McLeod's Daughters

McLeod's Daughters is an Australian drama television series created by Posie Graeme-Evans and Caroline Stanton for the Nine Network, which aired from 8 August 2001, to 31 January 2009, lasting eight seasons. It stars Lisa Chappell and Bridie Carter in the leading roles as two sisters reunited after twenty years of separation, thrust into a working relationship when they inherit their family's cattle station in South Australia. The series is produced by Millennium Television, in association with Nine Films and Television and Southern Star. Graeme-Evans, Kris Noble and Susan Bower served as the original executive producers.
The series was originally conceived as a then-intended television film pilot, which broadcast on Nine Network in 1996. Despite its success, and becoming the highest-rated telemovie in Australian television history, a series was not picked up by the network until several years later.
The majority of filming took place on location in Kingsford, a locality in South Australia. An instant success, McLeod's Daughters enjoyed critical acclaim, ultimately reaching the number one drama spot during its fourth and fifth season. The series was nominated for a number of awards, including 41 Logie Awards, winning eight in total, notably for Most Popular Actress, Most Popular Actor, Most Popular Australian Program, and Most Popular Australian Drama Series. It has also achieved acclaim around the world, having developed a devoted fan base in the United States, Canada, Ireland, several European countries, and is moderately successful in the United Kingdom.

Premise

Following the death of Jack McLeod, his daughter, Claire, has inherited Drover's Run, a substantial cattle station, situated in South Australia. While trying to keep her home and business moving forward, the future of the property is suddenly placed in jeopardy when her estranged half-sister, Tess, whom Claire has not seen for 20 years, arrives and announces that she has inherited half the land and intends to sell her share. Unable to buy her out, Claire attempts to convince Tess of the consequences of selling and how it could possibly affect the property. Claire is forced to get rid of her current employees due to a deceitful discovery, until Tess agrees to remain on Drover's Run for the time being to help her sister, despite her inexperience. Together, with help of housekeeper, Meg, her daughter, Jodi, and local girl, Becky, the women create an all-female workforce.

Production

Development

Posie Graeme-Evans developed the idea for McLeod's Daughters in the early 1990s for her company Millenium Pictures in conjunction with the South Australian Film Corporation. She also developed the idea for children's television programs such as The Miraculous Mellops and Hi-5. The idea was for a television drama set on an Australian rural property with two half-sisters running the property inherited from their father with an all-female workforce. She developed the idea from stories from friends who grew up in the country and from the love of South Australian landscapes as shown in the paintings of Hans Heysen.
Graeme-Evans pitched the idea to the board of the Nine Network, who agreed to film a telemovie in March 1996 with Jack Thompson starring as the father Jack McLeod, whose death leads to the two half-sisters inheriting the property. The character of Jack McLeod did not appear in the series, so Claire is now running Drovers Run, with the help of her father's farmhands, following her father's death from a heart attack.
Following the success of the telemovie shown on Mother's Day 1996, the Nine Network board agreed to commission a 22-episode series, but the project was left on the shelf for four years. It was finally revived in late 2000 after the opening ceremony for the 2000 Sydney Olympics featured a The Man from Snowy River theme, which highlighted the cultural significance of the bush to Australians.

Casting

, a successful New Zealand actress, known for her role in the soap opera Gloss, was cast as Claire McLeod. The role of Claire was initially intended to go to actress Laurie Foell, for which was on hold for four months prior to the beginning of production, when Chappell, who was, at the time, in the process of setting up a theatre company, was invited to audition and received the part. Chappell was known to Australian audiences, appearing in seven episodes of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. She is popular in New Zealand for her musical work, and has also appeared in the TV series The Stingers and The Cult. During the production of the series, she learned how to ride a horse and shear sheep.
Bridie Carter, a NIDA graduate, was virtually unknown to audiences, having only appeared in few guest roles in drama series which included Home and Away, Water Rats and All Saints. However, McLeod's Daughters marks her first major screen role. Both Carter and Chappell were chosen from a number of high-profile actors in what was described as an "exhaustive casting process".
Jessica Napier was cast in the supporting role of Becky Howard, a promiscuous young woman from a broken family, who is raped and finds refuge on Drover’s Run. Napier was recognised by executive producer Kris Noble while she was working on Wildside and considered her for a part on the series, for which Posie Graeme-Evans agreed. She admitted that the reason she accepted the part was because of Graeme-Evans. In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, she commented that "Being as passionate and in love with it as she has made it feel like a worthwhile project. I felt it was a project that was loved and one they would go all out to make work." Napier was a Sydney-based actor at the time and relocated to Adelaide for the part.

Locations

McLeod's Daughters is filmed on location at Kingsford, a 135-acre property which is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register and is located in the locality of Kingsford, north of Gawler. which Posie Graeme-Evans refers to as "our very own backlot". Kingsford was originally part of a 30,000-acre property. The historical house was built from Edinburgh sandstone, transported to Australia as a ship ballast. The house took over 30 years to build and was finished by 1856.
Kingsford had been used in the years prior to filming by the South Australian Government as a wheat research station then by a Montessori school as a primary school campus. The working property was purchased by The Nine Network in 1999. Although Kingsford was a grand property in its time, it is now quite run down - a look that was important for the production design of the series, as the McLeod family has no money for maintenance.
The interior scenes set at Drover’s Run are all filmed inside the house. It not only added authenticity to the production, but the large rooms and high ceilings were ideal for filming.

Locations in Gungellan

Mostly fictional settings:

Drover’s Run – the main setting for the show. Drover’s Run has been in the McLeod family for years, passed down to father, son, and now daughters. Claire McLeod, Tess McLeod, and Jodi McLeod all have run Drovers Run along with part owners Stevie Ryan, Regan McLeod and Grace McLeod.
Killarney – also known as the Ryan Empire. At the start of the series Harry Ryan owned the property, and as he grew older his sons Alex and Nick took over. After Nick and Tess married, they left to run a ranch in Argentina. Alex ran Killarney for a couple of years, until his biological father became part owner of the property. On Bryce's death, half-brother Marcus became part owner of the property. In the final years of the show both Alex and Marcus own and run Killarney, although Alex became a largely absentee owner as he also began to spend much of his time on the ranch in Argentina.
Kinsellas – a local farm that was run by Sandra Kinsella from 2003–2006. The name was changed after Heath Barret bought it.
The Local Pub – where everyone goes for a drink after a hard day's labour. Becky worked there in 2001, Jodi worked there briefly in 2005 and Tayler also worked there briefly in 2007. It is most likely the only pub in Gungellan.
The Truck Stop – where most of the town buys their supplies and when they need fuel. It was first owned by Ken Logan, then his daughter Jennifer followed by Harry Ryan. When Harry was owner Terry Dodge managed it then Moira Doyle. Later on Moira and Regan McLeod went into business supplying the fuel, Phill Rakich was the last owner.
The Town Hall – where most major events are held, such as the Miss Gungellan contest, plays, and the town's birthday celebration.
Fisher – Gungellan's closest neighbouring town.
Filming

The show was shot on Super 16 mm film, and is the first Australian drama series to be delivered in HDTV format. Three cameras were used, two on main unit and the third on second unit. Director of photography, Roger Dowling created the illusion that the series is shot on a 50,000 hectare property in the Australian bush, instead of on a heritage estate about the size of a hobby farm.

Cast and characters

Main

Lisa Chappell as Claire Louise McLeod, is the oldest child of John 'Jack' M. Mcleod. She was born on Drover's Run, in 1973, to Jack and his first wife, Prudence 'Prue' McLeod. Prue died while giving birth to a stillborn son, Adam John McLeod, in 1975. Jack would later marry Ruth Silverman, who gave birth to Tess Silverman McLeod.
Bridie Carter as Tess Charlotte Silverman McLeod, is the third child and second daughter of Jack McLeod. She was born on Drover's Run in 1976 to Jack and his second wife, Ruth Silverman. Tess left Drover's for Melbourne with her mother when she was five years old, after her parents' marriage ended, She returns to Drover's twenty years later following the death of her father.
Jessica Napier as Rebecca 'Becky' Howard, is a young local who starts out working for the Gungellan Pub & Hotel. After her boss, Brian, rapes her, Claire offers to put her up on Drover's and give her work. Although Becky is nearly illiterate, she hides this well, and is soon promoted to lead station hand, being a hard worker who is reliable.
Rachael Carpani as Jodi Margaret Fountain, Jodi is the youngest child of Jack McLeod. She was born on Drover's Run in 1982 to Jack and Meg Fountain. Jack and Meg had a brief affair and were not married; their relationship and Jodi's paternity were kept secret for many years. It was assumed that Meg's first husband Kevin Fountain, was Jodi's father.
Aaron Jeffery as Alexander 'Alex' Marion Ryan, is the older son of Harry and Liz Ryan, the rich owners of Killarney, the large property adjacent to Drover's Run. He is a childhood friend of Claire McLeod's.
Myles Pollard as Nicholas 'Nick' Gary Ryan, is the younger son of Harry and Liz Ryan. Due to a rodeo accident in his teens that left him with scars and a limp, Nick works mostly on the business operations at Killarney, since he cannot ride horses anymore. When he feels betrayed by his father, Harry Ryan, he buys the property Wilgul and runs it mostly on his own. Against all diagnoses and medical advice, he feels he is ready to ride horses again, and succeeds. He and Claire were once unofficially engaged married at their parents' wishes.
Sonia Todd as Margaret 'Meg' Fountain, is the longtime housekeeper on Drover's Run and the mother of Jodi Fountain-McLeod. Meg acts as a mother figure to the women of Drover's, though she has occasional clashes with some of the employees, notably Becky. Meg had an affair with Jack McLeod many years ago, resulting in her getting pregnant with Jodi. She keeps the affair secret from her husband Kevin Fountain, who left her at that time, came back, and left her again after Jodi was born. Her current boyfriend Terry Dodge seems to have suspected that Meg had an affair with Jack for a while.
Simmone Jade Mackinnon as Stephanie 'Stevie' Jane Hall, is an old friend of Claire and Alex, and first appears in the series shortly before Claire's death. Though she initially clashes with Tess, they grow close and Tess asks Stevie to stay on Drover's as overseer and eventually as part-owner. She has a daughter, Rose, who lives with Stevie's sister Michelle and believes that Stevie is her aunt.
Michala Banas as Kate Marie Due Manfredi, Kate is a former classmate of Jodi's. She first appears in the series when Jodi decides to go to Melbourne with Meg, leaving a job vacancy. Though Jodi changes her mind at the last minute and stays on the farm, Kate keeps her new position, and soon they are back being best friends like they used to be in school. Kate is organized and goal-oriented, often referring to her "5-year plan". She brings quite the organization and knowledge to Drover's, but occasionally she has the other farmhands rolling their eyes.
Brett Tucker as David 'Dave' Enoch Brewer, is a country veterinarian who tends to the animals on Drover's Run and other farms in the area. He is briefly engaged to Tess, though they break off the engagement when Dave realizes that he has not properly mourned his late wife Leanne. He leaves in an effort to work out his feelings, but when he returns after nearly a year, Tess does not take him back as she and Nick are in the process of getting together. Dave moves into Wilgul with Alex and becomes a staple part of the social group.
Jonny Pasvolsky as Rob Shelton / Matt Bosnich, is the new overseer for Killarney who seems highly capable as well as being a loner. His choice for loneliness, while hiding quite a few secrets, becomes gradually understandable. Jodi is convinced that Rob is gay, but later realises that he is not, yet there is more to his mysterious past than meets the eye.
Luke Jacobz as Patrick Michael Brewer, is the younger brother of Dave Brewer. He makes his first appearance in the series by parachuting onto Drover's. Patrick is an adventurous world traveller. He has a short relationship with Kate early on, but when he stops taking his medication for bipolar disorder, he has a manic episode, which initially frightens Kate off. After Dave finally tells him the truth about their father's death, their relationship strengthens, and he leaves Gungellan to stay with his mother, and work on getting better at handling his bipolar disorder. After a while he returns to Gungellan and rekindles the relationship with Kate.
Zoe Naylor as Regan McLeod, Regan is the second daughter of Hugh McLeod, Jack McLeod's younger brother who was first engaged to Prudence. Regan arrives at Drover's under suspicious circumstances, later revealing that she has come to conduct tests and surveys to determine if Drover's can be mined for gold. She begins digging, which is legal, getting into several confrontations with Tess, and the other Drover's women. After she is bitten by a venomous snake, Tess helps save her life and Regan decides to abandon her plans to mine Drover's, making peace with her cousin.
Gillian Alexy as Tayler Jane Geddes, first appears at the end of season 6, when she comes to Drover's looking to get revenge on Regan. Regan was supervising a mine when an accident killed two men, one of which was Tayler's father. Regan and the other women, with some aid by Patrick, convince Tayler to stay on at Drover's as a farm hand. Although she is not certain about this decision and how welcome she truly is at Drover's, she has nowhere else to go, and indeed stays on.
Dustin Clare as Riley Ward, is a farrier and horse gentler who left the army, and first appears in season 6, when Stevie discovers him squatting on Drover's. After some initial clashes with the people from Drover's and Killarney, Riley and Stevie start a programme to capture and train brumbies. Riley also becomes the overseer of Killarney.
Matt Passmore as Marcus Turner, first arrives at Killarney in the beginning of season 7, working for Bryce Redstaff to go over the books and look for ways to increase profit, recovering Bryce's investment. Bryce has more than one agenda in this, and since Bryce does not want to tell Alex himself, he leaves Marcus no other choice than to later reveal to Alex that he is also Bryce's son and therefore his brother. Though he and Alex initially clash, they later grow close, while Marcus does his best to fit in, and to develop into a good farmer.
Abi Tucker as Grace Kingston, is the eldest of Hugh McLeod's daughters, sister to Regan and Jasmine, cousin to Jodi, Tess and Claire. She is a Campdrafting champion under the name Grace Kingston and an old friend of Stevie Hall. She reluctantly joins Drover's after receiving her share in Jodi's 'will'. Grace is a loose cannon, acting before thinking, and stuffs up a few times in her initial adjustment to being at Drover's. Her relationship with Regan is complicated and they are often at odds.
Doris Younane as Moira Doyle
Edwina Ritchard as Jaz McLeod, Jaz is the youngest of Hugh McLeod's daughters. She is the first McLeod cousin to appear in the series, showing up near the end of season 4 for two episodes. She comes to Drover's to heal from losing her fiancé in a show jumping accident, and to spread her father's ashes on Drover's, a property she thought solely existed in stories her father used to tell.
John Schwarz as Ben Hall, is Stevie's cousin, and first appears in season 8 on the same bus into Gungellan as Jaz, showing up to support Stevie after Alex's death. He finds work at Killarney, where he regularly clashes with Marcus, however he seems knowledgeable enough as well.