Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-oriented comedy drama television program which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The show continued on Tuesdays in this timeslot for its entire run. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and life issues, while also tackling serious social issues. The Logie award winning series was the highest rating to screen on the Seven Network in 2008, and the show was consistently among the top 5 shows of the year throughout its run in Australia.
TV Week announced 2013 that the sixth series of Packed to the Rafters would be the last, with Hugh Sheridan stating, "It's emotional letting go of Rafters – for all of us. It was such an amazing chapter in Aussie TV. I'm really proud we all came back together to send it off." The two-hour finale of Rafters aired on 2 July 2013, and saw the return of Hugh Sheridan, Jessica Marais, Ryan Corr, Jessica McNamee and James Stewart. Rebecca Gibney said, "The cast, writers and producers have always said that we wanted to keep Rafters as one of the most-watched shows on TV. If we ever felt like we were losing too many cast members, we needed to end it on a high. We can say season six winds up an aspect of the Rafter family and there is a sense of finality to it."
A sequel series Back to the Rafters was released on Amazon Prime Video in 2021.
Overview
The first season (2008) The first season premiered on 26 August 2008. The season finale aired 24 March 2009. Season one's storylines included: Julie and Dave's 25th wedding anniversary Rachel and Nathan & Sammy moving back home Ben moving in with Carbo and getting a new flatmate, Mel An amateur porn video of Rachel and Daniel released Ben and Mel sleeping together and eventually dating Rachel's pregnancy and subsequent abortion Carbo and Chrissy's forbidden relationship Ted moving on from late wife Louise The discovery that Julie is pregnant
The second season (2009) The second season premiered on 30 June 2009. The season finale aired 24 November 2009. Season two's storylines included: Julie's pregnancy and the birth of baby Ruby Ben's heart problems Dave meeting his birth mother Chel Rachel's romance with electrician (“sparky”) Jake Barton Carbo's relationship with his mother's best friend's daughter, Artie Chrissy's crush on Dave, the demise of her friendship with Julie, and her departure Nathan's infidelity and gambling problems Ben and Mel's engagement and marriage Dave's vasectomy Sammy leaving Nathan
The third season (2010) The third season premiered on 29 June 2010. The season finale aired 16 November 2010. Season three's storylines included: Dave meeting his biological father, Tom Jennings Nathan and Sammy's separation and her subsequent departure Rachel's jealousy of baby sister Ruby Nathan donating a kidney to HIV-positive grandmother Chel Rachel's new job Ben and Mel's fertility troubles Carbo meeting a girl, Retta Julie making friends with Hamish, who develops a crush on her The Rafters meeting Tom's grandson, Coby Mel's death Chel's departure Ben and Nathan's holiday around Australia
The fourth season (2011–2012) The fourth season premiered on 8 February 2011. The season finale aired 20 March 2012. Season four's storylines included: The return of Ben and Nathan Coby's artistic flare and his outing as an artist by Rachel The finalisation of Nathan and Sammy's divorce Rachel's departure to New York Carbo and Retta's secret marriage The development of a friendship between Julie and Donna Bree's arrival & her romance with Jake and departure Ben's relationship with Donna's daughter Emma Tom's departure The introduction of Matt, the half-brother of Dave Ruby's disappearance Ted's new lease on life and becoming a mentor to Cooper Nathan's departure
The fifth season (2012–2013) The fifth season premiered on 17 April 2012. The season finale aired 16 April 2013. Season five's storylines included: The introductions of new electrician Frankie Calasso and Julie's boss Adam Goodman Coby and Frankie's tumultuous relationship The reappearance of Jake's father Jim and his subsequent death The end of Ben and Emma's relationship Dave's drunken kiss with Frankie and his subsequent marriage troubles Retta's pregnancy and miscarriage Ben's departure Ted's dementia diagnosis The fire in the Rafter household and its aftermath Emma moving in with Carbo and Retta The arrest of Coby after his assault on Donna's boyfriend (and Dave’s client) Duncan, leading to Coby’s imprisonment and subsequent departure Nathan's marriage to Saskia and the birth of their son Edward The brief return of Nathan and Ben Jake's departure Julie and Dave's 30th wedding anniversary
The sixth season (2013) The sixth and final season premiered on 23 April 2013. The series finale aired 2 July 2013. Season six's storylines included: The arrival of new sparky and Frankie's old friend Buzz Graham Ted's reunion with ex-lover Eleanor McCormack Matt moving in with Frankie Carbo, Retta and Emma struggling with their florist store Buzz taking a liking to Emma Emma dating Logan/Craig who has been juggling between Donna and her Buzz's son Jackson visiting his dad when he is working and get to know the others The sudden death of a customer of Dave Rafter Electrical who was fond of Frankie and Frankie taking care of his greenhouse Dave coaching the cricket team Nathan calling Sammy for help in his visit to London to look for Saskia Saskia cheating on Nathan and her sleep deprivation Retta pregnant Jake and Rachel getting engaged Dave and Julie's holiday around Australia
Cast
Main Actor Character Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 Back to the Rafters Rebecca Gibney Julie Rafter colspan="7" Erik Thomson Dave Rafter colspan="7" Michael Caton Ted Taylor colspan="7" Hugh Sheridan Ben Rafter colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="1" Angus McLaren Nathan Rafter colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="2" Jessica Marais Rachel Rafter colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Georgina Haig Rachel Rafter colspan="6" colspan="1" Jessica McNamee Sammy Rafter colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" George Houvardas Carbo Karandonis colspan="2" colspan="5" James Stewart Jake Barton colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="3" colspan="1" colspan="1" Zoe Ventoura Melissa "Mel" Bannon Rafter colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" Ryan Corr Coby Jennings colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" Hannah Marshall Retta Schembri Karandonis colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="2" colspan="1" Merridy Eastman Donna Mackey colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" Zoe Cramond Emma Mackey colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" Jacob Allan Matt Jennings colspan="3" colspan="2" colspan="1" colspan="1" Brooke Satchwell Frankie Calasso colspan="4" colspan="1" colspan="1" colspan="1" Ben Mingay Buzz Graham colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="1" Fiona Spence Eleanor McCormack colspan="5" colspan="1" colspan="1"
Recurring Actor Role Duration Caroline Brazier Chrissy Merchant Season 1, Episode 1–2, 5, 7–14, 17–20; Season 2, Episode 1–3, 5, 12–13, 15, 17, 21 – 24 Episodes total Justin Rosniak Stuart "Warney" Warne Season 1, Episode 1–2, 5, 7, 9, 13–16; Season 2, Episode 1–2, 10, 13, 15, 16, 19–22; Season 4, Episode 13, 17 – 21 Episodes total Luke Pegler Daniel Griggs Season 1, Episode 1–6, 10; Season 2, Episode 18 – 8 Episodes total Sarah Chadwick Trish Westaway Season 1, Episode 4, 7, 21, 22; Season 2, Episode 7–9, 13, 15–16, 19, 21; Season 3, Episode 1–2 – 14 Episodes total Jerome Ehlers Anthony Westaway Season 1, Episode 4, 7, 21 – 3 Episodes total Kate Fitzpatrick Marjorie Stevens Season 1, Episode 12–13, 17, 21–22; Season 2, Episode 2, 5–6 – 8 Episodes total Dina Panozzo Rita Karandonis Season 1, Episode 18–20; Season 2, Episode 12; Season 4, Episode 1–3, 21 – 8 Episodes total George Spartels Theo Karandonis Season 1, Episode 18–20; Season 4, Episode 21 – 4 Episodes total Roy Billing Ron Barrett Season 1, Episode 1, 2, 7 – 3 Episodes total Belinda Bromilow Libby Sanders Season 1, Episode 16, 20; Season 2, Episode 3–4, 11, 18; Season 3, Episode 18 – 7 Episodes total Craig McLachlan Steve Wilson Season 1, Episode 8–9; Season 2, Episode 4, 15, 16; Season 4, Episode 22 – 6 Episodes total Michael Booth George Spiteri Season 1, Episode 6, 16; Season 2, Episode 3, 4, 11, 18; Season 3, Episode 11 – 7 Episodes total Ria Vandervis Layla Soubrani Season 2, Episode 4–5, 9–10, 12–13, 15 – 7 episodes total Geoff Morrell Tim Connelly Season 2, Episode 2, 3, 4 – 3 Episodes total Peter Bensley Derek Season 1, Episode 21; Season 2, Episode 2, 3; Season 3, Episode 10 – 4 Episodes total Gillian Jones Rachel "Chel" Warne Season 2, Episode 10 – Season 3, Episode 21 – 25 Episodes total Kristian Schmid Alex Barton Season 2, Episode 10–11, 14, 17–18; Season 3, Episode 6, 8–9, 11, 19; Season 4, Episode 8, 11–14, 16; Season 5, Episode 13–16 – 20 Episodes total Mercia Deane-Johns Grace Barton Season 2, Episode 10–11, 14, 22; Season 3, Episode 1–2, 4, 6, 8; Season 4, Episode 11 – 10 Episodes total Imogen Strong Ruby & Emily Langley Sabella & Hannah Storey Ruby Rafter Season 2, Episode 22 Season 3, Episode 1–14 Season 3, Episode 15 – present – 64 Episodes total John Howard Tom Jennings Season 3, Episode 9, 12–13, 17, 18, 21 – Season 4, Episode 7–16, 20 – 17 episodes total Camille Keenan Bree Jennings Season 4, Episode 11–22 – 11 Episodes total Olivia Stambouliah Voula Karandonis Season 4, Episode 13, 21; Season 5, Episode 13–16 – 6 episodes total Martin Lynes Paul Morgan Season 3, Episode 11, 14–15, 19–20; Season 4, Episode 3–7 – 10 Episodes total Jarin Towney Cooper Season 4, Episode 20–21; Season 5, Episode 1–2, 10, 20–22; Season 6, Episode 4–5 – 10 Episodes total Henry Nixon Bryn Parry Season 5, Episode 13–16 – 4 Episodes total Andy Anderson Jim Barton Season 5, Episode 5–6, 15–16, 21 – 5 Episodes total Samantha Tolj Sian Parry Season 5, Episode 3–7, 9–11, 13–16, 20 – 13 Episodes total Lauren Clair Saskia Clark Rafter Season 5, Episode 12, 22; Season 6, Episode 2, 5, 11–12 – 6 Episodes total Mark Lee Duncan Galloway Season 5, Episode 17–21 – 5 Episodes total Coby Connell Arna Fischer Season 5, Episode 19–20 – 2 episodes total Tom O'Sullivan Craig/Logan Season 5, Episode 22; Season 6, Episode 1–4 – 5 Episodes total Cameron Daddo Adam Goodman Season 5, Episode 1, 3, 5–10 – 8 episodes total Narek Arman Jackson Radovich Season 6, Episode 1, 3–5, 7–12 – 10 Episodes total Jacinta Stapleton Carla Calasso Season 6, Episode 5, 8 – 2 Episodes total Cassanne Ayre Amanda Seasons 1 & 2
Guests Recurring and minor guest stars have included Melanie Vallejo, Lieschen Pogue, Denise Roberts, Phoebe Tonkin, Damian de Montemas, Malcolm Kennard, Andy Whitfield, Iain PF McDonald, Betty Lucas, Jonathon Dutton and Bernard Curry. Kate Ceberano and David Campbell have appeared as themselves.
Production The producer is Jo Porter, who alongside series creator Bevan Lee and writer Anthony Ellis are part of the same team responsible for the critically acclaimed series Always Greener, which also set ratings records.
The exterior shots of the Rafter house are filmed on location in Concord, while most house interiors were shot in studios at the Australian Technology Park, Eveleigh. Most of the other exterior shots are filmed at locations in Southern Sydney including establishing shots at Oatley and Lugarno shopping centres as well as the Captain Cook Bridge. The dinner venue in episode 1 was filmed at the St George Motor Boat Club at Sans Souci but the indoor scenes in the Chinese Restaurant were a set. The cricket match in episode 2 was filmed at Morrisons Park, Putney. The shopping centre, beach and park scenes in episode 5 were shot in Carss Park. Julie's “Night Club” scenes were shot near Concord, at the Epping Hotel.
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