Series 2016

Australian StorySeries 2016

2016
43 Episodes

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2016, Australian Story returns with more unique stories that provide an insight into Australian life with all its complexities and challenges.

Episodes

Phantom Of The Opera House
S21E01

Phantom Of The Opera House

The forgotten man: Peter Hall completed the Sydney Opera House after Danish architect Jorn Utzon resigned. But he was pilloried for his efforts. He died broken and destitute.

01 Feb 201630m
Sea Of Doubt
S21E02

Sea Of Doubt

Mystery at sea: Two men leave on the trip of a lifetime, but only one returns. Now family and friends embark on a quest to solve this baffling disappearance in the remote Pacific Ocean.

08 Feb 201630m
Nugget Of Gold
S21E03

Nugget Of Gold

The remarkable story of Barry 'Nugget' Rees, who rose from the most unlikely circumstances to become friend and trusted confidante of generations of Australia's elite cricketers.

15 Feb 201630m
True Grit (Part 1)
S21E04

True Grit (Part 1)

Inside the private life of international rugby star David Pocock. We travel back to his homeland Zimbabwe where dramatic events shaped the passion that so famously drives him today, both on and off the field.

22 Feb 201630m
True Grit (Part 2)
S21E05

True Grit (Part 2)

In the concluding episode of this television exclusive, David Pocock, his partner Emma and his family reveal the inside story of one of Australia's most remarkable contemporary sports stars.

29 Feb 201630m
My Conscience Tells Me
S21E06

My Conscience Tells Me

Eighty-year-old Dr. Rodney Syme is prepared to defy the law to help a terminally ill man die, even if it means going to jail.

07 Mar 201630m
How I Met Your Father
S21E07

How I Met Your Father

Former advertising executive Aminah Hart always wanted to be a mother, but no one expected the back-to-front romance that made it happen.

14 Mar 201630m
The Beauty Myth
S21E08

The Beauty Myth

The woman on a mission to change the face of fashion: Model agent Chelsea Bonner is the daughter of famously beautiful parents but she's staked her career on changing our ideas of beauty and body image.

21 Mar 201630m
The Minister's Secret
S21E09

The Minister's Secret

The surprising personal revelations of Australia's first Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Fiona Richardson MP.

28 Mar 201630m
Whitey's Way
S21E10

Whitey's Way

Paul White, or 'Whitey' to his mates, is an unstoppable force. He's the bush copper turned CEO of one of Australia's most successful sporting clubs. A shock diagnosis has left him fighting for his life.

04 Apr 201630m
Port Arthur
S21E11

Port Arthur

The legacy of the Port Arthur massacre and the impact it had on survivors and witnesses.

11 Apr 201630m
Building Bridges
S21E12

Building Bridges

For the first time on TV, Michelle Bridges and her family talk about her becoming a mum at 45, her relationship with 'Commando' Steve Willis and taking on the junk food industry.

18 Apr 201630m
Abby's Road
S21E13

Abby's Road

Ten years ago, two-year-old Abby Walker was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness and her parents made a controversial decision. Today she is fit and well. This is her family's remarkable journey.

25 Apr 201630m
A Kind Of Medicine
S21E14

A Kind Of Medicine

Music as medicine: one of Australia's first Indigenous doctors, Mark Wenitong, pioneers music for healing after his family is shattered by a horrific accident involving his daughter, musician Naomi Wenitong.

02 May 201630m
Your Money Or Your Life
S21E15

Your Money Or Your Life

After cheating death in her early twenties, Danielle Tindle is on a mission to improve treatment and care for other young cancer patients. Now she faces a greater challenge. Can she beat the odds again?

09 May 201630m
Dare To Dream
S21E16

Dare To Dream

The remarkable untold story behind the creation of Australia's newest opera and its composer George Palmer.

16 May 201630m
Into The Fog Of War (Part 1)
S21E17

Into The Fog Of War (Part 1)

The exclusive inside story of an elite Australian army commando charged with the manslaughter of five children after a horrific and controversial raid gone wrong in Afghanistan.

23 May 201630m
Into The Fog Of War (Part 2)
S21E18

Into The Fog Of War (Part 2)

Continuing the exclusive story of an elite Australian Army Commando charged with the manslaughter of five children after a horrific and controversial raid gone wrong in Afghanistan.

30 May 201630m
20th Anniversary Special (Part 1)
S21E19

20th Anniversary Special (Part 1)

This two-part anniversary special looks back over Australian Story's key themes, with participants and producers revealing the stories behind some of the show's most significant and popular programs.

06 Jun 201630m
20th Anniversary Special (Part 2)
S21E20

20th Anniversary Special (Part 2)

Celebrating 20 Years On Air, ABC's multi-award-winning program looks back on some of the most memorable moments and reveals the untold stories behind them.

13 Jun 201630m
When The Call Comes
S21E21

When The Call Comes

This week's episode focuses on Michele Perry's quest for justice and to understand why her homeless brother, Morgan Wayne Perry, was killed in a knife attack by a young private school graduate.

20 Jun 201630m
Limbo Land
S21E22

Limbo Land

Actor John Wood introduces the story of Pat Murphy, a farmer who's doing it tough after a coal mine opened next to his property. Now Pat wants to leave the area, but that's easier said than done.

27 Jun 201630m
One Of The Mob
S21E23

One Of The Mob

Filmmaker David Batty has been a White man in a Black world for 40 years. He struck gold with cult series 'Bush Mechanics'. Now despite a family tragedy he's back with a new screen adventure.

04 Jul 201630m
The Longest Expedition
S21E24

The Longest Expedition

Renowned climber Paul Pritchard returns to Tasmania's notorious Totem Pole to tackle the climb that nearly killed him eighteen years earlier and left him partially paralysed with a massive head injury.

11 Jul 201630m
The Heart Bus
S21E25

The Heart Bus

Travel to the outback with innovative engineer-turned-cardiologist Dr Rolf Gomes who takes life-saving cardiac care to people in regional Australia.

18 Jul 201630m
Gone Girl
S21E26

Gone Girl

Gone Girl: Two young people fall in love and marry, but are torn apart when one of them is taken into immigration detention. Supporters are determined to see the decision reversed.

25 Jul 201630m
The Two Of Us
S21E27

The Two Of Us

A heart-warming story of friendship between legendary jazz musician Don Burrows and the star he mentored, James Morrison. Now with Don Burrows about to turn 88, the roles have reversed.

01 Aug 201630m
The Olympic Spirit
S21E28

The Olympic Spirit

With all eyes on Rio, Ian Thorpe introduces a program marking the 60th anniversary of Australia's greatest ever Olympics Melbourne 1956 & the swimmer who inspired generations of Olympians - Murray Rose.

08 Aug 201630m
About A Girl
S21E29

About A Girl

Battling prejudice and legal challenges, 16-year-old transgender teenager Georgie Stone takes on the system to make life easier for other transgender kids and their families.

15 Aug 201630m
What A Wonderful World
S21E30

What A Wonderful World

What A Wonderful World: Fifty years on, Patricia Amphlett (Little Pattie) returns to Vietnam where as a 17-year-old she was on stage performing for Australian troops when the Battle of Long Tan broke out.

22 Aug 201630m
A League Of Their Own
S21E31

A League Of Their Own

Businesswoman Susan Alberti could only dream of playing AFL. Now she's supporting a new Women's League & has struck up an unlikely friendship with top player Moana Hope.

29 Aug 201630m
The Sugar Trip
S21E32

The Sugar Trip

Filmmaker and actor Damon Gameau repays a debt of knowledge when he returns to Central Australia to help revitalise an Indigenous community's healthy eating initiative.

05 Sept 201630m
The Flow On Effect
S21E33

The Flow On Effect

A year on, what's happening with Australia's most unlikely millionaires? Revisit Byron Bay's father and son beekeepers, the Andersons to see how the success of their company changed their lives.

12 Sept 201630m
When Beccy Met Libby
S21E34

When Beccy Met Libby

An old fashioned love story with a modern day twist. Country singer Beccy Cole wants to tie the knot with her partner cabaret singer Libby O'Donovan. But will the law be changed to allow same-sex marriage?

19 Sept 201630m
Shadow Of Doubt
S21E35

Shadow Of Doubt

When two cousins set out to find the truth about their grandfather, they uncover family secrets, a scandalous/shocking murder and more questions than answers.

26 Sept 201630m
Tough Love
S21E36

Tough Love

Taylor & Michael have Down syndrome. They plan to marry & have children, but their parents don't believe they have the skills to raise a family. Can their parents stop them or will their right to reproduce prevail?

03 Oct 201630m
The Big Dry
S21E37

The Big Dry

For years TV newsreader Talitha Cummins masked her alcoholism, until her drinking spiralled out of control. Now four years sober, she describes herself as the modern face of alcoholism: young, professional & high functioning.

10 Oct 201630m
When Plans Change (Part 1)
S21E38

When Plans Change (Part 1)

Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner reveals for the first time the story behind a desperate attempt to get her children back from Beirut, which landed her in jail along with a 60 Minutes crew.

17 Oct 201630m
When Plans Change (Part 2)
S21E39

When Plans Change (Part 2)

The story of Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner continues, as she describes her desperate attempt to get her children back from Beirut, which landed her in jail along with a 60 Minutes crew.

24 Oct 201630m
The New Black
S21E40

The New Black

Black Caviar captured the nation's imagination like no other horse since Phar Lap. Now her first offspring Oscietra is a promising two-year-old filly with top trainer David Hayes.

31 Oct 201630m
A Field Of Dreams
S21E41

A Field Of Dreams

In a bold social experiment, the tiny rural community of Mingoola on the NSW-Queensland border is looking to the past to secure the future.

07 Nov 201630m
Out Of The Water
S21E42

Out Of The Water

With summer fast approaching, the experience of a Queensland family is a timely warning of a hidden and deadly danger that can lurk in warm, fresh waters of regional Australia.

14 Nov 201630m
The Road From Damascus
S21E43

The Road From Damascus

Medico Khaled Naanaa caused a global outcry by exposing the deliberate starvation of civilians in Syria. But doing so made him a target. Now he's been given a new life in Australia.

21 Nov 201630m