Burke's Backyard
Encyclopedia
Burke's Backyard is an Australian gardening and lifestyle program, broadcast on both radio and television. On television, it was a regular weekly series on the Nine Network
from 1987 to 2004.
radio station 2UE
on Saturday and Sunday mornings before being picked up by the Nine Network in late 1987. Channel 9 broadcast the show on Friday evenings for the next 17 years. It is currently being broadcast on radio by 2UE and syndicated stations on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A magazine of the same name as the television program was published as a merchandising tie-in by Australian Consolidated Press
. Donald Burke went on to join Jamie Durie
in creating the television show Backyard Blitz
.
, who also hosted the Channel Nine cooking show Fresh
. Tara Dennis coordinated the fabrics and design section, while Rebecca Harris
coordinated the pet section as she also did in her own Nine series Animal Hospital
. Harris sometimes appeared also on the design and fabric segments. Scott Cam
assisted Don as the building, gardening and design expert for more than half the program's duration. Other cast members include The Great Outdoors reporter Ernie Dingo
, Jackie French
, Elise Pascoe and Rosemary Stanton.
For the 2007 television specials, Don Burke was assisted mainly by Scott Cam. Former Olympic God Medallist swimmer Giaan Rooney
also joined the cast for the specials, giving environmental tips, while financial expert Paul Clitheroe
presented the financial section.
Give me a home among the gum trees, with lots of plum trees,
A dog or two and a barbecue, flowers down the side,
And veggies by the fence, all in Burke's Backyard
. It occupied the Friday 7:30–8:30 timeslot for 17 years. During its final year, however, it rated poorly and was 'rested' by the Nine network.
In the Spring special return in 2007, the show posted a very encouraging 10th place in the week's shows. It defeated both of its competing Seven Network
shows including Australia's Best Backyards
and Hot Property
, and was the most watched Nine Network
show of the week.
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
from 1987 to 2004.
History
The program began on the Sydney AMAM broadcasting
AM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
radio station 2UE
2UE
2UE is a commercial radio station in Sydney, Australia owned by Fairfax Media. It is Sydney's and Australia's oldest commercial radio station, first broadcasting on 26 January 1925 on 1025 kHz AM before moving to 950 kHz in 1935 when virtually all Australian radio stations were assigned new...
on Saturday and Sunday mornings before being picked up by the Nine Network in late 1987. Channel 9 broadcast the show on Friday evenings for the next 17 years. It is currently being broadcast on radio by 2UE and syndicated stations on Saturday and Sunday mornings. A magazine of the same name as the television program was published as a merchandising tie-in by Australian Consolidated Press
Australian Consolidated Press
ACP Magazines , a subsidiary of the Nine Entertainment Co., is an Australian media company. It publishes the Australian Women's Weekly and the Australian edition of Woman's Day....
. Donald Burke went on to join Jamie Durie
Jamie Durie
Jamie Durie is an Australian landscaper and television personality. Formerly a prominent personality for the Nine Network, Durie has hosted a variety of programs for them, mostly "lifestyle" shows, such as Backyard Blitz, Renovation Rescue and The Block.Jamie previously was the host of the Seven...
in creating the television show Backyard Blitz
Backyard Blitz
Backyard Blitz was an Logie Award winning Australian lifestyle and DIY television program that aired on the Nine Network between 2000 through to 2007 before its cancellation...
.
Cast
The original television series featured a number of presenters besides Donald Burke. The cooking segment was presented by Geoff JanszGeoff Jansz
Geoff Jansz is a Sri Lankan-born Australian chef and television presenter.Formerly a pharmacist, graduating with a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the University of Sydney in 1984, Jansz instead turned to things epicureal and opened a restaurant in Picton, New South Wales...
, who also hosted the Channel Nine cooking show Fresh
Fresh
Fresh is a 1994 crime film written and directed by Boaz Yakin in his film directorial debut, and produced by Lawrence Bender , who at the time was riding the wave of success of Reservoir Dogs...
. Tara Dennis coordinated the fabrics and design section, while Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Elizabeth Harris is a British Conservative Party politician who was elected at the 2010 general election as the Member of Parliament for Castle Point....
coordinated the pet section as she also did in her own Nine series Animal Hospital
Animal Hospital
Animal Hospital was a television show starring Rolf Harris that ran on the BBC from 1994 until 2004. The story showed animal welfare stories from RSPCA hospitals.-Location:...
. Harris sometimes appeared also on the design and fabric segments. Scott Cam
Scott Cam
Scott Cam is an Australian television personality appearing on several lifestyle programmes on the Nine Network.-Early career:Scott is a qualified carpenter who did a three-year apprenticeship with his brother’s business....
assisted Don as the building, gardening and design expert for more than half the program's duration. Other cast members include The Great Outdoors reporter Ernie Dingo
Ernie Dingo
Ernie Dingo AM is an Indigenous Australian actor and television presenter originating from the Yamatji people of the Murchison region of Western Australia.-Background:...
, Jackie French
Jackie French
Jacqueline Anne "Jackie" French is an award-winning Australian author. She writes mainly children's fiction and books on gardening....
, Elise Pascoe and Rosemary Stanton.
For the 2007 television specials, Don Burke was assisted mainly by Scott Cam. Former Olympic God Medallist swimmer Giaan Rooney
Giaan Rooney
Giaan Leigh Rooney OAM is a retired Australian swimmer. She won an Olympic gold medal and broke a world record at the Athens Olympics...
also joined the cast for the specials, giving environmental tips, while financial expert Paul Clitheroe
Paul Clitheroe
Paul Hugh Clitheroe AM is an Australian television presenter, financial analyst and financial advisor.Paul is an alumnus of the University of NSW, which he graduated from in the late 1970s....
presented the financial section.
Theme song
The theme to Burke's Backyard is a modified version of the Bullamakanka's version of "Home Among the Gum Trees"(Bob Brown; Walter Johnson Jr.) The chorus is as follows:Give me a home among the gum trees, with lots of plum trees,
A dog or two and a barbecue, flowers down the side,
And veggies by the fence, all in Burke's Backyard
Ratings
The television show was consistently a very strong ratings performer for the Nine NetworkNine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
. It occupied the Friday 7:30–8:30 timeslot for 17 years. During its final year, however, it rated poorly and was 'rested' by the Nine network.
In the Spring special return in 2007, the show posted a very encouraging 10th place in the week's shows. It defeated both of its competing Seven Network
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
shows including Australia's Best Backyards
Australia's Best Backyards with Jamie Durie
Australia's Best Backyards is an Australian lifestyle TV series on the Seven Network. The program is hosted by iconic landscape gardener Jamie Durie, who previously hosted Backyard Blitz on the Nine Network....
and Hot Property
Hot Property (Australian TV series)
Hot Property is a Channel Seven show that has aired since 1999. The program is hosted by Michael Caton. The half hour show looks at problems Australians face when wanting to buy, build, renovate or rent homes. After a year off in 2006, the show returned in July 2007 on Sunday nights at 7pm. The...
, and was the most watched Nine Network
Nine Network
The Nine Network , is an Australian television network with headquarters based in Willoughby, a suburb located on the North Shore of Sydney. For 50 years since television's inception in Australia, between 1956 and 2006, it was the most watched television network in Australia...
show of the week.
See also
- Backyard BlitzBackyard BlitzBackyard Blitz was an Logie Award winning Australian lifestyle and DIY television program that aired on the Nine Network between 2000 through to 2007 before its cancellation...
- Better Homes and Gardens
- List of Australian television series
- List of Nine Network programs