A captivating new twelve-part documentary series, Such Was Life, delves into the fascinating and often overlooked stories across Western Australia, spotlighting the people and narratives defining our state's unique character.
These five-minute documentary shorts look at stories across regional Western Australia. From the first bride of Coolgardie and Australia’s largest ghost town to a musical tour on the back of an old Army truck and a time when water was more precious than gold, Such Was Life explores how the past has shaped the Western Australia we know today.
The documentaries are part of the WAnderland website, run by the WA Museum. The WAnderland website is a portal that features museums, collections, and other attractions from across regional Western Australia. It includes more than 200 attractions, and you can even add them to your road trip itinerary.
Commissioned by the Western Australian Museum as part of WAnderland, the Such Was Life documentaries bring the collections and the people behind them to life.
The Museum worked with Perth-based film producer Paul Barron, commissioning the series of short films to explore these collections and their stories more deeply.The first series of the Such Was Life series aired on SBS in 2023 and was hugely popular. This second season, set to premiere on SBS in May, promises even more captivating tales from across Western Australia.
Reflecting on the project, Barron remarked that the Such Was Life journey began in 2022 with interviews along the Coral Coast.
“The overwhelming response prompted us to expand our exploration, to investigate and tell stories from the Goldfields and the South West."
“An essential part of the process was researching the stories already told on the WAnderland site and identifying those we could expand. From there, we began working with local communities to track down the right people to involve. As a result, this series encapsulates the diverse experiences and voices of Western Australia, and I am thrilled to share their compelling narratives with the public."
WA Museum CEO, Alec Coles said, "We're delighted to extend the Such Was Life documentary series to a second season. The people and places featured are diverse, and the stories always intriguing, powerful, poignant, and sometimes just a little quirky. This series offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and character of this extraordinary state."
Such Was Life will air on SBS in May and will also be available on SBS On Demand. The first series is available on SBS On Demand.
