The Henderson Kids
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | 1985 |
| Founder | Roger Moulton |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama series |
| Parent | Crawford Productions |
The Henderson Kids is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions and broadcast on Network Ten between 1985 and 1987. The series was created and developed by Roger Moulton, who also contributed as a writer for multiple episodes throughout both seasons. The narrative focuses on adolescent siblings navigating new circumstances following a family loss.
Synopsis
The plot centers on Steve (portrayed by Paul Smith) and Tamara (played by Nadine Garner), who move from the city to the fictional Haven Bay to live with their uncle Mike (Nicholas Eadie), a police officer in the area, after their mother's passing. In Haven Bay, they become part of a local youth circle that includes Ted Morgan (Ben Mendelsohn), Colin "Cowboy" Clarke (Mark Hennessy), Charlotte "Char" Kernow (Kylie Minogue), and Brian "Brains" Buchanan (Bradley Kilpatrick).
The siblings face challenges as their family property, Henderson's Point, is threatened by business interests led by the determined Ashley Wheeler (Peter Whitford). Meanwhile, Steve develops a romantic involvement with Sylvia Wheeler (Annie Jones), Ashley's daughter.
Main
- Paul Smith as Steve Henderson
- Nadine Garner as Tamara 'Tam' Henderson
- Ben Mendelsohn as Ted Morgan
- Kylie Minogue as Charlotte 'Char' Kernow
- Mark Hennessy as Colin 'Cowboy' Clarke
- Bradley Kilpatrick as Brian 'Brains' Buchanan
- Annie Jones as Sylvia Wheeler
- Peter Whitford as Ashley Wheeler
- Nicholas Eadie as Uncle Mike
Recurring and guests
- Antoinette Byron as Pat Edwards
- Jane Hall as Regina Powell
- Tottie Goldsmith as Glynnis Wheeler
- Kevin Harrington as Gazza
- Peter O'Brien as Suds
- Stefan Dennis as Terry
- Nicholas Creed as Trevor Cathcart
- Diane Craig as Alice Henderson (2 episodes)
- Reg Gorman as Kernow (4 episodes)
- Michael Aitkens as Walter "Wal" Mullens
A number of actors from this ensemble—including Garner, Mendelsohn, Minogue, Kilpatrick, Jones, Hall, Goldsmith, Harrington, O'Brien, and Dennis—subsequently featured in the acclaimed series Neighbours.
Filming
Scenes set in Haven Bay were shot on location in Birregurra, Victoria.
Synopsis
The follow-up series, titled The Henderson Kids II (1987), transitions the setting to Westport, a fictional coastal suburb. Steve and Tamara return to urban living alongside their father Walter "Wal" Mullens (Michael Aitkens). This season introduces a fresh circle of friends led by Vincent "Vinnie" Cerantonio (Alex Papps) and includes twins Carol (Anita Cerdic) and Marty Summers (Nathan Croft), while also bringing back Brian "Brains" Buchanan and Trevor Cathcart (Nicholas Creed).
Prominent characters comprise neighbours Helen Marshall (Louise Howitt) and her daughter Sally (Marieke Hardy), Wal's questionable business associate Harry (Ross Thompson) along with his enforcer Spider (John Jacobs), Sergeant Javorsky (Doug Bowles) from the Victorian police, Mick Dalton—known locally as Brown Street Boy (Paul Hall), and a school antagonist named Miranda Kilsyth (Elizabeth Rule).
Principal
- Paul Smith portraying Steve Henderson
- Nadine Garner in the role of Tamara "Tam" Henderson
- Alex Papps as Vincent "Vinnie" Cerantonio
- Anita Cerdic playing Carol
- Nathan Croft as Marty Summers
- Bradley Kilpatrick as Brian "Brains" Buchanan
Recurring and Guest Appearances
- Michael Aitkens as Walter "Wal" Mullens
- Louise Howitt portraying Helen Marshall
- Marieke Hardy in the role of Sally
- Mary Ward as Mrs Cathcart
- Nicholas Creed playing Trevor Cathcart
- Ross Thompson as Harry
- John Jacobs in the role of Spider
- Doug Bowles portraying Sergeant Javorsky
- Paul Hall as Mick Dalton
- Elizabeth Rule playing Miranda Kilsyth
Filming
Scenes set in Westport were filmed on location in Williamstown, a suburb of Melbourne.
Awards
For her portrayal of Tamara Henderson, Nadine Garner received a Logie Award in 1985 and was honored with a Television Society of Australia Penguin Award in 1987.
DVD releases
The series comprises 24 episodes in total. In 2007, Madman Entertainment issued two separate 3-disc DVD collections: The Henderson Kids (season one) and The Henderson Kids II. Included extras feature a 13-minute promotional TV spot for the first series and a brief blooper reel from the second series.
| DVD Title | Format | Number of Episodes | Number of Discs/Tapes | Release Year in Region 4 (Australia) | Bonus Content | Distributor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Henderson Kids I | DVD | 24 | 3 | 2007 | 13-minute promotional TV spot for series one | Madman Entertainment |
| The Henderson Kids II | DVD | 24 | 3 | 2007 | Short blooper reel | Madman Entertainment |
| The Henderson Kids I | DVD | 24 | 3 | 2012 | None | Crawford Productions |
| The Henderson Kids II | DVD | 24 | 3 | 2012 | None | Crawford Productions |
International broadcasts
In the United Kingdom, both seasons were broadcast on Channel 4 during 1989. New Zealand viewers saw the entire series on TVNZ in 1987, with the first season airing weekly on Fridays from February through May, followed by the second season from July to October.
Additionally, the program was shown on Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm on GBC TV in Gibraltar, where it gained considerable popularity and became widely discussed among school communities.