The Patriots (TV series)

The Patriots

Company type	Television mini-series
Industry	Television production
Founded	1962
Founder	Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Television)
Headquarters	Australia
Products	Historical drama television series

The Patriots was a historical drama mini-series from Australia, broadcast in 1962 on ABC Television across 10 episodes.

This production was part of ABC’s collection of period dramas, following the earlier series Stormy Petrel (1960) and The Outcasts (1961), and preceding The Hungry Ones (1963). Unlike its predecessors, which were scripted by Rex Rienits, this particular series was written by Philip Grenville Mann.

Among the cast, James Condon portrayed William Charles Wentworth, who, as the editor of a newspaper titled The Australian (distinct from the modern publication), finds himself in opposition to Governor Darling.

Copies of the episodes, recorded via telerecording, are maintained within the holdings of the National Archives of Australia.

Premise

William Wentworth operates a newspaper that brings him into direct conflict with Governor Ralph Darling.

Episodes

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Production

In January 1962, ABC revealed plans for a third historical drama series, serving as an unofficial follow-up to Stormy Petrel and The Outcasts. Departing from the earlier reliance on Rex Rienits as writer, this installment was authored by Phillip Grenville Mann, an Australian who had succeeded Rienits as ABC’s drama editor after gaining experience in London. Mann aimed to depict complex character struggles rather than straightforward hero-villain dynamics, focusing on principled individuals at odds.

Phil Hickie, the designer, devoted four months to constructing 17 different sets along with creating costumes and props, utilizing more than 200 gallons of paint. The series made its debut in June 1962.

Reception

Nan Musgrove of The Australian Women's Weekly commended The Patriots as an engaging narrative that might have benefited from a brisker tempo, proposing that condensing it into five one-hour episodes could have improved its impact. She also remarked on the considerable public enthusiasm the series attracted.

Stephen Vagg from Filmink observed that the story material did not sufficiently support the 300-minute duration. While he found the central conflict between Darling and Wentworth intriguing, he criticized the extended ten-episode format for containing excessive filler scenes lacking dramatic tension, including numerous sequences depicting characters reacting to newspaper articles. Vagg further noted that excluding significant historical incidents—such as Wardell’s violent death at the hands of escaped convicts—was a missed opportunity to intensify the storyline.