Number 96

A closer look at the story

Number 96 is an Australian soap opera set in an apartment block in Sydney that drew huge interest in its day. Cash Harmon Television, the company of Don Cash and Bill Harmon, produced it for Network Ten. The network had asked for a serial in the vein of Coronation Street, but one that specifically dealt with adult themes. The show's premise, original story outlines and first characters came from David Sale, who additionally wrote the scripts for the early episodes and stayed on as the show's script editor for a long stretch. Running from 1972 to 1977, the series was a major success and even inspired a feature film, shot in December 1973. Number 96 is remembered for its comedy characters and for adult scenes regarded as daring in that era. It was also the first soap in Australia to feature a character who was openly gay. The cast included actors such as Tom Oliver, Ray Meagher, Anne Charleston, Abigail and Rowena Wallace.