Restoration Australia - Season 5
Sunday 16 July 7.30pm
Anthony Burke meets self-confessed ‘Architecture Nerds’ Annette and Michael Pitman who own the smallest of all the Walter-Burley Griffin-designed houses in Castlecrag and want to restore and extend the house in keeping with Griffin’s original vision.
In Series 5 of Restoration Australia, host and Architecture Professor, Anthony Burke follows the progress and pitfalls of single-minded restoration enthusiasts who stop at almost nothing to revitalise their beloved buildings.
Throughout the series, Anthony crosses the country providing expert commentary, wise counsel and timely support to owners as they grapple with the restoration of some of Australia’s most treasured old buildings.
Episode One: While Walter Burley-Griffin’s name is synonymous with the design of Canberra, the development of Sydney’s Castlecrag in the mid-1920s was his, and architect wife Marion’s, real passion project.Anthony Burke travels to Castlecrag to meet self-confessed ‘Architecture Nerds’ Annette and Michael Pitman. They want to honour their Griffin-designed house with a new extension that’s in keeping with the original design intent: Being connected to the landscape.
It will require some serious architectural magic – and on a property deemed to be in a flame zone, they face the added challenge of navigating competing bureaucratic interests of the heritage office and fire-safety compliance. As schedules blow out and expenses creep up, will the pressure of restoring such a notable house be too much to bear?
Production credit: A Fremantle production for the ABC. Executive Producers: Brooke Bayvel and Michael Collett. ABC Executive Producer: Madeleine Hawcroft.
The Dark Emu Story
Tuesday 18 July 8.30pm
A powerful and thought-provoking documentary that explores the cultural impact of Bruce Pascoe’s Dark Emu – the publishing phenomenon that challenged Australia to rethink its history and ignited a debate that continues to rage.
Bruce Pascoe’s 2014 best-selling book – using first-hand source material from British explorers – argues that First Nations people were not only hunters and gatherers but also farmers who were part of a complex economic system.
But Dark Emu has ignited a fierce debate, sparking searing criticism. Academics Peter Sutton and Keryn Walshe published a stinging rebuff of the book, rejecting Pascoe’s theory of Indigenous agriculture, while conservative commentators poured scorn upon Pascoe’s work and questioned his knowledge of First Australians.
Featuring contributions from Bruce Pascoe, anthropologist Professor Marcia Langton and broadcaster Stan Grant, as well as interviews with academic Peter Sutton, The Dark Emu Story is a documentary that delves into the controversy and enables First Nations people to share their remarkable stories that enlighten our understanding of Australian history.
Production credit: A Blackfella Films production for the ABC in association with Screen Australia, Screen NSW, and VicScreen. Executive Producers: Darren Dale, Jacob Hickey and Belinda Mravicic. ABC Executive Producer: Kelrick Martin.
Wash My Soul In The River’s Flow
Tuesday 4 July 9:30 PM
Kura Tungar-Songs from the River was a collaboration between First Nations singer-
songwriters Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter working with Paul Grabowsky and the 22- piece Australian Art Orchestra.