Events That Changed Australia

Events That Changed Australia is a powerful new series that explores significant events and moments that have shaped our nation. Through bold storytelling and trusted voices, it invites viewers to reflect on the past, understand the present, and envision the Australia of tomorrow.

Each episode will examine a major event, exploring its profound impact on Australian society through rich archival footage and expert commentary from influential figures such as politicians, famous Australians, social commentators, and journalists, including Ally Langdon, renowned journalist and host of A Current Affair, and Channel 9 reporters who covered the events as they unfolded.

The series delves into landmark events such as the Cronulla riots, the devastating Black Saturday bushfires, the Bali bombings and the Lindt Cafe siege, which all altered the course of Australian history. It also looks into momentous topics like the stunning impact of World Series Cricket on professional sport, same-sex marriage, Australia’s criminal underbelly, gender equality in sport, and even the enduring image of the lovable Aussie bogan, to paint a vivid picture of a country in constant transformation.

Events That Changed Australia is produced by Ronde Media for the 9Network.

2026 Upfronts

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The sort of content that’ll be good for the bank in future for replays and the like? Should be interesting.

7 December

Episode 1 - The Cronulla Riots

Sunday 7 December 8:30 PM

Sydney’s Cronulla Beach became the site of an organized, race-driven riot in December 2005. The ugly violence lasted for days, forcing a national reckoning on race and Australian identity, making us question what kind of country we want to live in.

DEFINING A NATION

EVENTS THAT CHANGED AUSTRALIA

NEW EVENT SERIES PREMIERES SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, AT 8.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW

Discover the Events That Changed Australia in this powerful new factual series exploring the defining moments that shaped our nation, premiering, Sunday December 7, at 8.30pm on Channel 9 and 9Now.

Events That Changed Australia takes an in-depth look at the critical turning points in Australia’s history, from natural disasters to social upheavals, through the lens of hindsight. Combining rich, never-before-seen archival footage with candid interviews, the series investigates not just what happened, but how these events fundamentally altered the country and its people.

The compelling eight part series features a chorus of trusted voices and eyewitnesses, including Ally Langdon, Ben Fordham, Leila McKinnon, Tom Steinfort, Alicia Loxley, Jayne Azzopardi and Brett McLeod, alongside survivors, first responders, and community leaders who were on the ground when history was made.

The series launches with a searing examination of the Cronulla Riots. In the summer of December 2005, simmering racial tensions exploded on one of Sydney’s most popular beaches. What began as a localised conflict spiralled into an organised, race-driven riot that beamed ugly images of Australia around the world.

Exploring the media storm, the use of the national anthem as a war cry, and the subsequent “race reckoning” that forced Australians to question the kind of country we want to live in, Events That Changed Australia asks: How could this happen here?

Throughout the series, Events That Changed Australia will continue to explore landmark chapters in our history, including Black Saturday, the Bali Bombings, the Lindt Cafe Siege, and the impact of World Series Cricket.

Events That Changed Australia is produced by Ronde Media for the 9Network.

EVENTS THAT CHANGED AUSTRALIA
NEW EIGHT PART EVENT SERIES
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7, AT 8.30PM ON CHANNEL 9 & 9NOW

Why would Tv Blackbox use Samantha Armytage image when she isn’t mentioned in the press release or even part of the show? Not to mention the article is a slight reformat of the press release.

Episode 2 - Black Saturday

Sunday 14 December 8:10 PM

Devastating fires wipe out entire towns … And force us to confront how we deal with mega-bushfires in an ever-changing climate. On February 7, 2009, Victoria endured its darkest day when catastrophic bushfires swept across the state. Known as Black Saturday, the infernos claimed 173 lives - our biggest ever peacetime loss of life. The tragedy sparked a Royal Commission that not only investigated how the disaster unfolded but also ordered the abolition of the controversial “Stay or Go” policy, forever changing how Australians prepare for and respond to fires in our ever-hotter Australian summers.

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Given Nine’s tennis commitments in January, I feel it will be better if the Black Saturday episode, and the rest of the series, is postponed until the 2026 survey.

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The cricket one could air after the tennis

Surely that has to air before the Ashes is out?

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