The Shire (TV series)

The Shire

Company type	Television series
Industry	Television production
Founded	July 16, 2012 (2012-07-16)
Fate	Ended
Headquarters	Sydney , Australia
Products	Reality-drama television series

The Shire was an Australian reality-drama television series aired on Network Ten in Australia and streamed on Hulu in the United States. Debuting on 16 July 2012, the show chronicled the experiences of 15 people who lived, worked, or socialised within Sydney's Sutherland Shire. Marketed by Ten as a "dramality," it blended elements of drama with light scripting and guided scenarios. Produced and created by Shine Australia, the series drew inspiration from the American show The Hills and was pitched as a reality-based counterpart to the soap opera Home and Away. The final episode aired on 10 September 2012, marking the end of the series.

Cast

• Simon, a radio announcer and friend of Mitch
• Gabrielle, assistant in direct sales and Mitch’s partner
• Michelle, mother of Mitch
• Sophie, manager specialising in ultrasound cavitation treatments
• Vernesa, retail assistant
• Kerry, manager of a bar and beauty salon
• Tegan, vocal instructor and waitress
• Matt, recruitment consultant and Kerry’s boyfriend
• Folksy, friend of Spock
• Beckaa, student
• Tony, financier and Beckaa’s father
• Kris and Stace, close friends of Beckaa
• Joel "Rif-Raf", rapper
• Megan, professional stripper
• Nikee, pole dance performer
• Michael, bricklayer and manager of Nikee
• Michelka, personal assistant

Reception

The premiere episode of The Shire garnered mixed reactions. TV commentator Steven Molk remarked that it "ticked all the boxes," effectively introducing the characters and concept. Pedestrian TV acclaimed the program as "great," particularly noting memorable figures such as Sophie, Vernesa, and rapper Rif-Raf. John Birmingham from Brisbane Times labelled it an engaging "TV train wreck," underscoring its compelling nature.

On the other hand, Michael Idato from The Sydney Morning Herald expressed a more measured opinion, suggesting the show was "nearly" successful but required stronger viewership to thrive. He recognised its capacity to spark discussions—a key attribute in reality television—even if it divided audiences.

Official OzTAM ratings indicated that the debut attracted 941,000 viewers (rising to 1.01 million including +7 data), with numbers increasing to 1.06 million for the second episode. Although the third episode saw a decline due to competition from the London Olympic Games, the series sustained solid ratings across its duration.

International sales followed, with availability on the US streaming service Hulu.

Controversy

The initial episode ignited considerable controversy within Australian media circles, being described as both "edgy" and "offensive." After a leaked preview in March 2012, local residents voiced strong objections to what they perceived as negative depictions of their community. Sutherland Shire Mayor Carol Provan pledged to obstruct further production efforts; the local council officially opposed filming activities and declined to cooperate. The mayor also called for a boycott among residents. Despite this resistance, Network Ten continued with production. Additional disputes arose when it became known that multiple cast members were not genuine residents of the Shire.