Matlock Police

Matlock Police
Company type	Television series
Industry	Television production
Founded	1971
Defunct	1976
Fate	Ended
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Television drama series
Parent	Crawford Productions

Matlock Police is an Australian television drama series focused on law enforcement, produced by Crawford Productions for The 0-10 Network (currently known as Network 10) and broadcast from 1971 to 1976. The narrative revolves around the police station, criminal cases, and the personal experiences of officers operating in the fictional Victorian township of Matlock and its surrounding areas.

Background

The 0-10 Network created Matlock Police to rival other police dramas such as Homicide on the Seven Network and Division 4 on the Nine Network. Distinct from its Melbourne-based counterparts, this series took place in a rural town modeled loosely on Shepparton, Victoria. To ensure authenticity, writers consulted an extensive guide detailing the town’s layout, societal framework, historical context—including Indigenous heritage, a gold rush era, and notable figures like the bushranger ‘Holy’ Joe Cooper. The show highlighted the unique challenges faced by regional law enforcement rather than focusing on metropolitan crime.

Broadcast history

The program debuted in Melbourne on 22 February 1971, initially presented in black and white before transitioning to color starting with episode 162, titled "Loggerheads". After producing a total of 229 episodes across six seasons, Matlock Police concluded its run in 1975.

Main

Actor	Character	Business-relevant notes
Michael Pate	Detective Sergeant (later Detective Senior Sergeant) Vic Maddern	Leader of Matlock’s Criminal Investigation Branch; a veteran officer with deep local ties and military experience. Maddern commands respect but is eventually injured during duty and reassigned to Melbourne.
Grigor Taylor	Senior Detective Alan Curtis	A young detective originating from Melbourne who adjusts to rural policing; promoted to Detective Sergeant before returning to Melbourne.
Vic Gordon	Sergeant (later Senior Sergeant) Bert Kennedy	Oversees the Uniform Branch; an English immigrant devoted to country living who declines promotion to stay in Matlock.
Paul Cronin	Senior Constable Gary Hogan	A well-liked highway patrol officer whose portrayal positively influenced public attitudes toward motorcycle officers and boosted recruitment; his character inspired the spin-off series Solo One.
Tom Richards	Senior Detective Steve York	Took over Curtis’s role; depicted as a maverick and determined investigator.
Peter Gwynne	Detective Sergeant Jack Maloney	Replaced Maddern as head of C.I. Branch; an experienced detective known for his approachable demeanor combined with a strict crime-fighting stance.

Guests

Among notable guest appearances was George Lazenby in the 1974 episode "In the Name of the Queen," which drew inspiration from the Great Train Robbery (1963) incident. Early roles featured prominent Australian actors such as Andrew McFarlane, Bruce Spence, Jack Thompson, Robert McDarra, Judy Morris, Diane Craig, Briony Behets, Penne Hackforth-Jones, Wendy Hughes, and Sigrid Thornton. After the unexpected passing of character actor Stewart Ginn in 1971, producer Hector Crawford lauded his performance in "The Word is Progress" as one of Crawford Productions’ most outstanding contributions.

Featured vehicles

The vehicles showcased throughout the series were chosen to complement sponsorship and branding objectives. Initially, the HG Holden Monaro base model was prominently featured until Crawford secured a contract with Chrysler Australia. The station's utility vehicle was the Holden Kingswood wagon, which was later replaced by VH and VJ Valiant Ranger variants. Additionally, a short wheelbase FJ40 Toyota Land Cruiser made appearances. For the majority of the series, Gary Hogan was seen riding a CB750 motorcycle, which took over from an earlier BMW R75 model.

In August 1971, during the filming of episode 36 ("End Of The Road"), a police car operated by one of the lead actors lost control on a gravel curve, resulting in the tragic death of 21-year-old crew member Colin Enor. Fortunately, no other crew members were injured.

DVD release

Crawford Productions issued Matlock Police as a collection of 26 episodes spread across seven discs, ultimately offering a complete 9-volume set encompassing the entire series. These releases were aimed at enthusiasts and collectors of vintage Australian television.

External links

Matlock Police at Crawford Productions
Matlock Police at the National Film and Sound Archive
Matlock Police - "26 Hours" at Australian Screen Online