Elly & Jools

Lore & Background

The series follows the Trevaller family as they move from the city to a small country town called Waterloo Creek. Their new house is haunted by the ghost of a young girl named Elinor 'Elly' Lockett, who died in the 19th century. Elly befriends Julian 'Jools' Trevaller, and together they try to solve the mystery of her death. In the final episode, it is revealed that Elly died in a tragic accident and remained in the world of the living to clear the name of the man suspected of her murder. Having achieved peace, she passes to the afterlife and is reunited with her loving family, while Jools meets Eloise, a living girl identical to Elly, perceived either as her reincarnation or as a sign that the world is full of human girls like her.

Reader's Guide

Elly & Jools is significant as an example of Australian children's television from the early 1990s that successfully combined supernatural elements with a coming-of-age story. The series was praised by critics for its inventive direction by Karl Zwicky, an up-tempo soundtrack by Chris Harriott, and the performances of its cast. The Sydney Morning Herald's Jon Casimir described it as a 'pleasure to watch' and noted that its commentary on life was as pertinent as anything from more famous Australian soap operas. Margaret Geddes from The Age called it 'another gem made locally' and a 'delightfully gentle romantic comedy.' The show's legacy includes its condensed home video release in 1991, and its production details—such as filming at Peninsula House in Windsor, New South Wales, and the dog that also appeared in the film A Cry in the Dark—add to its historical interest. The series remains a fondly remembered entry in Australian children's television history.

Did You Know?

• Filming of Elly and Jools commenced in July 1989.
• The show was filmed at Peninsula House in Windsor, New South Wales and at the Australiana Pioneer Village in Wilberforce.
• In 1991, the twelve 30-minute episodes were condensed into one three-hour video distributed by CIC Video.

The Ghost at the Heart of the Story

The central premise of Elly & Jools follows the Trevaller family as they relocate from urban life to a modest country town named Waterloo Creek. Upon settling into their new home, the children discover the house is haunted by the spirit of Elinor 'Elly' Lockett, a young girl who perished during the nineteenth century. Rather than being a source of fear, Elly's ghost becomes a companion to Julian 'Jools' Trevaller, who commits himself to uncovering the truth behind her death. The series builds its narrative around this mystery, with Jools and Elly working together to piece together what really happened. The final episode delivers the full truth: Elly's death was a tragic accident, and she had lingered in the world of the living specifically to vindicate a man who had been wrongly suspected of murdering her. Once her name was cleared, she found peace and departed to the afterlife, reuniting with her loving family. In a poignant closing beat, Jools encounters Eloise, a living girl who looks exactly like Elly, leaving viewers to wonder whether she represents a reincarnation or simply a reminder that the world is full of human girls just as extraordinary.

An Ensemble Built for a Small-Town World

The series assembled a talented Australian cast to populate the world of Waterloo Creek. Rebecca Smart took on the role of the ghostly Elinor 'Elly' Lockett, while Clayton Williamson played her human friend Julian 'Jools' Trevaller. The Trevaller household was rounded out by Anne Tenney as Anna and Peter Fisher as David, the parents navigating their family's relocation to the country. The O'Farrell family added another layer of community, with Dennis Miller as Feral, Damon Herriman as Liam, and Vanessa Collier as Bridget. Abigail brought energy to the role of Dulcie Dickson, a friend within the small-town social circle. Supporting figures included Albert Moran, Willie Fennell as Cec, and Bob Baines as Sergeant Digges, a law-enforcement presence in the story. This collection of performers created a warm, believable ensemble that anchored the show's gentle supernatural premise in a grounded, familial setting, giving each character a distinct voice within the tight-knit community of Waterloo Creek.

Behind the Camera: Production and Locations

Principal photography for Elly & Jools began in July 1989, with Rebecca Smart's casting confirmed shortly after the first days of shooting. The production team chose two distinctive locations in New South Wales to bring Waterloo Creek to life: Peninsula House in Windsor and the Australiana Pioneer Village in Wilberforce. These settings provided the period-appropriate architecture and small-town atmosphere that the story required, grounding the supernatural elements in a tangible, historical-feeling environment. The series was produced for the Nine Network, where it first aired in 1990 as a run of twelve half-hour episodes. One charming production detail worth noting: the dog that appeared on screen in Elly & Jools also played the dingo in the Meryl Streep and Sam Neill film A Cry in the Dark, meaning the same animal had contributed to a feature film before joining this children's series. The show's director, Karl Zwicky, and composer Chris Harriott shaped the series' distinctive tone and visual style.

Critical Acclaim and Home Media

Elly & Jools earned consistently positive reviews from Australian television critics upon its 1990 broadcast. Jon Casimir of the Sydney Morning Herald singled out the series as a genuine 'pleasure to watch,' crediting Karl Zwicky's inventive direction, Chris Harriott's up-tempo soundtrack, and what he called the 'sterling work' of the cast. Casimir highlighted an 'all-pervasive sense of fun' and 'unabashed enthusiasm' running through every episode, and went so far as to argue that the show's observations about life were 'every bit as pertinent if not more so' than anything one could learn from Ramsay Street or Summer Bay. Margaret Geddes of The Age, reviewing Australian children's television produced that year, called Elly & Jools 'another gem made locally' and a 'delightfully gentle romantic comedy.' Beyond its original broadcast, the series found a second life on home video: in 1991, CIC Video released a condensed three-hour compilation that brought all twelve thirty-minute episodes together for home viewing, extending the show's reach to audiences who had missed it on the Nine Network.