Secret Valley is a fictitious children's holiday camp in Bildarra which had been transformed from a run down ghost town into a resort. The children who worked and visited the camp often found themselves in battle against a gang of bad kids – Spider McGlurk and his gang from "Spider Cave". These battles usually featured flour bombs and other food related missiles and everyone inevitably ended up in a big mess. Spider McGlurk and his gang were not the biggest threat to the peace at Secret Valley. Secret Valley was also under threat of closure by the local council, and property developer William Whopper played by Hugh Keays-Byrne. Produced by Roger Mirams who also produced the series Professor Poopsnagle's Steam Zeppelin in 1986, amongst other programs and series. The 1980 pilot was directed by Howard Rubie and written by Terry Bourke.
International screenings
The series was aired in New Zealand, Spain, Greece, Italy, the UK on ITV in the 1980s, and the Netherlands in 1982/1983 by KRO television. It was also broadcast by the Dutch TV stationKindernet in 1989/1990. It was also aired in South Africa in 1983 on the state-owned SABC.
Production
This program was a co-production between Australia, Spain and France.
The series was at Smokey Dawson's ranch in the NSW town of Terrey Hills and also at the theme park El Caballo Blanco.
Roger Mirams originally intended to make a series called The Ghost Town Gang at Smoky Dawson's ranch at Ingleside, which had been used to film Luke's Kingdom and Lost Islands. However bushfires went through it, and there was no ghost town so the show became Secret Valley. Thirteen daysafter the fire, filming started again. Producer Mirams says the overall theme of Secret Valley is depicted through kids doing their own thing in what usually is an adult world.
The theme song "My Secret Valley" was sung to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda" and composed by Bob Young, with lyrics by series producer Roger Mirams. I had a dream I could ride across the mountaintops Ride on the waves where the sea turns blue Gum trees, some trees rise until they touch the sky I know a place where it all comes true Chorus: I know a valley, I know a valley My Secret Valley the world has to see One place for children, welcome from around the world Please come and share Secret Valley with me Verse Paris, London, Montreal and Amsterdam So many friends that we want to know From the hills of Spain to the city streets of Germany I know a place where we all can go Repeat chorus
Episodes
1. Big plans 2. Secret weapon 3. Battle stations 4. The horse who could dance 5. The junkman 6. The ghost of Secret Valley 7. Save the bunyip 8. The monster 9. The magnetic machine 10. The runaway 11. Double trouble 12. The great mini bike race 13. Spanish gold 14. I spy 15. Secret Valley Bush Fire 16. Super scoop 17. Spider McGlurk Meets His Match 18. The Trojan Bull 19. A sticky situation 20. The worm turns 21. Lost in the bush 22. Express delivery 23. The Bildara Bank Bust 24. The oily bird catches the worm 25. Big city 26. End of the rainbow
