Australian Story 1996
★ 5.3/10 · 6 votes DocumentaryNews 31 seasons · 1111 eps Returning Series
Quick answer
What is Australian Story?
Australian Story is an award-winning documentary series that first premiered in 1996. The program distinguishes itself within the reality television genre by focusing on authentic storytelling without the use of a narrator or specific agendas.
- Type
- TV series
- Year
- 1996
- Status
- Returning Series
- Episodes
- 1,111
- Runtime
- 30 minutes
- First aired
- May 29, 1996
- Last aired
- Mar 30, 2026
- Original language
- EN
- Origin
- AU
- Networks
- ABC TV
- Genres
- Documentary, News
- Updated
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Find the trailer on YouTube ↗Overview
Australian Story is an award-winning documentary series that first premiered in 1996. The program distinguishes itself within the reality television genre by focusing on authentic storytelling without the use of a narrator or specific agendas. Instead, the series presents narratives told entirely in the subjects' own words. By highlighting the experiences of extraordinary Australians, the show aims to return a sense of realism to the medium. Throughout its run, the series has featured various individuals, including notable figures such as Leigh Sales, Caroline Jones, Bob Hawke, and Jimmy Barnes. The production continues to document the lives and stories of people as part of its ongoing broadcast history. As a long-running documentary project, it maintains a consistent format that prioritizes the personal accounts of its participants. The series remains a recognized fixture in television, providing a platform for individuals to share their own perspectives directly with the audience.
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Should you watch it?
“This documentary series presents authentic human experiences told exclusively through the voices of the subjects themselves.”
Reasons to watch
- authentic storytelling
- no narrator
Keep in mind
- lack of traditional narrative structure
Watch it if you prefer unscripted, character-driven documentary television without external commentary.
The series features real-life stories and is generally suitable for a broad audience.
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Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 27 episodes
Open the complete Season 1 guide →- E1 A Soldier's Journey / Wild Stallion / Dante's Inferno May 29, 1996
- E2 Trail Blazers / Cecelia and Justin / The Chant of Tommy Lewis Jun 5, 1996
- E3 Goodbye Mary / Slow Business / The Butcher's Pen Jun 12, 1996
- E4 Australia Street / Mother and Sons / The Underwoods of Riveren Jun 19, 1996
- E5 Coming Home / Sentimental Journey / Spirited Woman Jun 26, 1996
- E6 Robin's Song / A Day At The Dump / Lily's Children Jul 3, 1996
- E7 The Postman / Rifka's Flock Jul 10, 1996
- E8 Betty and Me / The Barber / Life on a String Jul 17, 1996
- E9 Men's Business / The Nun's Story / The Hard Sell Jul 24, 1996
- E10 The Great Escape / Love Story / Food of Love Jul 31, 1996
- E11 The Surgeon's Story / Dingo Dash / The Deep End Aug 7, 1996
- E12 Mother and Child / Personal Best Aug 14, 1996
- E13 Pride of the Fleet / A Place in the Sun Aug 21, 1996
- E14 The Quality of Mercy Aug 28, 1996
- E15 The Grand Obsession / Good Move / Debbie's Place Sep 4, 1996
- E16 Kerry's Baby / The Go-Between Sep 11, 1996
- E17 A Woman's Place / Song of Joy Sep 18, 1996
- E18 Medicine Man / Acting Up Sep 25, 1996
- E19 Life of Slicer / Mrs Ainsworth / Dancing Dad Oct 2, 1996
- E20 A League of His Own / Twilight Rebel Oct 9, 1996
- E21 Master of Ceremonies / Tall Poppies Oct 16, 1996
- E22 Longley's Endeavour / Home Grown Oct 23, 1996
- E23 The Last Muster / Mr Squiggle Oct 30, 1996
- E24 Fame / A Different Drum Nov 6, 1996
- E25 Calling the Tune / The Matchmaker Nov 13, 1996
- E26 Best of Relationships Nov 20, 1996
- E27 Best of Blokes Nov 27, 1996
Season 2 · 38 episodes
- E1 The Parson's Daughter / The Keeper Feb 15, 1997
- E2 The Commissioner / Outback Legend Feb 22, 1997
- E3 Heroes / Girl's Own Mar 1, 1997
- E4 The Mouse That Roared / Dragon Tale Mar 8, 1997
- E5 Seize the Day / Alf of the Antarctic Mar 15, 1997
- E6 The Portland Boy / Harold the Kangaroo Mar 22, 1997
- E7 Portrait of Mick / A Woman's Voice Mar 29, 1997
- E8 Woman For All Seasons / Sister Act Apr 5, 1997
- E9 Native Born / Trials of Life Apr 12, 1997
- E10 Rocks and Rollers / Silent Nights Apr 19, 1997
- E11 House of Hancock Apr 26, 1997
- E12 Norm's Army / Folk Hero May 3, 1997
- E13 Lamb's Tale / Where Eagles Fly May 10, 1997
- E14 Lady Jane / The Good Sport May 17, 1997
- E15 Accidental Hero / A Girl Like Alice May 24, 1997
- E16 The Player / Heart of Gold May 31, 1997
- E17 Born to Run / Jesse's Town Jun 7, 1997
- E18 Outback Daughter Jun 14, 1997
- E19 The Last Tentman / A Secret Life Jun 21, 1997
- E20 The Sound Barrier / The Sunshine Twins Jun 28, 1997
- E21 Concerto For Don / Dream Run Jul 5, 1997
- E22 A Will of Their Own Jul 12, 1997
- E23 All That Glitters / A Charmed Life Jul 19, 1997
- E24 Her Excellency / The Makeover Man Jul 26, 1997
- E25 Valentine's Day Aug 2, 1997
- E26 A Wing and a Prayer / His Own Trumpet Aug 9, 1997
- E27 Broken Heart / To Di For Aug 16, 1997
- E28 I Had A Dream / Great Scott Aug 23, 1997
- E29 Winter of Our Discontent Sep 13, 1997
- E30 The Good Life / Spirit of Arnhem Sep 20, 1997
- E31 The Comeback King / Out of the Blue Sep 27, 1997
- E32 Upon A White Horse / As Time Goes By Oct 4, 1997
- E33 The Homecoming / Up A Gum Tree Oct 11, 1997
- E34 Master of Illusion / All You Need is Love Oct 18, 1997
- E35 The Mission Oct 25, 1997
- E36 Lost and Found / The Promised Land Nov 1, 1997
- E37 In God's Name Nov 8, 1997
- E38 Roads Less Travelled / Without A Trace Nov 15, 1997
Season 3 · 36 episodes
- E1 The Macpherson Women / A Grain of Sand Feb 12, 1998
- E2 On the Waterfront Feb 19, 1998
- E3 Last Christmas at Kaloola / Diana and Me Feb 26, 1998
- E4 Camilla's Conversion Mar 5, 1998
- E5 Hell for Leather / The Lost City Mar 12, 1998
- E6 The Rest is Silence Mar 19, 1998
- E7 The Way We Are Mar 26, 1998
- E8 Wayne's New World / The Full Marcus Apr 2, 1998
- E9 The Bus Driver / Dear Doctor Apr 9, 1998
- E10 In the Name Of the Father Apr 16, 1998
- E11 To Be a King Again / A League of Their Own Apr 23, 1998
- E12 The Long Run / Wally's Weddings Apr 30, 1998
- E13 The Little Master / Every Breath You Take May 7, 1998
- E14 Who Dares Wins May 14, 1998
- E15 Searching for the Man / Street Where You Live May 21, 1998
- E16 What Katie Did / The Prime of Miss Lhuede May 28, 1998
- E17 First Lady / A Distant Drum Jun 4, 1998
- E18 A Cold Wind in August Jun 11, 1998
- E19 Tara's Choice / Grapes of Mirth Jun 18, 1998
- E20 One Dark Night / Queen of the Road Jun 25, 1998
- E21 Fish Out of Water Jul 2, 1998
- E22 In The Line of Duty Jul 9, 1998
- E23 The Unlikely Dad / Bush Smithy Jul 16, 1998
- E24 Sins of the Father Jul 23, 1998
- E25 Hot Gossip / Green Nomad Jul 30, 1998
- E26 The Long Journey Home / Northern Exposure Aug 6, 1998
- E27 A Singular Woman / Chariots of Fire Aug 13, 1998
- E28 A Place for Us / Top Brass Aug 20, 1998
- E29 King Arthur Aug 27, 1998
- E30 Citizen Cullen Sep 3, 1998
- E31 A Life Less Ordinary Sep 17, 1998
- E32 Great Expectations Sep 24, 1998
- E33 Book of Ruth Oct 1, 1998
- E34 Lords of the Land Oct 15, 1998
- E35 Dancing with Strangers Oct 29, 1998
- E36 The Trouble with Helen Nov 12, 1998
Season 4 · 37 episodes
- E1 Something about Pauline Feb 18, 1999
- E2 Brown Skin Baby Feb 25, 1999
- E3 Ben's Gift Mar 4, 1999
- E4 The Next Big Thing / The Beetle Mar 11, 1999
- E5 All Souls Day Mar 18, 1999
- E6 Driving Dame Elisabeth Mar 25, 1999
- E7 A Track Winding Back / Hart to Hart Apr 1, 1999
- E8 Night Train / No Mean Feat Apr 8, 1999
- E9 Climb Every Mountain Apr 15, 1999
- E10 The Fishmongers's Son / Our Three Boys Apr 22, 1999
- E11 Nothing Like a Dame / The Last Picture Show Apr 29, 1999
- E12 A Man for All Seasons May 6, 1999
- E13 The Long Day's Task May 13, 1999
- E14 She Shall Have Music May 20, 1999
- E15 The Priest and the Prodigal / Daughter of the State May 27, 1999
- E16 Every Breath You Take Jun 3, 1999
- E17 Laying Down the Law / A Woman's Face Jun 10, 1999
- E18 A Child is Born / The Scottish Doctor Jun 17, 1999
- E19 The Foundling / Life's a Drag Jun 24, 1999
- E20 In Search of Kings / Going the Distance Jul 1, 1999
- E21 The Wild One Jul 8, 1999
- E22 Born to Buck / The Lone Star Jul 15, 1999
- E23 The Last Hurrah Jul 22, 1999
- E24 Mr Burrows goes to Blackwater / Secrets and Lies Jul 29, 1999
- E25 A Genius in the Family / The Long Haul Aug 5, 1999
- E26 The Man Who Saw Too Much / Down by the River Aug 12, 1999
- E27 The Mango Tree Aug 19, 1999
- E28 Raising the Rafters Aug 26, 1999
- E29 Home on the Range / You Can't Hurry Love Sep 2, 1999
- E30 The Big Blue Sep 9, 1999
- E31 A True Calling Sep 16, 1999
- E32 Mission Impossible Sep 23, 1999
- E33 Never Say Never / The Fiddler Sep 30, 1999
- E34 The Fall of the House of Foster Oct 7, 1999
- E35 The Last of the Steam Demons Oct 21, 1999
- E36 Kimberley's Wedding/My Favourite Haunt Oct 28, 1999
- E37 Carve Their Names With Pride Nov 4, 1999
Season 5 · 37 episodes
- E1 The Young One Feb 10, 2000
- E2 The World is Not Enough Feb 17, 2000
- E3 Something In The Air / Time of their Lives Feb 24, 2000
- E4 Final Analysis / Sea Change Mar 2, 2000
- E5 A Few Good Men Mar 9, 2000
- E6 Running Man Mar 16, 2000
- E7 Mild Colonial Boy / Frog Freighters Mar 23, 2000
- E8 We'll Meet Again Mar 30, 2000
- E9 You Must Remember This / Men Behaving Badly Apr 6, 2000
- E10 The Hanged Man's Shadow Apr 13, 2000
- E11 A Little Learning Apr 20, 2000
- E12 The Tycoon's Daughter Apr 27, 2000
- E13 The Lake District / A Bug's Life May 4, 2000
- E14 And Justice For All May 11, 2000
- E15 A Double Life May 25, 2000
- E16 The Natural Jun 1, 2000
- E17 Fireworks in the Family Jun 8, 2000
- E18 Lap Of Honour / Grand Obsession Jun 15, 2000
- E19 The Exile / Uncle Tim Jun 22, 2000
- E20 The Keys of the Kingdom Jun 29, 2000
- E21 The Trouble With Sam Jul 6, 2000
- E22 In Bed With Nene Jul 13, 2000
- E23 Term of Endearment Jul 20, 2000
- E24 Wives Tales Jul 27, 2000
- E25 Like A Virgin Aug 3, 2000
- E26 Voice in the Dark / Dad's Shrine Aug 10, 2000
- E27 Rise of the Phoenix Aug 17, 2000
- E28 Daydream Believer Aug 24, 2000
- E29 Going Ballistic Aug 31, 2000
- E30 Trials of Sister Sophie Sep 7, 2000
- E31 Ties that bind Sep 14, 2000
- E32 Kingdom For A Horse Oct 5, 2000
- E33 Twenty Eight Days Oct 12, 2000
- E34 Mistress of Ceremonies Oct 19, 2000
- E35 Law Unto Themselves Oct 26, 2000
- E36 Saviour On a Shoestring Nov 2, 2000
- E37 The Torch Bearer / We'll meet again ... and again Nov 9, 2000
Frequently asked questions
What is the format of the show?
The series consists of documentary stories told entirely in the subjects' own words without a narrator.
Does the show use a narrator?
No, the series is notable for having no narrator.
What is the focus of Australian Story?
The program focuses on presenting authentic, real-life stories.
Is the show scripted?
No, the series aims to provide authentic stories rather than scripted reality television.
Has the series won any awards?
Yes, it is described as an award-winning documentary series.