John Doyle to host Building Australia

John Doyle will host a six part factual series Building Australia for the History Channel.

The series is described as “a journey into the hidden history of the Australian house. By exploring the most iconic examples of Australian houses we discover not just who we were, but who we are. Why do Queenslanders build Queenslanders? Why are there terraces in our cities and verandas round our homesteads? The Australian house tells a story of how we have built so much more than a roof over our head – we’ve built Australia.”

Produced by Canberra-based Bearcage productions it will be directed by Serge Ou, written by Michael Cove and produced by Michael Tear and Harriet Pike.

The series will explore the nature of the Australian house in all its iterations around the country with each episode focusing on a different style of home – the terrace, the Queenslander, the homestead, the Federation House, the Weekender and the Suburban House.

“We are delighted to announce that John Doyle will host Building Australia, which, across six episodes, will traverse our country both geographically and historically, as we look at how our homes have shaped Australian life and culture, and vice versa,” Michael Tear says.

Jim Buchan, General Manager of Factual Foxtel, said: “The classic Australian house whether it be The Queenslander, the city Terrace or country shack are wonderful physical remnants of Australia’s social and economic past. This series will illuminate the most interesting aspects of our collective history through these iconic Australian homes. Foxtel’s History Channel is delighted to team up with Screen Australia, Bearcage, John Doyle and the National Trust in a series first for us.”

Bearcage is making the series with the support of the Australian Council of National Trusts, which will facilitate access to some of Australia’s oldest and most important heritage buildings. The CEO of the National Trust, John Metcalfe said: “Our organisation is delighted to be involved with Bearcage in identifying and recognising Australia’s built heritage environment.”

Canberra-based Bearcage is an integrated media production company that has recently expanded into the international sphere with a focus on Asia. The company’s production slate is characterised by narrative driven documentaries and factual series, with a mix of domestic and international broadcasters.

Recently announced as a Screen Australia Enterprise company, Bearcage has signed the first ever formal co-production agreement for a documentary television series between Australia and China Central Television’s CCTV9 Channel.The Story of Australia, a six-part documentary series, will be broadcast on CCTV9 and internationally. The series has been produced to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the People’s Republic of China and Australia.