The series was eventually sold to, and broadcast in 48 countries.Ī Country Practice creator and executive producer James Davern had previously worked on a similar rural-based series as the producer and director of the long-running Bellbird, which screened on ABC Television (1967–1977). At the height of its popularity, the show attracted 8–10 million Australian viewers weekly (at a time when the population of Australia was 15 million). After the series was cancelled by the Seven Network in 1993, the series was relaunched on the Network Ten in 1994.Īt the time of its cancellation, A Country Practice was the longest-running Australian TV drama however, by the late 1990s, that record was surpassed by Network Ten series Neighbours. It also featured a number of native Australian animals, particularly the iconic 'Fatso the wombat' adding to its appeal both domestically and internationally. Several of the regular cast members became popular celebrities as a result of their roles in the series. Terence Elliot's ( Shane Porteous) medical practice, Frank and Shirley Gilroy's house Brian Wenzel and Lorrae Desmond, the Wandin Valley Church and Burrigan High School where filmed in the Hawkesbury. Many other fictional locations, including Dr. The show was produced at the ATN-7's production facility at Epping, New South Wales, Pitt Town and Oakville, suburbs on the outskirts of northwest Sydney, Australia, were used for most of the exterior filming, with the historic heritage-listed Clare House, built in 1838, serving as the location of the Wandin Valley Bush Nursing Hospital. Altogether, 14 seasons and 1,088 episodes were produced. A Country Practice is an Australian television soap opera/serial which was broadcast on the Seven Network from 18 November 1981 until 22 November 1993, and subsequently on Network Ten from 13 April 1994 to 5 November 1994.

Emily by Margaret Ann Loveday