Matlock Police

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Matlock Police is an Australian television series made by Crawford Productions for the 0-10 Network (now known as the Ten Network) between 1971 and 1975.

The series was the 0-10 Network's attempt to come up with a police show to rival Homicide (shown by the Seven Network) and Division 4 (on the Nine Network). Matlock Police was different from its inner-city based predecessors by being set in a small country town, the fictional Matlock, Victoria (a real Matlock does exist in Victoria, but it is much smaller than the town depicted by this series).

The first episode was broadcast in Melbourne on 22 February 1971. Initially filmed in black and white, the series switched to colour in episode 200. Matlock Police was cancelled in 1975 after 228 episodes had been produced.

The series focused on the police station and crime in Matlock. Also explored was the backgrounds and personal lives of the main policemen, who initially were Sgt Bert Kennedy (played by Vic Gordon), in charge of the station; Senior Detective Alan Curtis (Grigor Taylor), a city boy who resented his country posting; Detective Sergeant Vic Maddern (Michael Pate) from Melbourne who had done a spell in the army and fought in the Korean War; and Senior Constable Gary Hogan (Paul Cronin), youngest of the four main characters, a highway patrolman. Other regular cast members included Senior Detective Steve York (Tom Richards) and Detective Sergeant Jack Maloney (Peter Gwynne).

After the series ended the character of Gary Hogan was spun-off into new series Solo One which lasted one season.