how it all began

Alan Bateman, the TV producer, went to a countryside village. Due to the heat, he wanted an ice-cream, and pulled by a local shop. He saw building work going on there, and talked to the locals about it. He commented that the area must be doing well if there's building work going on there.

There was then an immediate silence from the locals, who then complained about the work. They pointed out the horrible things and said that it would mean problems from the city would be brought into their village: drug addicts, thieves and so on. Puzzled, Alan asked them is this going to be a jail. He was told that it's actually a foster home.

The show started off with the following characters: the Fletchers consisted of Pippa and Tom Fletcher, along with their foster kids: Carly Morris, Sally Keating, Frank Morgan, Steven Matheson, Lynn Davenport. Floss and Neville McPhee, who retired from the circus; a teacher, Donald Fisher, a young tearaway Bobby Simpson, a shop owners Ailsa and Alf. Martin Dibble and Lance Smart were also included. Also were Roo Stewart, Alf's daughter and Celia Stewart, Alf's sister. Fisher is Alf's brother-in-law as he married Barbara Stewart, who left him.

Since then, there have been many additions, such as Blake and Karen, Sophie and Haydn. Michael also appeared and married Pippa; however, there were also departures of the original cast: Tom died of a stroke, Frank and Roo married and left for New York, Carly married Ben; Sally, Fisher, Alf and Ailsa are the remaining characters.

The main location in the Bay in 1988 was the Fletchers' house, where a lot of action took place. Pippa remained in the house until she left with Ian to the Carrington Ranges ten years later. Pippa handed the reins over to Travis and Rebecca. It was meant to be a six-month arrangement, but Pippa changed her mind. She decided to stay in the Carrington Ranges and Travis and Rebecca were disappointed. However, their opportunity came up; they have been selected for jobs on the sea. The Nashes took over.

Grant and Adam lived in a place which was not shown much.

When Damian went jogging, he met "Loony" Laura who later coached him on running. Later on, Adam lived there after his return to the Bay.

Other places included Ailsa's shop and her flat beside it, Alf's house, Alf's shop. Changes have occurred since then: Fisher has moved twice, and is living in the Bayside Villas. The Beach House also appeared: Marilyn originally owned it and Bobby and Greg lived there also. Irene later auctioned for this house. 

Today, the main house remains along with the caravan park.

All the beach scenes, are filmed at Palm Beach (the last beach on the north shore of Sydney, before you get to the central coast) with some also filmed at Mona Vale and the stock shots for irene's beach house, the diner and the boat shed are all around Palm Beach too

Ailsa's shop was burnt down by Dodge. Alf opened his general store. Bobby and Ailsa joined forces to open the Bayside Diner.

In 1997, Ian arrived in the Bay and managed to persuade Pippa to go with him to the Carrington Ranges. Rebecca and Travis offered to take care of the foster kids and the caravan park. Travis' brother, Joel, moved to the Bay from Hong Kong. Their house was burned down and they moved into Summer Bay House temporarily. Rebecca and Travis were supposed to be minding for six months, and they decided to leave when their opportunity to sail the seas came. They left around 1998 and the Nashes took over.

In 2000, problems occurred in the caravan park between the partners that they decided to sell it off. A family moved into the Bay - the Sutherlands.