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Water Rats
Genre	Police procedural Crime drama Action Thriller Mystery
Created by	John Hugginson Tony Morphett
Starring	Colin Friels Catherine McClements Steve Bisley Toni Scanlan Peter Bensley Aaron Pedersen Dee Smart Jay Laga'aia
Theme music composer	Les Gock Song Zu
Country of origin	Australia
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	177(list of episodes)
Production
Producers	Hal McElroy Ted Roberts
Production locations	Sydney The Rocks Goat Island Balmain
Running time	42-45 minutes
Production companies	Southern Star Productions Nine Films and Television
Original release
Network	Nine Network
Release	12 February 1996 (1996-02-12) – 7 August 2001 (2001-08-07)

Water Rats is an Australianpolice proceduralcrime drama television series created by John Hugginson andTony Morphett for theNine Network. The series was based on the work ofSydney Water Police who fight crime aroundSydney Harbour and surrounding locales. The show was set on and aroundGoat Island in Sydney Harbour.

Water Rats premiered on 12 February 1996, and ran for six seasons and 177 episodes.Colin Friels andCatherine McClements were the original stars of the series and were instrumental in the show's early success. They both departed the show in 1999. In later seasons,Steve Bisley,Aaron Pedersen andDee Smart became the show's main stars.

For the sixth and final season in 2001, the show concentrated more on the cops' personal lives rather than just focusing on the crimes committed. The Nine Network cancelled the show after six seasons. Executive ProducerKris Noble blamed escalating costs for the cancellation. However, the series had been suffering a ratings decline following the departure of Friels and McClements in 1999.

The final episode was broadcast in Australia on 7 August 2001.

The first season of the series cost $16 million.^[1]

• Colin Friels as Det Snr ConstableFrank Holloway (1996–1999)
• Catherine McClements as Det Snr ConstableRachel Goldstein (1996–1999)
• Steve Bisley as Det Sergeant Jack Christey (1998–2001)
• Jay Laga'aia as Snr ConstTommy Tavita (1996–2000)
• Aaron Pedersen as Det ConstableMichael Reilly (1999–2001)
• Dee Smart as Det Snr Constable Alex St. Clare (2000–2001)

• Peter Bensley as Snr Sgt/Chief InspJeff Hawker (1996–2001)
• Bill Young as Chief InspClarke Webb (1996 only)
• Brett Partridge as Snr ConstableGavin Sykes (1996–2001)
• Toni Scanlan as Snr SgtHelen Blakemore (1996–2001)
• Scott Burgess as Snr SgtDave McCall (1996–1999)
• Aaron Jeffery as ConstableTerry Watson (1996–1998)
• Sophie Heathcote as ConstableFiona Cassidy (1996–1997)
• Raelee Hill as ConstableTayler Johnson (1997–1999)
• Allison Cratchley as ConstableEmma Woods (1998–2001)
• Diarmid Heidenreich as ConstableMatthew Quinn (2000–2001)
• Rebecca Smart as ConstableDonna Janevski (2000–2001)

• Peter Mochrie as Detective Snr SergeantJohn 'Knocker' Harrison (22 episodes, 1996)
• Jeremy Callaghan as Detective Snr ConstableKevin Holloway (10 episodes, 1996)
• Richard Healy as InspTony Brady (14 episodes, 1996–1997)
• Treffyn Koreshoff asDavid Goldstein (17 episodes, 1996–1999)
• John Walton asJohn Walton (26 episodes, 1997–1999)
• Anthony Martin asColin "Chopper" Lewis (44 episodes, 1997–2001)
• Mouche Phillips asEva Minton (8 episodes, 2000–2001)
• Brooke Satchwell asSophie Ferguson (20 episodes, 2000–2001)
• Joss McWilliam as SgtLance Rorke (29 episodes, 2000–2001)
• Kelly Dale as Senior Constable Sam Bailey (season 2, 1997)
• John Adam as Michael Jefferies (season 2, 1997)
• Anne Tenney as Gail Hawker (season 2, 5 episodes, 1997)
• Betty Lucas as Sybil Graham (1, 2006)
• Rebecca Hobbs as Liz Robinson (season 3, 1998)
• Robert Mammone as Detective Agi Fatseas (5 episodes, 2001)
• Sonia Todd as Detective Sergeant Louise Bradshaw (season 3, 13 episodes, 1998)
• Ritchie Singer as Terry Madigan (season 3, 1998)
• Roxane Wilson as Suzi Abromavich (season 3-4, 1998-99)
• Liz Burch as Gillian Swain (season 4, 5 episodes, 1999)
• Josephine Byrnes as Acting Inspector Julia Goodwin (season 6, 3 episodes, 2001)
• Bill Hunter as Tom Christey (season 6, 2001)
• Ingrid Ruz as Sergeant Vanessa Simmons (season 6, 2001)
• Rodger Corser as Detective George Newhouse (season 6, 4 episodes, 2001)
• Rohan Nichol as Shane Green (season 5, episode 2: "Reunion", 2000)
• Kelly Dingwall as Sam Bailey (9 episodes)
• Marshall Napier as Joe De Silva (5 episodes)

The pilot ofWater Rats screened in Australia at 8.30 pm on Monday, 12 February 1996. It was entitled "Dead in the Water" and was a two-part episode, concerning a divorced man, deranged over the death of his daughter, who captures aSydney Harbour ferry and holds the city to ransom.^[2]"Dead in the Water" introduced viewers to Detective Senior Constables Frank Holloway (Colin Friels) and Rachel Goldstein (Catherine McClements).

• Chief Inspector Clarke Webb (played by Bill Young)
• Senior Sergeant Jeff Hawker (played by Peter Bensley)
• Sergeant Helen Blakemore (played byToni Scanlan)
• Senior Sergeant Dave McCall (played byScott Burgess)
• Senior Constable Gavin Sykes (played by Brett Partridge)
• Senior Constable Tommy Tavita (played byJay Laga'aia)
• Senior Constable Fiona Cassidy (played bySophie Heathcote)
• Senior Constable Terry Watson (played byAaron Jeffery)
• Detective Senior Sergeant John "Knocker" Harrison (played byPeter Mochrie)
• Detective Senior Constable Kevin Holloway (played byJeremy Callaghan)
• David Goldstein (played by Treffyn Koreshoff)
• Jonathon Goldstein (played by Steven Grivies)
• Inspector Tony Brady (played by Richard Healy)
• Prison Warden (played by Christopher Barry)

Season one ran for 26 episodes.

• Jonathon Goldstein (Steven Grivies) trying to deny Rachel (Catherine McClements) access to their young son, David (Treffyn Koreshoff).
• Frank's (Colin Friels)' relationship with crime scene officer, Caroline Cox.
• Helen's (Toni Scanlan)'s sexuality comes out in the open, particularly to Rachel (McClements), who seemed to be the only character who did not know Helen was gay.
• The death and subsequent investigation of Frank's brother, Kevin (Jeremy Callaghan).
• Rachel's (McClements)' relationship with Knocker (Peter Mochrie), which turned out to be a deadly one.
• Clarke's (Bill Young's) affair and his subsequent resignation.
• Frank (Friels) being investigated by Internal Affairs on two occasions.

The second season ofWater Rats ran, again, for 26 episodes and began airing on Monday, 10 February 1997. Season two also took the detectives toMelbourne, a change from Sydney Harbour. It also introduced a new character, Constable Tayler Johnson (Raelee Hill), as well as a few minor ones.

• Colin "Chopper" Lewis (played by Anthony Martin)
• Senior Constable Sam Bailey (played by Kelly Dale)
• Michael Jefferies (played byJohn Adam)
• Gail Hawker (played byAnne Tenney)

• Rachel's (McClements') relationship with the well-off Michael Jefferies (John Adam).
• Jeff (Peter Bensley) becomes Chief Inspector.
• Frank (Friels) once again, is investigated by I.A, but this time for a much more serious offence, murder.
• Tayler (Raelee Hill), is Helen's niece.
• Terry (Aaron Jeffery) is stabbed and decides to leave the Water Police.
• Dave (Scott Burgess) is speared by spear gun and cannot continue diving.
• Jeff (Peter Bensley) and his wife separate.

Season three ran for 31 episodes and premiered on Monday, 9 February 1998. A couple of episodes into the season, it was moved to Tuesday nights.Steve Bisley is also added to the opening credits for a number of episodes near the end of the season.

• Constable Emma Woods (played byAllison Cratchley)
• Liz Robinson (played by Rebecca Hobbs)
• Detective Senior Constable Jack Christey (played bySteve Bisley)
• Detective Sergeant Louise Bradshaw (played bySonia Todd)
• Terry Madigan (played byRitchie Singer)

• Frank (Friels) getting back together (for a while) with his ex-wife Liz (Rebecca Hobbs).
• Rachel (Catherine McClements) and tough-talking detective Jack Christey (Steve Bisley) have aone-night stand.
• Tayler (Raelee Hill) is shot.
• Rachel (McClements) works with Tommy (Jay Laga'aia) on a number of occasions, while Frank is away.
• Frank's (Friels') relationship with undercover cop Louise (Sonia Todd) ends when she is shot dead.
• Helen (Toni Scanlan) is promoted to Senior Sergeant.

The fourth series began on Tuesday, 16 February 1999 and ran for 32 episodes. It was a series of change forWater Rats, which included bothColin Friels' andCatherine McClements' departures within 18 episodes of each other.

• Detective Senior Constable Michael Reilly (Aaron Pedersen)
• Gillian Swain (played byLiz Burch)
• Suzi Abromavich (played byRoxane Wilson, who also appeared in one episode in series three)
• Detective Senior Constable Alex St Clare (played byDee Smart)

• Helen's (Toni Scanlan's) relationship with lawyer Gillian Swain (Liz Burch).
• Michael Reilly (Aaron Pedersen), from VIP security, becomes the third detective.
• Frank (Colin Friels) leaves the Water Police, sailing to Venezuela.
• Jack (Steve Bisley) replaces Frank (Friels) and his relationship with Rachel (McClements) gets off to a rocky start.
• Jack (Bisley) is promoted to Detective Sergeant.
• David is kidnapped.
• Rachel (McClements) and Jack (Bisley) start their relationship again.
• Rachel (McClements) is stabbed, and dies in Jack's (Bisley's) arms.
• Jeff (Peter Bensley) and his wife get a divorce.
• Tayler (Raelee Hill) leaves the Water Police, joining Pol-Air.
• Alex St Clare (Dee Smart) replaces Rachel (McClements).

The fifth season began airing on Tuesday, 22 February 2000, and ran for 36 episodes, the longest out of the six seasons of the show. Ratings began to fall slightly, as a result ofMcClements' departure the previous year. A number of regular characters also left, includingJay Laga'aia andScott Burgess, whose character was not seen at all in series five, and his whereabouts was finally mentioned in series six.

• Senior Constable Matthew Quinn (playedDiarmid Heidenreich)
• Constable Donna Janevski (played byRebecca Smart)
• Sergeant Lance Rorke (played by Joss McWilliam)
• Sophie Ferguson (played byBrooke Satchwell)
• Eva Minton (played byMouche Phillips)

• Tommy (Jay Laga'aia) leaves the Water Police and goes on long-service leave.
• Jack (Bisley) finds out he has an 18-year-old daughter named Sophie (Brooke Satchwell).
• Mick asks Alex (Dee Smart) out on a date.
• Gavin (Brett Partridge) meets Eva (Mouche Phillips).
• Jack (Bisley) remembers Rachel (McClements) on the one-year anniversary of her death.

The sixth and final season ofWater Rats began airing on Tuesday, 6 February 2001 and ran for 26 episodes. Sometime early in the season, the timeslot was changed from 8.30 pm to 9.30 pm. The Nine Network decided to cancel the show, due to escalating costs and declining ratings, and two main stars,Steve Bisley andDee Smart had decided to leave the show.

• Acting Inspector Julia Goodwin (played byJosephine Byrnes)
• Tom Christey (played byBill Hunter)
• Sergeant Vanessa Simmons (played byIngrid Ruz)
• Detective George Newhouse (played byRodger Corser)

• Jack (Bisley) has a short relationship with Julia Goodwin (Josephine Byrnes).
• Lance (Joss McWilliam) dies in a freak accident.
• Sophie (Brooke Satchwell) begins her Police training.
• The Water Police learn that Snr. Sgt. Dave McCall (Scott Burgess) has died.
• Gavin (Brett Partridge) and Eva (Mouche Phillips) get married, and at the end of the series, have a baby.
• Jack is shot in the very last episode, and though not known, probably dies, asBisley was leaving the show if it did continue for another season.

Water Rats was filmed on and aroundGoat Island inSydney Harbour. Other locations used throughout the series were:

• Shark Island
• Sydney Harbour Bridge − In the season three episodeEpiphany, Matt Barnes took Rachel Goldstein and climbed the famous bridge for a negotiators exercise.
• The Gap − A main storyline of season 1 was the murder of Frank's brother Kevin, who was thrown off The Gap.
• White Bay Power Station − Used a number of times, most notably,Catherine McClements' last episodeA Day at the Office.
• Fort Denison
• The Rocks − Mainly used for external shots of Frank's house.
• Middle Harbour
• Long Bay Correctional Centre
• Australian Army Artillery Museum − During the season two final, Rachel and Frank search for killer Brian Atkins in the tunnels of the museum.
• North Head
• Middle Head Fortifications
• Melbourne − In season two, Rachel and Frank travelled to Melbourne to investigate a murder.

The real Sydney Water Police headquarters was located atPyrmont. The TV version of the Sydney Water Police headquarters was located on Goat Island, though the fictional address was 48/50 Harbour Drive, Sydney 2000. Other fictional locations throughout the series included:

• Frank's House − The exterior was shot inThe Rocks, but the interior was a set on Goat Island.
• The Cutter Bar − A fictional pub, where the members of the Water Police liked to relax after a hard day at work (introduced in season two).
• The Sydney Police Centre − Unlike some other police stations, the Water Police did not have their own holding cells, so offenders were taken to the SPC to be charged.
• The Hospital
• The Morgue − Early in the series, real morgues were used to film in. Eventually a set was built on Goat Island.
• Rachel's house − A number of different exterior locations were used for Rachel's house, includingBalmain,Birchgrove andGlebe.

Water Rats was first released onDVD in 2004 through Shock Entertainment. It was released as two parts called Series 1 and Series 2, though it was actually only season 1 in two parts. Warner Vision Australia then released the rest of the show, where DVDs labelled series 3 were actually season 2 and so on. It was announced on 7 August 2017 that Via Vision Entertainment would re-release all six seasons on DVD on 22 November 2017. Several episodes are out of broadcast order in the Via Vision collection and on Amazon Prime.

All episodes are available on Amazon Prime in Australia.

AWater Rats soundtrack was produced byLes Gock in 1999. It contained songs featured on the series, such as "Goldie's Theme" by Cathi Ogden (heard in many episodes, most notably episode 109) and "I'll Dream of You" by Hugh Wilson (heard in Frank's final episode). It also features a couple of songs sung by cast members: "Breathe" withRaelee Hill and "Let's Party" withJay Laga'aia. The song "Breathe" was written byJames Freud, who also sang in the chorus. The company Song Zu seems to want to have no affiliation with the soundtrack music and does not recognise nor acknowledge it on its current website. Secondhand copies of it can occasionally be found on auction sites and in secondhand music stores.

The series is currently^[when?] being re-run in:

• Australia onFoxtel'sHallmark Channel
• Ireland onRTÉ One, Sunday and Monday mornings
• Denmark on Kanal9. From 10.06.2013 on DR1
• United Kingdom onFX
• United Arab Emirates onCity 7
• Ukraine onICTV
• France onFrance 2
• United States onFreevee

• There was a 2003National Film and Sound Archive,Canberra exhibition on Australian police dramas (1950–present) that featured some scripts from the show, as well as a plastic corpse used in one episode. SeeNational Archives of Australia for details.
• The exterior for Frank's house was filmed near theAgar Steps inThe Rocks, New South Wales; however, the interior was shot onGoat Island.
• Catherine McClements had previously worked withColin Friels in the movieWeekend with Kate (1990),Scott Burgess in the movieJust Us (1986) andTony Morphett (the creator ofWater Rats) in the telemovieMy Brother Tom (1986).
• Season three originally contained 32 episodes; however, because of Colin Friels' illness, only 31 went to air.

• List of Australian television series
• List of Nine Network programs

• Water Rats atIMDb
• Water Rats
• Water Rats
• Water Rats fan forum
• Water Rats at the National Film and Sound Archive
• Water Rats - "Goes with Territory" atAustralian Screen Online

• 1990s Australian drama television series
• 1990s Australian crime television series
• 1990s crime drama television series
• 1990s mystery television series
• Australian thriller television series
• Nautical television series
• Nine Network original programming
• Television shows set in Sydney
• 1996 Australian television series debuts
• 2001 Australian television series endings
• Television series by Endemol Shine Australia
• 2000s Australian drama television series
• 2000s Australian crime television series
• 2000s crime drama television series
• 2000s mystery television series

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