Pastures of the Blue Crane facts for kids
First edition
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| Author | Hesba Fay Brinsmead |
|---|---|
| Illustrator | Annette Macarthur-Onslow |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press |
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Publication date
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1964 |
Pastures of the Blue Crane is an exciting Australian novel written by Hesba Fay Brinsmead. It was first published in 1964. This book was so good that it won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1965! Later, in 1969, it was even made into a television show. People still love this story, and it was reprinted in 2018.
The Story of Amaryllis
The story begins in Melbourne with a 16-year-old girl named Amaryllis Merewether, often called Ryl. She learns that her father has passed away. Ryl also finds out she will inherit his farm, which is located on the beautiful North Coast of New South Wales.
There's a surprise: the farm is also partly owned by her grandfather, whom she never knew existed! Ryl is a bit snobby, and her grandfather, Dusty, is an old man who looks a bit rough. They don't seem to get along at first. However, both are curious about the farm. So, they agree to travel there together by train.
Life on the Farm
When they arrive, Ryl and Dusty are amazed by the stunning, almost tropical landscape. The beauty of the place starts to change them. Ryl, who often feels lonely, and Dusty, who can be grumpy, begin to feel better.
Ryl is too young for university, and she has nothing else planned. So, she decides to fix up the old farmhouse. She turns it into the first real home she has ever had. She also makes new friends, including a mysterious taxi driver named Perry. To her surprise, she discovers relatives her father never told her about. She also learns why he kept them a secret.
From Book to TV Show
| Pastures of the Blue Crane | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Eleanor Witcombe |
| Directed by | Tom Jeffrey |
| Starring | Jeanie Drynan Harold Hopkins Harry Lawrence, Queenie Ashton, Peter McPhie, Arthur Toar, Shiela Kennelly |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of episodes | 5 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Brett Porter |
| Running time | 30 mins |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC Television |
| Original release | 1969 |
The popular book was turned into a television series by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in 1969. Recently, in August 2018, the TV show was released on DVD. This happened because many people showed new interest in the story.
The TV show was a big production for the ABC. It was one of their most expensive drama projects since My Brother Jack in 1964. Even though it cost a lot, they couldn't film it in color. The filming took place in several locations. These included Sydney, Murwillumbah, Terranora, Coolangatta, and Brisbane. The house used in the TV series is called "Lovat Brae." It was built in 1904 and is still standing today.
Meet the Cast
Here are some of the actors who brought the characters to life in the TV series:
| Actor | Role |
| Jeanie Drynan | Amaryllis Mreweather |
| Harold Hopkins | Perry |
| Harry Lawrence | Grandpa Mereweather |
| Queenie Ashton | Mrs. McPhee |
| Peter McPhee | Young Peter |
| Arthur Toar | Mr. McPhee |
| Sheila Kennelly | Rose |
- You can find a fan page about the show here: FriendsofPasturesoftheBlueCrane
