The Sullivans
The Sullivans is an Australian drama television series produced by Crawford Productions which ran on the Nine Network from 1976 until 1983. The series told the story of an average middle-class Melbourne family and the effect World War II had on their lives. It was a consistent ratings success in Australia, and also became popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Netherlands, Gibraltar and New Zealand.
CREATORS
CAST
SEASONS
Season 1
September 1, 1939 to February 17, 1940
War is looming and it poses very special threats to the Sullivans and their friends. Dave is a veteran of WWI and Grace, his wife, fears that he will enlist to fight again - but it is their son Tom who is the first to go off to war.
Local German shopkeepers, the Kauffmans, face discrimina...
50 Episodes
1976
Season 2
February 17, 1940 – September 30, 1940
Grace faces the inevitable – her second son Tom will soon be leaving for the Middle East. As Tom departs he fears Christine may not wait for him to return?
Dave Sullivan continues to struggle with indecision – will he re-enlist to fight in this war? Meanwhile Grace suspects that Dave is n...
50 Episodes
1977
Season 3
September 30, 1940 – February 1, 1941
With a court case pending and the risk of a jail sentence, Uncle Harry needs all the support he can get.
The shop is in financial trouble but there is a greater tragedy ahead for the newlyweds John and Anna.
Grace re-discovers her faith and returns to the Catholic church while Dave thinks...
50 Episodes
Season 4
February 2, 1941 - May 5, 1941
The tension remains between Dave and Grace. Dave isn’t being totally honest.
John’s anti-war sentiments lead him to join the Communist party – creating a massive rift throughout the Sullivan family.
Lil returns from Sydney and travels back to Burrabri to reconcile with her family while Harry and...
50 Episodes
Season 5
May 6, 1941 - August 29, 1941
John makes a surprising and crucial decision about his future when his relationship with Sue ends.
Maggie’s secret past is revealed when her daughter, Alice, makes contact. Mrs. Jessup also has an unexpected visit from her nephew Michael.
When the navy evacuation of allied troops from German occu...
50 Episodes
Season 6
September 1, 1941 – April 30, 1942
With two sons away at war, Dave and Grace anxiously await any news. Now their third son, Terry, wants their signature on his enlistment papers for his 18th birthday.
On German occupied Crete, Norm, Tom and Bert must endure the harshest conditions while working undercover with British Intellig...
50 Episodes
Season 7
April 30 - November 14, 1942
Honouring his mate’s dying wish, Tom finds Geoff, the newly orphaned younger brother, and brings him home to the Sullivan family.
After basic training, new recruits Terry and Michael find themselves on the Kokoda Track. Later, Terry is re-united with Norm and Tom where they continue to fight the Ja...
50 Episodes
Season 8
November 20, 1942 - May 28, 1943
The war grinds on as Tom, Norm and Terry continue to fight the Japanese in the jungles of New Guinea.
At home, wedding plans are made for Alice and Michael. Grace returns from Adelaide and Geoff has problems settling into his new school. Uncle Alf shows up to stay with the family but will he ev...
50 Episodes
Season 9
May 29, 1943 - September 24, 1943
The boys arrive home on leave from New Guinea - but all too soon Tom and Terry have to return. Anticipating a medical discharge, Norm is promoted and re-assigned to Army Intelligence in Melbourne.
Maggie and Norm announce their engagement. With Michael often away as a war correspondent and Ali...
50 Episodes
Season 10
September 24, 1943 - January 9, 1944
Tom and Terry join Norm in a Z-force covert mission to contact an allied coast-watcher secreted on a Pacific island. Upon their return Terry finds that Caroline has changed.
Dave hires a young ambitious new assistant at the office to share the workload.
Norm’s intelligence work brings some...
50 Episodes
Season 11
January 10, 1944 to April 6, 1944
With Grace away in London helping with John’s recuperation, Dave and Kitty find themselves at loggerheads when he doesn’t approve of her dating an older man.
Harry acts as Jack’s financial advisor and after a failed land scheme they end up owning a racehorse.
Geoff has problems at school and ...
50 Episodes
Season 12
April 7, 1944 to July 9, 1944
In London, John tries desperately to locate Nadia. Dave’s relationship with Kitty is at breaking point when she follows Ben to Sydney.
Harry again finds himself in court but this time the outcome is serious. Tom, Terry and Norm attempt their escape from Changi, but only Terry makes the submarine r...
50 Episodes
Season 13
July 10, 1944 to September 13, 1944
As the family gathers for Grace’s funeral, John returns home, but he leaves for Palestine soon after, in search for Nadia.
Tom & Norm embark on a clandestine mission to German occupied Holland.
Jim Sullivan, Dave’s cousin, arrives in Camberwell.
Kitty is smitten by Jim’s army mate Robbie.
...
50 Episodes
Season 14
September 14, 1944 to November 20, 1944
Terry’s emotional state is affected by his time at war. Dave does his best to help.
In Holland, Tom and Norm pursue Krull, the German SS officer who executed Melina in Crete.
Alice and Jim fall deeply in love but they must keep a secret from family and friends.
Kitty and Robbie are wed...
50 Episodes
Season 15
November 20, 1944 to March 21, 1945
Tom and Norm return to London from occupied Holland but are sent back to Belgium during the "Battle of the Bulge"
A flyer named Flynn puts Terry and Caroline's marriage reconciliation at risk.
Jim and Alice finally take their wedding vows - in secret.
Harry leaves for Queensland and leaves...
50 Episodes
Season 16
March 26, 1945 to July 27, 1945
Tom and Norm continue to train Dawn Force.
Kitty becomes a mother and when Flynn is reported missing, Terry and Caroline stand in as parents for young Frank.
Mrs. Jessup is not thrilled to see Alice bring Laura back to stay and not everyone is happy about Dave's growing fondness for Elizabeth.
50 Episodes
Season 17
July 27 - December 13, 1945
As the war draws to a close, Norm and Tom end their tour in the Pacific - but not before Tom is critically wounded.
A witness to Hiroshima, Robbie returns deeply troubled.
Dave runs for mayor of Camberwell while Jim proves his business acumen.
Terry and Caroline continue to struggle in their marri...
50 Episodes
Season 18
December 19, 1945 to June 30, 1946
Norm establishes a boy’s club for the underprivileged.
Disaster awaits Kitty and Robbie in Adelaide while Terry runs afoul of the law and finds himself in court.
Patti Spencer arrives in Camberwell in search of Tom, Mrs. Jessup becomes engaged and Magpie and Urger become share croppers.
50 Episodes
Season 19
July 4, 1946 to January 14, 1947
Jim and Maureen's mother Mary and young brother Steve leave Horsham to live in Camberwell.
Tom travels to Boston and brings Patti back to be his bride while Norm and Maggie are granted permission to adopt Carla.
Laura moves in next door when Mrs. Jessup and Arthur leave for England.
Jim goes ...
50 Episodes
Season 20
January 18, 1947 to June 18, 1947
A private detective creates turmoil in Jack and Laura’s cosy lives while Ray ruffles feathers with his ‘social comment’ broadcasts at Radio 3PA.
With Jim away working all hours Alice grows lonely.
Sullivan-Spencer Plastics comes under threat of take over and Dave learns to trust Kitty’s insti...
50 Episodes
Season 21
June 20, 1947 to November 20, 1947
Norm undergoes harsh interrogation by the Dutch in Indonesia while Tom and Patti hit an insurmountable impasse in their marriage.
Alice can no longer conceal her alcoholism, Ray’s ambition and vulgar egotism reach new heights, Geoff returns to Camberwell and Dave tries his hand at state polit...
50 Episodes
Season 22
November 24, 1947 – June 6, 1948
Jim takes an extended trip to New Zealand, leaving a pregnant Alice at home. Kitty gets a job in advertising, Norm trains a young boxer and it’s wedding bells for Horrible and Maureen.
Dave quits his job with the Army and Grandpa Sullivan moves in after the death of his wife.
50 Episodes
Season 23
June 10, 1948 to August 22, 1948
In this final chapter of The Sullivans, Grandpa tries to help Geoff realise his dreams, Maureen naively runs up a hire purchase debt, Juliana defies Norm and Maggie and Alice gives birth with Jim still in New Zealand. When Terry escapes prison and comes home unexpectedly, there are tragic conseq...
14 Episodes
LAST EPISODE TO AIR
August 22, 1948
Season 23
Episode 14
30 Mins
10-03-83
