The Dirtwater Dynasty

The Dirtwater Dynasty
Written by	Tony Morphett Michael Jenkins John Power Terry Hayes John Duigan Alan Seymour John Misto
Directed by	Michael Jenkins John Power
Starring	Hugo Weaving Victoria Longley Steve Jacobs
Country of origin	Australia
Original language(s)	English
No. of episodes	5
Production company(s)	Kennedy Miller
Release
Original network	Network Ten
Original release	10 April 1988

The Dirtwater Dynasty is a five-part Australian drama miniseries, first screened on Network Ten in 1988. The Dirtwater Dynasty was directed by Michael Jenkins and John Power.^[1]

The Dirtwater Dynasty is the story of embittered rivalry, triumph and despair, spanning three generations and eight decades. Born in the London slums in 1878, Richard Eastwick comes to Australia at age 20, with nothing but a handful of courage and a dream. He acquires land, marries and raises a family, makes loyal friends and bitter enemies. Two world wars and the economic depression take their toll on his family and his land and cattle ranching empire but his dream to create a dynasty gives him a reason to continue.

Cast

• Scott Burgess as Guy Westaway
• Damien Connor as Stockman
• Daryl Dicks as Hughie, Stockman
• Ernie Dingo as Billy (Senior)
• Peter Fisher
• Harold Hopkins as Rev. McBride
• Steve Jacobs as Josh McCall
• Anne-Louise Lambert as Emma Tarbox
• Serge Lazareff
• Jenny Lee as Mrs. McBride
• John Livingstone as Stockman
• Victoria Longley as Kate Eastwick (née McBride), Nancy Westaway (née Eastwick), Sarah Westaway
• Kristen Mann as Stockman
• Robert Menzies as Richie
• Dennis Miller as Hasky Tarbox
• Judy Morris as Frances Eastwick
• Kristina Nehm as Esmerelda
• Peter Phelps as David Eastwick
• Gary Sargeant as Juggler
• Sean Scully
• Bruce Spence as Lonely Logan
• Hayden Topperwien as Young Richard Eastwick
• Hugo Weaving as Richard Eastwick
• Iain Williams as Stockman #2
• Arna-Maria Winchester as Mrs. Tarbox
• Mouche Phillips as Mary Eastwick

Reception

The miniseries rated well earning 33 points.^[2]

See also

• List of Australian television series

References

1. Ed. Scott Murray, Australia on the Small Screen 1970-1995, Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p187
2. Robin Oliver, "The Guide THE RESTLESS YEAR", Sydney Morning Herald, 5 December 1988 p 1

External links

• The Dirtwater Dynasty at the Internet Movie Database
• The Dirtwater Dynasty at the National Film and Sound Archive
• The Dirtwater Dynasty at Australian Screen Online