Cirrus@Austlit

Tony Morphett worked as an interviewer and reporter for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and Daily Telegraph, before turning to freelance writing. His first two novels Mayor's Nest (1964) and Fitzgerald (1965) were followed by a short story, Objector (1966) and the novel Dynasty (1967), both of which were soon afterwards adapted for television by the ABC. Morphett also published another novel in the 1960s, Thorskald (1969). Among his short stories from this period was 'Litterbug,' first published in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction.

Although he wrote for both radio and television, he was best known as one of Australia's most prolific television scriptwriters, having worked on more than fifty series during a career spanning more than four decades. During that time he was been nominated for and won numerous industry accolades including AWGIE awards, Penguin, Australian Film Institute (AFI), Logie and RomCom awards. Morphett won his first AWGIE for Best Television Script in 1971 with Cry Me a River. He was shortlisted for the 2010 RomCom Script Competition with Return Engagement.

Morphett began to establish his credentials as a television scriptwriter through such series as Delta (1969-70), Dynasty (1969-71), The Link Men (1970), The Long Arm (1970), Catwalk (1971-72), and Boney (1972-73). He also created the highly popular ABC soap Certain Women (1973-77). Other high-profile shows from the 1970s that he wrote for include The Evil Touch (1973), The Seven Ages of Man (1975), The Sullivans (1976), Glenview High (1977), Case for the Defence (1978), Chopper Squad (1978), Against the Wind (1978), The John Sullivan Story (1979), Skyways (1979), and Patrol Boat (1979). Morphett also co-wrote The Last Wave (1977) with Peter Weir and Petru Popescu.

The 1980s saw Morphett engaged to write episodes for two of Australia's most popular television series, A County Practice (1982-83) and The Flying Doctors (1986-88), including the 1985 mini-series. That decade also saw him co-write the film/television adaptations of Robbery Under Arms (1985) with Graeme Koetsveld and the feature film The Shiralee (1987). The mini-series he wrote include My Brother Tom (1987), The Dirtwater Dynasty (1987) and Bangkok Hilton (1989). Morphett also wrote the script for Michael Willesee's 1987 documentary on Lola Montez.

Morphett scripts during the 1990s included such series as G.P. (1991-92), Skytrackers (1994), Heartbreak High (1994-97), Blue Heelers (1994-2006), Mirror Mirror (1995) and Water Rats (1996-2001). He was also engaged to write the mini-series Tracks of Glory (1992), Kings in Grass Castles (1998) and the teleplay Don't Look Behind You (1999). Morphett's association with the long-running Blue Heelers series saw him write more than 500 episodes. After 2000, he wrote for Above the Law (2000), Young Lions (2002), MDA (2002), Rain Shadow (2007), Sea Patrol (2007-09) and Packed to the Rafters (2009-10).

In addition to his television career, Morphett wrote several stage plays and a collection of addresses about his Christian faith titled A Hole in My Ceiling (1985). His six published novels included two for young adults: the science fiction inspired Quest Beyond Time (1985), which was published and adapted for television as part of the Winners anthology series, and The Distant Home, which was first published in 1993.