodes	An expert marksman who applies modern investigative techniques. Transferred from Forensic to Homicide after Mackay’s injury. Departs following several forced fatal shootings.
George Mallaby	Peter Barnes (Detective / Senior Detective / Detective Sergeant)	1968–1973, 265 episodes	A brash young officer from Sydney’s Vice Squad. Rapidly promoted and matures into a capable detective with a sense of humor. Elevated to Sergeant; suffers a nervous breakdown due to case pressures in episode 395, "One Too Many".
Lionel Long	Alberto "Bert" Costello (Senior Detective)	1968–1969, 49 episodes	A first-generation Australian of Italian heritage who prefers action over forensic work. Dies in a mine collapse in episode 210, "A Quiet Town".
Alwyn Kurts	Colin Fox (Detective Inspector)	1969–1973, 184 episodes	A widower from rural Victoria; respected leader known for his dry wit. Killed by sniper fire in episode 383, "Assassin".
Norman Yemm	Jim Patterson (Senior Detective)	1969–1972, 123 episodes	A tough officer devoted to family. Has an identical twin which causes mistaken identity issues in episode 249, "The Superintendent". Resigns after becoming emotionally involved in a case in episode 333, "Grains of Sand".
Michael Preston	Bob Delaney (Senior Detective / Detective Sergeant)	1972–1973, 42 episodes	Former British constable and modern dresser who replaces Patterson. Killed by a letter bomb in episode 375; police funeral depicted for the series.
Gary Day	Phillip Redford (Senior Detective)	1973–1977, 134 episodes	Vietnam War veteran studying law part-time; succeeds Delaney and remains until the series finale.
Charles Tingwell	Reg Lawson (Inspector)	1973–1977, 126 episodes	Returned from Scotland Yard and UN peacekeeping duties to lead the squad following Fox's death; stays through series end.
John Stanton	Pat Kelly (Senior Detective)	1973–1974, 49 episodes	Tough detective introduced after Barnes’ promotion; becomes crippled while pursuing a criminal in episode 432.
Don Barker	Harry White (Detective Sergeant)	1973–1977, 114 episodes	Family-oriented joker with a tough side; replaces Barnes after his breakdown and remains until series conclusion.
Dennis Grosvenor	Mike Deegan (Senior Detective)	1974–1977, 77 episodes	Martial arts expert and motorcycle enthusiast transferred from Ballarat; replaces Kelly and stays through series end. Character ranks adapted over time reflecting changes within Victoria Police—for example, Mackay’s advancement to Detective Senior Sergeant as second-in-command and Barnes becoming Senior Detective following rank restructuring.

Scripts

Homicide tackled significant societal concerns through its scripts, including topics such as:

• group sexual assault ("The Violators", ep. 21)
• prostitution ("The Brand", ep. 23)
• isolation, suicide, and euthanasia ("An Act of Love", ep. 31)
• supernatural themes ("Witch Hunt", ep. 34)
• police-involved shootings ("The Snipers", ep. 76)
• traffic safety ("No Licence To Kill", ep. 123)
• narcotics ("Freakout", ep. 128)
• challenges faced by elderly citizens ("Everybody Knows Charlie", ep. 208)
• environmental contamination ("Fighting Fred", ep. 314)
• gun usage ("Time And Tide", ep. 405)
• violence motivated by homophobia ("A Crime Against Nature", ep. 411)
• juvenile gangs ("The Graduation of Tony Walker", ep. 434)
• child maltreatment ("The Life And Times of Tina Kennedy", ep. 463)
• risks of hitchhiking ("Wipe Out", ep. 478)

In its early installments, chief detective John Fegan introduced episodes to highlight their importance and to underline their suitability for adult viewers.

Several storylines drew inspiration from actual criminal cases, including:

• "Colour of Hate" (ep. 37), which was based on the killing of a young police officer; the victim’s relatives commended the episode as an homage to their son’s dedication.
• "A Lonely Place" (ep. 39), influenced by serial killer Arnold Sodeman’s offenses, although the fictional perpetrator’s outcome diverges from reality.
• "Dead or Alive" (ep. 180), modeled after New Zealand mass murderer Stanley Graham; unlike the true events, the fictional assailant is apprehended alive.
• "I, Mick O'Byrne" (ep. 211), derived from the story of Ronald Ryan, the last person executed in Australia.

Broadcast sheet

The series premiered on 20 October 1964 with the episode "The Stunt"; the pilot titled "One Man Crime Wave" was later broadcast as episode 24A prior to Lex Mitchell’s exit.

From the early 1970s through the early 1980s, daytime reruns were presented in a strip programming format. Special broadcasts included:

• "Initiation" (ep. 376) featured on HSV-7’s nostalgia show "Those Were The Days"
• Episodes 379, 385, 394, 410, and 463 commemorating the program’s 30th anniversary in 1994
• "Assassin" (ep. 383) aired in November 2005 to celebrate HSV-7’s half-century milestone

During the 1960s, select ITV regional stations in the UK aired the series during late-night slots; these included Westward TV, Yorkshire TV, Channel TV, Border TV, and Southern Television.

In Melbourne Cinematheque in 2004, episodes "Flashpoint" (ep. 56) and "Stopover" (ep. 504) were screened. WIN Television began rebroadcasting from episode one in August 2010 but discontinued after episode 33 in March 2011; notably, the pilot featured Rona Newton-John, sister of Olivia Newton-John.

Production notes and technical specifications

The initial episodes were produced in black and white (B&W), primarily recorded on videotape at HSV7’s Dorcas Street studios utilizing a multicamera setup, with Alex Emanuel directing the majority of episodes. Approximately ten minutes of each episode comprised location scenes filmed on 16 mm film, predominantly shot by Ian Jones or David Lee. Episodes had a runtime near 47 minutes, with a total of 134 produced in colour. The opening and closing themes consistently featured James Reichert’s library composition "Victory," complemented by intermittent narration from announcer John McMahon during the early B&W era.

The first character portrayed as a victim was Ian Turpie, while Susanne Haworth provided the initial scream heard before credits rolled. Early filmed segments often lacked synchronous sound; dialogue was typically recorded later using Additional Dialogue Recording (ADR). Location audio was seldom utilized beyond brief enclosed-space conversations. Post-production incorporated sound effects and library music cues—many sourced from KPM Music—including Foley work for gunshots and car-door slams featured in the title sequence.

Episode 56, titled "Flashpoint" (aired on 19 April 1966), represented an experiment fully filmed on location in mountainous terrain near Buxton, Victoria, with most dialogue added during post-production synchronization. Over time, film usage increased and synchronized sound recording became standard through Nagra tape recorders paired with Arriflex cameras by the late '60s, improving both efficiency and realism. The transition from black-and-white to colour production in 1973 necessitated complete filming since HSV7 studios lacked colour videotape technology—a change that also facilitated international sales.

Scripts were often delivered directly to actors by Crawford Productions staff to meet demanding filming schedules. Regular cast members faced heavy workloads, especially during location shoots. In response, the investigative team expanded from three to four members in 1967 to better distribute responsibilities—a structure maintained until series conclusion. The shift to full film production in 1972 further increased overtime requirements, leading principal actors Teale and Kurts to resign; Mallaby re-signed under limited terms but eventually left due to workload pressures. Teale notably prioritized his personal life over escalating work demands:

"There has never been a dispute over basic pay rates; the dispute has always involved the massive overtime that Crawfords want me to work in the new year. In the end it became a simple choice between my marriage and Homicide. I chose my marriage."

Feature-length episode

Near the end of the series' duration—specifically between episodes 470 and 480—a full-length episode named Stopover was produced, notably excluding the Homicide branding from its title. Filmed entirely on celluloid with newly constructed sets and on location at Melbourne Airport, this installment showcased detectives Lawson, White, Deegan, and Redford. The storyline centered on an international rock group held in custody following a fatal drug overdose of one of its members. Guest appearances included Jon English portraying the lead vocalist and Tony Bonner as the deceased musician. Directed by Igor Auzins, this production was broadcast as a television special in 1976 and is officially cataloged as episode 504, alongside other feature-length episodes numbered 502 and 503.

Accolades

Homicide received numerous honors for its writing, including three AWGIEs, two Logies, one Penguin, and one Sammy Award:

AWGIE Awards

Year	Outcome	Recipient	Category	Episode Number	Title
1970	Template:Won	John Dingwall	Best Script for a TV Drama Series	208	"Everyone Knows Charlie"
1975	Template:Won	Peter Schreck	Template:Unknown	434	"The Graduation of Tony Walker"
1976	Template:Won	Keith Thompson	Best Script for Telemovie	504	"Stopover"

Logie Awards

Year	Outcome	Recipient	Category	Episode Number	Title
1971	Template:Won	Homicide	Best Australian Drama	N/A
1973	Template:Won	Homicide	Best Australian Drama	N/A
1974	Template:Won	Leonard Teale	Best Australian Actor	N/A
1974	Template:Won	Fred 'Cul' Cullen	Best Script	385	"The Friendly Fellow"
1975	Template:Won	Fred 'Cul' Cullen	Best Script	414	"Twelve Bar Blues"

Penguin Award

Year	Outcome	Episode Details		Reference
		Number	Title
1975	Template:Runner-up	434	"The Graduation of Tony Walker"

Sammy Award

Year	Outcome	Recipient	Category	Episode Details		Reference
				Number	Title
1976	Template:Won	Keith Thompson	Best Writer (TV Play)	504	"Stopover"

Impact on television industry

Homicide holds the distinction of being Australia's inaugural significant dramatic television series, disrupting the prior dominance of imported American and British content. Prior to its debut in 1964, Australian television primarily consisted of quiz shows, children’s programs, variety acts, and occasional short-lived drama series such as Autumn Affair and Emergency. Imported productions prevailed due to their lower expenses and superior production quality. Demonstrating robust audience interest in domestic drama, Homicide initially garnered ratings in the thirties, frequently climbing into the high forties and low fifties—figures that surpass those achieved by contemporary police dramas. Produced at roughly one-tenth the cost of overseas equivalents, it consistently outperformed major American shows in viewership. By 1971, it was Australia's most-watched program, with another Crawford production, Division 4, securing second place.

Throughout its twelve-year tenure, the show functioned as a pivotal training platform for Australian television and film talent, fostering the careers of numerous actors, directors, writers, producers, and technical staff. It attracted distinguished professionals including returning expatriates like Charles Tingwell and Michael Pate. Its success paved the way for later popular police dramas and cemented its status as a foundational element in Australian TV history.

In 1994, a commemorative special titled Homicide: 30 Years On, hosted by stars from Blue Heelers, John Wood and Lisa McCune, featured interviews with surviving cast members. Additionally, in 2007, Homicide was honored on an Australia Post stamp celebrating five decades of Australian television.

DVD release

Since December 2012, Homicide has been available on DVD in box set collections, each comprising 26 episodes spread across 7 discs. In total, twenty such box sets along with an additional bonus disc titled The Homicide Story (1970) have been released, encompassing the entire series.

See also

• City Homicide
• List of longest-running Australian television series