An independent film and television production company, Hal McElroy Southern Star was founded in the early 1990s by Hal McElroy (who had previously co-owned McElroy and McElroy with his brother James). This new venture was one of several independent divisions operating under the corporate umbrella of Southern Star Entertainment. The partnership arrangement allowed McElroy's company to oversee all creative decisions and the day to day production management of projects while Southern Star met all running costs, producer and staff salaries, finance and administration.
Hal McElroy Southern Star's productions include: Blue Heelers (1994-2006, TV series), The Sum of Us (1994) and Water Rats (1996-1999, TV series).
McElroy left Southern Star in 1997 and founded McElroy Television in April 1998. Two years later that company's parent organisation Eden Productions Pty Ltd sued Southern Star Entertainment for AUS$10.5 million over alleged non-payment of royalties from Blue Heelers and Water Rats. Southern Star subsequently mounted its own lawsuit against McElroy's company for $140,000 it claimed was owed by Eden. McElroy Television was rebranded McElroy All Media in early 2005.
