I doubt that anyone outside of Australia 1969 to about 1975 would have heard of this show, let alone seen it, which is a pity for them. The show was a lot of fun and showcased Australian coastal scenery very well.
For a child close to being a teenager, this show powered the imagination. What more could a kid want? Adventure, beautiful Australian native animals, sailing the coast. Great.
The show followed the adventures of four people living on an old schooner "The Pacific Lady", sailing to various locations around Australia.
The main character, a wildlife photographer (Bob), played by Noel Trevarthen, chartered the schooner to transport him to various locations to film wildlife for TV documentaries. The schooner is owned by an old man (Cap) and his grandson (Mike). Rowena Wallace played Rusty, but I never was quite sure where she fitted in.
The series lasted for 39 episodes.
I remember going to school and all the kids were talking about that week's episode. It may not have been as big as Skippy, but it was very popular.
Although the series supposedly covered most of the coast of Australia (East coast anyway), all filming took place in the Hawkesbury River at Brooklyn, north of Sydney in New South Wales. I had spent time in a boat cruising this river and was very familiar with the location. I recognised the Brooklyn Bridge (a railway bridge here) in many shots in The Rovers.
I feel sorry for children today that they aren't given the option of watching a show like this, fun, clean and positive.
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