Underbelly: The Golden Mile
| Company type | Television series season |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Founded | April 11, 2010 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama series |
Underbelly: The Golden Mile, the third installment of Nine Network's crime drama series Underbelly, was broadcast from 11 April to 27 June 2010. This thirteen-episode season is loosely inspired by real-life incidents in Sydney's Kings Cross "Golden Mile" spanning 1988 to 1999, with a focus on organized crime and police corruption culminating in the 1995 Wood Royal Commission.
Functioning as both a prequel to Underbelly and a sequel to Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, the series features notable personalities such as John Ibrahim, Kim Hollingsworth, George Freeman, Lenny McPherson, and MP John Hatton. Several New South Wales Police characters return from earlier seasons.
The Nine Network premiere drew a national audience of 2.23 million viewers. The show also aired on New Zealand's TV3 beginning 5 May 2010.
Synopsis
Set in the year 1988, the narrative follows Lebanese-Australian businessman John Ibrahim as he ascends within the Kings Cross criminal underworld, collaborating with established figures like George Freeman and Lenny McPherson. The storyline exposes widespread corruption within NSW Police, emphasizing officers including Trevor Haken, Jim Egan, and Dennis Kelly.
After Freeman’s death, conflicts over control arise. The plot chronicles Kim Hollingsworth’s journey from sex worker to undercover operative during the Wood Royal Commission’s investigation into police misconduct. Detective Trevor Haken serves as an informant aiding the Commission while grappling with personal struggles. Jim Egan ultimately takes his own life amid the crackdown.
Despite legal obstacles, John Ibrahim strengthens his influence over Kings Cross entertainment venues. Emerging criminals such as drug dealer Benny Kassab and enforcer Danny "DK" Karam escalate territorial disputes. Kim's effort to join the police force is thwarted due to her background; she subsequently wins a lawsuit against NSW Police but receives no financial compensation.
Dennis Kelly’s attempt to become Police Commissioner fails after revelations of his corrupt past. Following the Commission, violence intensifies with gangs like "DK’s Boys," led by Michael Kanaan, conducting shootings and assaults. Strike Force Lancer eventually apprehends Kanaan’s group, restoring relative peace.
The series ends with Kim living quietly in rural New South Wales and John Ibrahim maintaining his position as Kings Cross’s leading figure, supported by both police and biker factions.
Episodes
Primary cast
- Emma Booth portrays Kim Hollingsworth, a former sex worker who becomes a police trainee and undercover operative
- Dieter Brummer takes on the role of Trevor Haken, a corrupt detective operating in Kings Cross
- Firass Dirani plays John Ibrahim, owner of a Kings Cross nightclub and eventual King of the Cross
- Cheree Cassidy appears as Debbie Webb, a detective in Kings Cross who acts as a whistleblower
- Wil Traval features as Joe Dooley, an officer with the Kings Cross police
- Daniel Roberts embodies James 'Jimbo' Egan, a corrupt detective in Kings Cross
- Damien Garvey is Graham 'Chook' Fowler, the dishonest chief of Kings Cross detectives
- Paul Tassone represents Dennis Kelly, the corrupt Chief Inspector
Supporting cast
- Diarmid Heidenreich as Eddie 'Parrot' Gould, an aggressively corrupt Kings Cross detective
- Rob Carlton as Neville 'Scully' Scullion, a compliant detective in Kings Cross
- Peter O'Brien as George Freeman, an illegal bookmaker and mentor to Ibrahim
- John McNeill plays Lenny McPherson, an arms dealer and organized crime figurehead
- Salvatore Coco portrays Harry 'Hammer' Hammoud, a Kings Cross enforcer allied with Ibrahim
- Michael Vice appears as Benny Kassab, a drug dealer in Kings Cross (character inspired by Robert Daher)
- Hazem Shammas plays Bill Bayeh, drug kingpin and King of the Cross
- Steve Bastoni takes the role of Louis Bayeh, a racketeer based in Parramatta
- Dan Mor acts as Danny 'DK' Karam, gang leader and enforcer in Kings Cross
- Ryan Corr embodies Michael "Doc" Kanaan, lieutenant to DK
- Sigrid Thornton is Geraldine 'Gerry' Lloyd, investigator for the Royal Commission
- Sophie Hensser as Monica
- Caroline Craig returns as the series narrator, continuing her role from earlier installments
Guest appearances
- Ronny Mouawad plays Norm Korbage, associate and drug user linked to Kassab
- Matuse appears as Shaka, drug dealer connected to Kassab
- Jason Ghama portrays Ali Ghazzawie, a drug dealer operating in Kings Cross
- Peter Phillips-Vass acts as Benny Puta, another drug dealer in Kings Cross
- John Seru features as Kiwi Steve, bodyguard to Ibrahim
- George Koutros plays Russel 'Bubblehead' Townsend, an associate of Ibrahim
- Waddah Sari as Buddy, friend and associate of Ibrahim
- Michael Gittany portrays Charlie Fish, linked with Ibrahim's circle
- Sabeena Manalis appears briefly as Natalie, love interest of Ibrahim (1 episode)
- Ben Wood plays 'Bad Don' Denucci, manager of Budget Hotel and part-owner alongside DK
- Rahel Abdulrahman portrays Talal Assad, drug dealer in Kings Cross (1 episode)
- Natasha Leigh acts as Melissa Hollingsworth, Kim Hollingsworth’s sister and occasional sex worker
- Lieschen Pogue features as Galina, friend and fellow prostitute to Kim Hollingsworth
- Sarah Jane Coombe appears briefly as Krystal, sex worker (1 episode)
- Kelly Atkinson plays Belinda, Kim’s friend and prostitute (1 episode)
- Mitch Bartlett portrays Wanda, a transgender sex worker
- Mark Furze acts as Trent, boyfriend to Kim Hollingsworth
- Andrew Hazzard plays Michael, Kim Hollingsworth’s boyfriend who becomes her stalker
- Natalie Bassingthwaighte appears as Maria Haken, Trevor Haken's spouse
- Tom O'Sullivan portrays Sean 'Grunter' Sinclair, a corrupt detective who undergoes reform
- Andrew Bibby plays Greg Locke, Fraud Squad detective and husband to Debbie Webb
- Jessica Tovey acts as Wendy Jones, police officer and love interest of Ibrahim (2 episodes)
- Megan Drury appears as Claudia Campanelli, Kings Cross detective and assault survivor
- Matt Day takes on Inspector Sid Hillier, leader of Strike Force Lancer investigation
- Toby Leonard Moore portrays Sergeant Dave, Kings Cross officer and romantic partner to Kim
- Wayne Pygram features as Commissioner of NSW Police
- John Waters plays MP John Hatton, politician (2 episodes)
Ratings
| Episode | Original air date | Timeslot | Viewers (millions) |
Nightly rank | Weekly rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Into the Mystic" | 11 April 2010 | Sunday 8:30pm |
2.237 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | "The Crucible" | Sunday 9:30pm |
2.071 | 2 | 2 | |
| 3 | "Kingdom Come" | 18 April 2010 | Sunday 8:30pm |
1.921 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | "Fall Guy" | 25 April 2010 | 1.500 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | "Saving Face" | 9 May 2010 | 1.677 | 1 | 1 | |
| 6 | "Women in Uniform" | Sunday 9:30pm |
1.613 | 2 | 2 | |
| 7 | "Full Force Gale" | 16 May 2010 | Sunday 8:30pm |
1.645 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | "Crossroads" | 23 May 2010 | 1.650 | 2 | 4 | |
| 9 | "Dog Eat Dog" | 30 May 2010 | 1.672 | 4 | 5 | |
| 10 | "Hurt on Duty" | 6 June 2010 | 1.598 | 3 | 5 | |
| 11 | "Beauty and the Beast" | 13 June 2010 | 1.384 | 4 | 17 | |
| 12 | "The Good Lieutenant" | 20 June 2010 | 1.493 | 4 | 7 | |
| 13 | "Alpha and Omega" | 27 June 2010 | Sunday 8:30pm |
1.800 | 1 | 3 |
Legal issues
In March 2010, Wendy Hatfield, a former police officer from King's Cross, requested access to five episodes of the series that featured a character modeled after her, citing concerns over possible defamation due to an insinuated sexual relationship with John Ibrahim. Her application was refused, with the court determining that defamation claims could only move forward after the episodes had been reviewed.
By May 2010, Hatfield initiated a defamation lawsuit against the Nine Network, TCN Nine Network Sydney, and the production company Screentime concerning episode 6, titled "Women in Uniform." She argued that the episode harmed her reputation by suggesting an affair with Ibrahim. The hearing was set for 22 June.
In December 2010, Hatfield prevailed in a defamation case against the publishers of Underbelly: The Golden Mile, the companion book to the series, and was awarded $59,000 in damages.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- 2010 Australian television series debuts
- 2010 Australian television series endings
- 2010 Australian television seasons
- APRA Award winners
- 2010s Australian crime television series
- 2010s Australian drama television series
- 2010s Australian television miniseries
- Nine Network original programming
- Television series set in the 1980s
- Television series set in the 1990s
- Television shows set in New South Wales
- Kings Cross, New South Wales
- Organised crime in Sydney