Three children living on an island off the coast of Western Australia search for a legendary Dutch treasure ship while trying to protect their home from industrial exploitation. A brisk and breezy adventure serial for younger viewers, filmed on location at Rottnest Island. The production makes good use of the rugged coastal scenery and local history to ground its hunt for sunken gold.
While the plot follows a familiar path of plucky youngsters outsmarting short-sighted adults, the ecological subtext gives the story a bit more weight than the average afternoon filler. The search for the seventeenth-century wreck provides a solid hook for the action, and the chemistry between the young leads is natural enough to carry the more predictable moments. It remains a nostalgic staple of Australian children's broadcasting from the early eighties.
Production Details
Australia / Nine Network - Excalibur Nominees, ACFF / 26x30 Minute Episodes / 1981
Writers: Joan Ambrose
Producer: Judith West, Paul Barron
Music: Greg Schultz
Main Cast
Francesca Shoesmith as Kate
Greg Duffy as Paul
Justin Hollyock as Jock
Alan Cassell as Jack Brady
Rowena Hockin
Bevan Lee