The first Australian miniseries, Stormy Petrel (1960), became a major success for the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC), who immediately began negotiations with writer Rex Rienits and director Colin Dean about a follow-up.
It was decided that the new series – The Outcasts – would pick up on the action following the arrival of Lachlan Macquarie (Henry Gilbert), who appeared at the end of the first series, thereby enabling some characters and actors to be re-used, such as Bligh’s daughter Mary (Delia Williams), John Macarthur (Walter Sullivan), and Elizabeth Macarthur (Margo Lee). It would also allow the ABC to re-use costumes and sets.
The new principal character was William Redfern (Ron Haddrick), the doctor-turned-convict-turned-convict-doctor who became a leader for the ex-convicts who didn’t have full legal rights.
The episodes, set between 1808 and 1822, revolved around the troubles faced by Redfern and Macquarie in getting rights for emancipists in the face of opposition from such men as Reverend Samuel “give me a Catholic to flog, and I’m happy” Marsden.
The sprawling script had many subplots and extraneous characters, including an array of antagonists: the flog-happy Marsden (John Gray), the pompous judge Jefferey Bent (Keith Buckley), the snobby Lt Molle (Leonard Teale), the bitter John Macarthur (Walter Sullivan) and the convict-hating Commissioner Bigge (Allan Trevor).
One of the subplots sees convict Martin O’Brien (played by Neil Fitzpatrick) plagued by unrequited love for Sarah Redfern (Amber Mae Cecil), but Lt Antill (John Unicomb) is after her too.
Sarah, though, loves William, so Antill marries her sister, Eliza (Carolyn Keely) and the poor old convict gets flogged and kills himself.
There are appearances from real-life historical characters such as explorers Blaxland (John Faassen), Wentworth (Philip Ross) and Lawson, architect Francis Greenaway (Al Thomas), doctor D’arcy Wentworth (Edward Howell), tycoon Simeon Lord (Kirk Fabian), poet Michael Massey Robinson (Hugh Stewart), British Prime Minister Lord Liverpool (Edward Hepple), and Macquarie’s Indian servant George Jarvis.
Reviews and ratings for the series were positive once more, encouraging the ABC to produce yet another “sequel of sorts” – The Patriots.
Dr William Redfern
Ron Haddrick Sarah Redfern
Amber Mae Cecil Governor Lachlan Macquarie
Henry Gilbert Lt. Antill
John Unicomb John Campbell
Leonard Bullen Rev. Samuel Marsden
John Gray Mrs Macquarie
Lynne Murphy Martin O’Brien
Neil Fitzpatrick Dr D’Arcy Wentworth
Edward Howell Michael Massey Robinson
Hugh Stewart Eliza Wills/Antill
Carolyn Keely Edward Wills
Frank Waters John Macarthur
Walter Sullivan Mrs Willis
Lyndall Barbour Commissioner Bigge
Allan Trevor Mrs Elizabeth Macarthur
Margo Lee Francis Greenaway
Al Thomas Lord Bathurst
Atholl Fleming WC Wentworth
Earle Cross William Wentworth
Phillip Ross Gregory Blaxland
John Faasen Lt Col George Molle
Leonard Teale Simeon Lord
Kirk Fabian Lord Liverpool
Edward Hepple Jefferey Bent
Keith Buckley Mary O’Connell
Delia Williams
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One of the subplots sees convict Martin O’Brien (played by Neil Fitzpatrick) plagued by unrequited love for Sarah Redfern (Amber Mae Cecil), but Lt Antill (John Unicomb) is after her too.
