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Home and Away 1988

★ 6.3/10 · 77 votes TV-14 DramaSoap 39 seasons · 8735 eps Returning Series
Community & Your Rating
★ 6.3/10
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Quick answer

What is Home and Away?

Home and Away is an Australian television soap opera that premiered in 1988. The show is set in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay, located in New South Wales, and explores the personal and professional lives of its residents.

Type
TV series
Year
1988
Status
Returning Series
Episodes
8,735
Runtime
22 minutes
First aired
Jan 18, 1988
Last aired
Jun 4, 2026
Original language
EN
Origin
AU
Networks
Seven Network
Genres
Drama, Soap
Updated
Streaming Intelligence

Binge-Worthiness & Content Radar

80 /100 Solid Watch
⚡ Pacing & Momentum7.5/10
🧠 Narrative Depth8.7/10
🔄 Rewatch Potential7.7/10
🎬 Production Scale8.2/10
🎯 Bingeable Series #Drama #Soap
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Estimate the schedule using 8,735 episodes and an average 22-minute runtime.

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Overview

Home and Away is an Australian television soap opera that premiered in 1988. The show is set in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay, located in New South Wales, and explores the personal and professional lives of its residents. When it began broadcasting on the Seven Network, the series initially centered around the Fletcher family, including Pippa and Tom Fletcher and their five foster children. These characters, such as Frank Morgan, Carly Morris, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport, and Sally Keating, played key roles in establishing the show's early storylines. Over time, the focus expanded to include other families, such as the Stewart family, who became central to the series. Created by Alan Bateman, the show quickly gained popularity in Australia upon its debut. The program was developed after Bateman conceived the idea during a visit to Kangaroo Point, New South Wales. As a long-running series, it has continued to chronicle the interconnected lives, relationships, and dramas of the Summer Bay community.

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Should you watch it?

“A long-running Australian soap opera exploring life in the coastal town of Summer Bay.”

Reasons to watch
  • Strong ensemble cast with long-standing characters
  • Explores personal and professional relationships in a close-knit community
  • Consistent storytelling since 1988
Keep in mind
  • Slow pacing may not suit all viewers
  • Focus on long-term storylines can be challenging for new viewers

You enjoy character-based dramas set in small communities.

Suitable for general audiences, though storylines can involve mature themes.

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Episode guide

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Filler vs. Essential Canon

Filter episodes by serialized narrative importance. Skip standalone side quests and streamline your binge.

98%
Mytharc (25): Crucial lore & season climaxes
Core (1120): Character development & subplots
Side Quest (0): Standalone / filler
Season 1 · 228 episodes Open the complete Season 1 guide & lore primer →
Season 2 · 220 episodes
Season 3 · 225 episodes
Season 4 · 242 episodes
Season 5 · 230 episodes
Verified insights

Frequently asked questions

When did Home and Away premiere?

The show premiered on January 17, 1988.

Who created Home and Away?

The show was created by Alan Bateman.

What network originally aired Home and Away?

It originally aired on the Seven Network in Australia.

Where is Home and Away set?

The show is set in the fictional coastal town of Summer Bay in New South Wales, Australia.

Which families were introduced in the first year?

The first season introduced major families including the Fletchers and the Stewarts.

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