If you haven’t sat down with the Bligh family yet, you’re honestly missing out on a masterclass in melodrama. People call it the "Australian Downton Abbey," which is a bit of a lazy comparison, even if it fits the vibe. When tv series a place to call home season 1 first aired on Channel Seven back in 2013, it didn't just feel like another period piece. It felt heavy. It felt real.
Sarah Adams, played by the incredible Marta Dusseldorp, steps off a ship after twenty years in Europe and immediately walks into a hornet's nest of 1950s social politics. She's a nurse. She’s Jewish. She’s seen the horrors of the war in a way that the wealthy inhabitants of Inverness simply can’t fathom. It’s 1953, and while the rest of the world is trying to forget the blood and the dirt, Sarah is carrying it in her eyes.
The show starts with a chance encounter on a boat. That’s where we meet the Blighs. They own Ash Park, a massive estate that represents everything right—and everything horribly repressed—about post-war Australia.
The tension that makes tv series a place to call home season 1 work
The backbone of this first season isn't just the romance between Sarah and George Bligh. It’s the friction. You’ve got Elizabeth Bligh, the matriarch played by Noni Hazlehurst, who is basically the final boss of traditionalism. She views Sarah as a threat to the family’s social standing. And honestly? She’s right to be scared. Sarah represents a changing world that doesn’t care about whose father owned which patch of dirt.
I’ve watched a lot of TV, but the way season 1 handles the "secret" of James Bligh is particularly gut-wrenching. In 1953, being gay wasn't just a social faux pas. It was a crime. It was a mental illness. David Berry plays James with this fragile, quiet desperation that makes you want to reach through the screen and tell him it’ll be okay, even though you know that for a man in his position in the fifties, it really won't be for a long time.
The writing doesn't shy away from the ugly stuff. We see the scars of the Holocaust. We see the casual, everyday sexism that keeps women like Carolyn Bligh—George’s sister—stifled in a life she never fully asked for. It’s not just a soap opera. It’s a historical autopsy of a country trying to find its soul after the British Empire started to crumble.
Why Sarah Adams is such a powerhouse protagonist
Sarah isn't your typical "damsel" lead. She’s prickly. She’s guarded. Having spent years in the resistance and surviving the camps, she has a low tolerance for the polite nonsense of the upper class. Dusseldorp brings this physical stillness to the role that is just magnetic. When she goes head-to-head with Elizabeth, the air in the room practically vibrates.
Most people come for the period costumes and the beautiful scenery of the Southern Highlands, but they stay because Sarah is a survivor who refuses to apologize for existing.
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The religious conflict is another layer that most shows would have bungled. Sarah’s conversion to Judaism and her struggle to maintain her faith in a town that barely understands it adds a level of depth you don't usually see in primetime drama. It makes her an outsider twice over. She’s an Australian who’s forgotten how to be "home," and she’s a woman of faith in a community that views her beliefs with suspicion.
The aesthetic of Ash Park
Let’s talk about the look of the show. Production designer Jo Ford did something special here. Ash Park feels lived in. The wood is polished, the silver is bright, but there’s a coldness to the lighting that mirrors the emotional distance between the family members.
Then you have the contrast of the hospital where Sarah works. It’s sterile. It’s busy. It’s where the real world happens, away from the tea parties and the political posturing. The show uses these locations to tell the story of two different Australias: the one that wants to stay in the past and the one that is being forced into the future.
Breaking down the key players in Inverness
It’s easy to focus on the leads, but the supporting cast in tv series a place to call home season 1 is what builds the world.
- George Bligh (Brett Climo): The widower who is trying to be a good man in a system that rewards power. His attraction to Sarah is inconvenient, to say the least.
- Olivia Bligh (Arianwen Parkes-Lockwood): The daughter-in-law who is desperately trying to produce an heir. Her arc is one of the most tragic because she’s trapped by her own expectations of what a "wife" should be.
- Anna Bligh (Abby Earl): The rebellious daughter. She’s in love with a bright, Italian immigrant named Gino. This subplot tackles the "New Australian" wave and the xenophobia that came with it.
The relationship between Anna and Gino isn't just a Romeo and Juliet trope. It’s a look at the shifting demographics of the country. The Italians brought wine, food, and a different way of living that the "old guard" found terrifying. Watching Gino try to navigate the prejudices of the town is a sobering reminder of what that generation went through.
The writing style of Bevan Lee
Creator Bevan Lee has a specific touch. He knows how to pace a reveal. He doesn't dump all the secrets in the pilot. He lets them simmer. By the time you get to the middle of the season, you realize every single person in that house is lying about something.
Even the "villains" have reasons. Elizabeth Bligh isn't just mean for the sake of being mean. She’s terrified of losing the stability she spent her whole life building. In her mind, she’s the hero protecting her family from ruin. That kind of nuanced writing is why the show has such a massive cult following even years after it ended.
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Why you should rewatch (or start) now
The 1950s setting is more than just a backdrop. It’s a character. The show captures that specific post-war anxiety where everyone was pretending everything was fine while dealing with massive amounts of trauma.
The first season consists of 13 episodes. It’s the perfect length. No filler. No "monster of the week" episodes. Just a steady, relentless march toward a finale that changes the status quo for everyone.
If you’re looking for something that feels like a novel, this is it. It’s a "Place to Call Home" because everyone is searching for a sense of belonging. Sarah is looking for a home after her world was destroyed. James is looking for a home where he can be himself. Olivia is looking for a home within her own skin.
Common misconceptions about the show
A lot of people think this is just a "grandmother show." My grandma loved it, sure. But it’s surprisingly dark. There are scenes in season 1 that deal with medical ethics, domestic abuse, and the psychological impact of war that are as gritty as anything you’d find in a modern prestige drama.
It’s also not a "feel-good" show in the traditional sense. It’s satisfying, but it makes you work for it. You have to sit with the discomfort of seeing characters you like make horrible, selfish decisions.
Practical insights for the first-time viewer
If you're diving into tv series a place to call home season 1 today, keep a few things in mind to get the most out of the experience.
Pay attention to the background details in Sarah’s room. Her possessions are few, but they tell her entire history before she ever says a word about it.
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Watch the power dynamics at the dinner table. In the 50s, where you sat and when you spoke was a form of combat. The show uses these scenes to highlight who is currently in favor with Elizabeth and who is on the outs.
If you find yourself frustrated with certain characters—especially James or Olivia—remember the era. Their "bad" choices are often the only choices they have for survival.
To truly appreciate the arc, look for these specific elements:
- The shifting fashion choices of Anna Bligh as she moves away from her grandmother's influence.
- The use of music, particularly the operatic themes that underscore Sarah’s internal world.
- The way the landscape of the Southern Highlands is filmed to look both beautiful and isolating.
The best way to consume this series is in chunks. Give yourself time to process the emotional weight of each episode. It’s not a "binge in one sitting" kind of show; it’s a "think about it over a cup of tea" kind of show.
Once you finish the season 1 finale, you’ll realize that the title of the show is actually a question. Is Ash Park a home, or is it a gilded cage? The answer changes depending on which character you ask, and that’s the brilliance of the writing.
Next Steps for Your Viewing:
- Check the version: Ensure you are watching the original uncut version, as some international broadcasts trimmed scenes for time.
- Look for the symbolism: Keep an eye on the recurring motif of the "Cormorant"—it’s a small detail that pays off in the way Sarah views her own resilience.
- Research the era: Briefly look up the 1953 Australian federal election or the social climate of the time; it adds a massive amount of context to George’s political aspirations.
The legacy of this show remains strong because it didn't treat the past like a museum piece. It treated it like a living, breathing mess. That’s why we still talk about it.