Matlock Police(1971)

Matlock Police is an Australian television police drama series that aired on the 0-10 Network from 1970 to 1975. Created by Crawford Productions, the show was designed to compete with established police dramas like Homicide and Division 4. Unlike its Melbourne-based rivals, Matlock Police was set in the fictional country town of Matlock, Victoria, where officers navigated crimes and community conflicts in a small rural setting. The series drew on a detailed reference manual that mapped the town's geography, social structure, and surrounding districts including Wilga, Chinaman's Creek, and Burrabri. Matlock's fictional history—encompassing Aboriginal heritage, a gold rush, bushrangers, and local power structures—provided rich dramatic material for the writers. The show's rural backdrop offered a fresh perspective on Australian police procedural drama during the 1970s.