Australian Story

Season 16

The award-winning series with no narrator and no agendas, just authentic stories told in people's own words, has been putting the "real" back into reality TV by telling the stories of extraordinary Australians.

Where to Watch Australian Story • Season 16

41 Episodes

The Man On The Mantelpiece
E1
The Man On The MantelpieceMaggie MacKellar was a city dweller who seemed to have it all – a successful academic career, a devoted husband, a young daughter and another baby on the way.
On Your Bike
E2
On Your BikeWhen Doug Sunderland succumbed to the blues after losing his wife and being diagnosed with cancer, his GP told him to 'get back on his bike'. He did... and it 'saved his life', so much so, that he decided to ride around Australia solo, surviving on tinned food and sleeping by the road.
The Third Act
E3
The Third ActFor the last 48 years Jacki Weaver has been one of Australia's best loved actors. Now 63, she has achieved a stunning career high by being chosen as one of the Best Supporting Actress nominees for this year's Oscars.
Dogs Of War
E4
Dogs Of WarWildlife photographer Jennifer Parkhurst's passion for dingos set her at odds with park rangers - and brought her to the brink of disaster...
Take No Prisoners
E5
Take No PrisonersOn the eve of his retirement from public office, the nation's longest serving Director of Public Prosecutions, Nicholas Cowdery, reflects exclusively on his sixteen years in the top job.
Girl Most Likely
E6
Girl Most LikelyJade Hopper is a young woman on the cusp of the toughest decision of her life - to pursue her dream of becoming a world no. 1 tennis player or to court success from her law studies.
The Terminator
E7
The TerminatorTwo years ago, former Navy clearance diver Paul de Gelder was testing new sonar equipment in Sydney Harbour when he was attacked by a shark and pulled from the water, barely alive.
Across The Night Sky
E8
Across The Night SkyLast year a Victorian court sentenced Robert Farquharson to a minimum 33 years jail for deliberately driving his three sons to their death in a dam on Father's Day.
Mr Quigley's Quandary (Part 1)
E9
Mr Quigley's Quandary (Part 1)Part 1 of the program about lawyer and politician John Quigley whose three decades in the public spotlight have drawn controversy, enmity and notoriety.
Mr Quigley's Quandary (Part 2)
E10
Mr Quigley's Quandary (Part 2)The conclusion to our story on Western Australian lawyer and politician John Quigley.
Under Her Wing
E11
Under Her WingEight years ago Elizabeth Clayton was living in Fiji when she rescued a young man known as the 'chicken boy'. His name was Sujit and he'd been kept in a hen house as a child and then tied up for 22 years in an old people's home.
In The Jet Stream
E12
In The Jet StreamBand manager David Powell took the Melbourne rock band JET from obscurity to ARIA triumph and then onto the international stage. But fate was less kind to David – today he is lucky to be alive to tell his story.
Shattered
E13
ShatteredOn 22 July 2007, Peter Hodgkins threw a rock at a car from an overpass at Kiama, NSW, smashing the skull of beauty therapist Nicole Timbs and changing both their lives forever.
15th Anniversary Special (Part 1)
E14
15th Anniversary Special (Part 1)Part 1 of our celebration of 15 years of Australian Story featuring Ric Birch, Gina Rinehart, John Button and Estelle Blackburn, Pauline Hanson, Sam and Jenny Bailey, Nick Ross and Allan Fels.
15th Anniversary Special (Part 2)
E15
15th Anniversary Special (Part 2)The conclusion to our celebration of 15 years of Australian Story featuring Gayle Shann, Chris Sarra, Beth Heinrich, Greg Combet, Belinda Emmett, Bob Irwin, Gemma Sisia and Michael Ware.
Hearts Of Gold
E16
Hearts Of GoldBrian Sherman rose to great wealth and success as a businessman. His son Emile is a co-producer of 'The King's Speech', winner of this year's best picture Oscar. But what really unites the family is their overwhelming passion for animal welfare.
Mind Of His Own
E17
Mind Of His OwnCharlie Teo is a Sydney neurosurgeon, loved by patients but unpopular with some in the medical establishment. He is credited with prolonging the lives of many people with tumours that were considered inoperable.
The Girl From Boryslaw
E18
The Girl From BoryslawSabina Wolanski was left alone in the world at 17 when her family were killed in the Holocaust. In 2005 she addressed a gathering of state dignitaries in Berlin, received a standing ovation and reduced journalists to tears.
Conviction (Part 1)
E19
Conviction (Part 1)For three and a half years, Newcastle pathologist Dr Simon Palfreeman has been shuttling between Australia and Bulgaria negotiating that country's complex and controversial justice system to try to help his 24 year old son.
Conviction (Part 2)
E20
Conviction (Part 2)The conclusion of our story on Dr Simon Palfreeman, the Newcastle pathologist on a mission to help his son who's serving twenty years in a Bulgarian jail.
Love and Other Drugs
E21
Love and Other DrugsWhen Sally Nielsen's fiance Sam Goddard suffered a catastrophic stroke, she ignored the advice of some of those closest to her and stuck by him. Now her efforts have produced an amazing medical breakthrough.
Desperate Remedies (Part 1)
E22
Desperate Remedies (Part 1)Penelope Dingle was a former model and actor married to TV science guru Peter Dingle. At the age of 43 she was diagnosed with a common cancer regarded as highly curable if it’s caught early...
Desperate Remedies (Part 2)
E23
Desperate Remedies (Part 2)The conclusion to the story of Penelope Dingle whose untimely death had shattering and unexpected repercussions for those closest to her.
City of Angels
E24
City of AngelsAlisa Latto was born with a life threatening genetic condition – one shared by her two siblings and her mother, Rosemary... This story follows her difficult journey to motherhood.
Trust Me Mr Chandler
E25
Trust Me Mr ChandlerInternational banker Sascha Chandler had a secret he'd been harbouring since childhood. Two years ago he decided to deal with his demons and joined forces with a dogged NSW detective to bring to justice one of the country's most elusive and dangerous predators.
A Measure of Courage
E26
A Measure of CourageCaptain Hec Waller and Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean both saw service during the darkest days of the Japanese advance towards Australia during World War II. Despite their heroism neither was ever nominated for the Forces' highest accolade, the Victoria Cross.
A Plague On All Their Houses
E27
A Plague On All Their HousesAn encore edition of our bittersweet story of Queensland vet Ben Cunneen and his co-worker, Natalie Beohm who were exposed to the Hendra horse virus with devastating consequences.
Ita Tells Me So (Part 1)
E28
Ita Tells Me So (Part 1)Ita Buttrose and those closest to her go on the record with their recollections of a trail blazing career and a momentous period in Australia's social history in Part One of a candid, moving, and surprising double episode.
Ita Tells Me So (Part 2)
E29
Ita Tells Me So (Part 2)In Part Two Ita Buttrose talks candidly about men, dating, loneliness, family, media ethics and grabbing life by the throat, at any age.
The Trials of Jonty Bush
E30
The Trials of Jonty BushIn the space of a few years Jonty Bush lost two of her closest family members in separate and unrelated crimes. Instead of succumbing to grief and anger, she took up the challenge to change the world and in the process changed herself...
Paint the Town Black
E31
Paint the Town BlackNot since the mighty Phar Lap has a horse captured the public imagination like Black Caviar. She remains unbeaten after thirteen runs and has been declared the best racehorse in the world.
Brand New Day
E32
Brand New DayThree years ago Gavin Larkin used his marketing nous and high profile contacts to create a national day of awareness called R U OK? Day. But not long after the launch, the super fit indomitable Gavin was anything but okay...
The Courage of Her Convictions
E33
The Courage of Her ConvictionsWhen Catherine Smith was found not guilty of attempting to murder her own husband it was a turning point in one of the most extraordinary cases in Australian criminal history.
Scared Straight
E34
Scared StraightTV Drama legend Sue Masters teamed up with 'Bra Boys' Maccario de Souza and his friends Mark Matthews and Richie Vas to work on a big screen documentary about big wave surfing, alcohol fuelled violence and the sequence of events that finally frightened the young men into cleaning up their lives.
For the Holy Grail
E35
For the Holy GrailA repeat of the program about Australian scientists Dr Jennifer MacDiarmid and Dr Himanshu Brahmbhatt and one of medicine's holy grails finding a way to treat cancer without toxic side effects and avoiding drug resistance.
Under Her Spell
E36
Under Her SpellZelie Bullen is stepping into the international spotlight as the woman who trained 'Abraham', the lead horse in Spielberg's production of the Tony award winning play 'War Horse'.
Bad Blood (Part 1)
E37
Bad Blood (Part 1)Part one of the program that centres on the notorious case of Jeffrey Gilham, in jail for life for the murders of his own parents.
Bad Blood (Part 2)
E38
Bad Blood (Part 2)The conclusion to the program about the notorious case of Jeffrey Gilham, currently serving a life sentence for the murders of his own parents in Sydney nearly twenty years ago.
Something About Me
E39
Something About MeKristina Keneally made history by becoming the first female Premier of NSW. What few realise is the family experience that she says led her into politics and toughened her for the brutal crossfire of public life.
The Planet They're On
E40
The Planet They're OnNazeem Hussain and Aamer Rahman have become two of the hottest young comedians on the Australian comedy scene.
When William Met Sarah
E41
When William Met SarahFilm critic Margaret Pomeranz introduces this encore edition on the very special personal and professional bond shared by filmmaker Sarah Watt and her husband actor and writer William McInnes.