Watch My Place

My Place is an Australian television drama series that aired from 2009 to 2011 on ABC. The show is based on the award-winning book of the same name by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins. The series depicts the history of Australia from the perspective of a single house at 33 Kingston Street, in the inner suburb of Ashfield, in Sydney. Each episode of the show tells the story of a person or a family who lived in the house from a different time period, starting in 1788 and ending in the present day.

The protagonist of My Place is a young girl called Laura, who lives in the present day and is played by an ensemble cast of child actors. At the beginning of each episode, Laura introduces the story of the person or family who lived in the house before her, and then goes on to explore their world and their experiences through imagination and play. The show's format allows the audience to travel back in time and experience Australia's history through the eyes of its diverse inhabitants.

One of the most compelling aspects of My Place is its diversity of characters and stories. The show explores a wide range of themes and issues, including Indigenous Australia, colonialism, migration, social inequality, and family life. It also features a range of characters from different cultures and backgrounds, including Indigenous Australians, Chinese immigrants, Irish convicts, and Anglo-Australian families.

In each episode, the character or family featured in the story faces a unique set of challenges and obstacles, and the show does not shy away from exploring difficult or controversial topics. For example, in the episode set in 1868, we meet Barney, a young boy who has been taken from his family and sent to live with white settlers as part of the government's policy of assimilation. Barney struggles to come to terms with his new life and the loss of his culture, while also dealing with the prejudices of the settlers who see him as a 'half-caste' Aboriginal.

Other episodes explore different aspects of Australian history, such as the convict era, the gold rush, and the two world wars. One particularly powerful episode is set during the Vietnam War and tells the story of a Vietnamese refugee family who have fled the conflict and come to live in Australia. The episode gives an insight into the challenges faced by refugees as they adjust to life in a new country and the hostility they sometimes encounter.

The performances in My Place are uniformly excellent, with a range of well-known actors appearing in the show at different times. The show's lead actress, Susie Porter, plays Laura's mother in the present day and is a constant presence throughout the series. Another standout performance comes from Deborah Mailman, who plays the mother of an Indigenous family in the 1940s who must navigate the prejudices and discrimination of the time.

Overall, My Place is a compelling, thought-provoking, and entertaining series that offers a unique perspective on Australian history. The show's exploration of different cultures and perspectives makes it relevant and engaging for a wide range of audiences, and its focus on diversity and inclusion make it an important contribution to the Australian cultural landscape. If you're interested in Australian history, family dramas, or simply great storytelling, My Place is definitely worth checking out.