Significance
Homicide was the first major television series to be produced in Australia, the domestic television market having been previously dominated by American and British imports. In 1964, any Australian-made product tended to be quiz shows and one-off plays, with local drama production sporadic at best. Foreign imports were preferred because they were both cheaper and (especially for US series) more plentiful than local productions. Homicide proved that that there was a market for home-grown programming and was highly successful from the start - its initial ratings were in the 30s, and regularly rated in the high 40s and even low 50s (modern cop show ratings tend to be in the 20s at best). In addition, the series was produced at a tenth of the cost of an overseas program and easily outrated them.
The series also proved itself to be a virtual training ground for Australian television and film production. During its 11-year run, almost everyone in the business - actors, directors, scriptwriters, producers, camera crew, etc. - worked on the series at some point in their careers, and guest roles were filled by a veritable Who's Who of the Australian entertainment - both established and newcomers:
- Queenie Ashton
- Tony Barber
- Bruce Barry
- Lorraine Bayly
- Graeme Blundell
- Anne Charleston
- Roger Climpson (not playing himself)
- Syd Conabere
- Diane Craig
- Paul Cronin (his television debut)
- Max Cullen
- Lynette Curran
- John Derum
- Lorrae Desmond (her first dramatic role)
- John Diedrich
- Terence Donovan (later a series regular in Division 4)
- Denise Drysdale
- Carmen Duncan
- Tommy Dysart
- Chuck Faulkner (later a series regular in Division 4)
- Maurie Fields
- Sheila Florance
- Cornelia Frances
- Belinda Giblin
- Vincent Gil
- Terry Gill
- Stewart Ginn
- Reg Gorman
- Vivean Gray
- David Gulpilil
- Peter Gwynne
- John Hargreaves
- Noni Hazlehurst
- Syd Heylen
- Wendy Hughes
- Bill Hunter
- Val Jellay
- Gerard Kennedy (his television debut - later a series regular in Division 4)
- Garry McDonald
- Tracy Mann
- John Meillon
- Gus Mercurio (his acting debut)
- Helen Morse
- Rod Mullinar
- Brian Naylor (as himself)
- Terry Norris
- Michael Pate
- Shane Porteous
- Tristan Rogers
- Pamela Stephenson
- Henri Szeps
- Jack Thompson
- Sigrid Thornton (her television debut, aged 13)
- Ian Turpie (the series' first victim)
- Martin Vaughan
- Rowena Wallace
- John Waters
- Jacki Weaver
- Brian Wenzel
For these reasons, as well as for inspiring a series of popular cop dramas that followed, it remains one of the most important programmes in the history of Australian television.
In 2007, Homicide was chosen for a 50 cent stamp to celebrate 50 years of television in Australia.
Read more about this topic: Homicide (Australian TV Series)
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