BIOGRAPHY
Carolyn Bilsborow is a Documentary Storyteller with broadcast credits for four feature length documentaries, including Marjorie Lawrence: The World At Her Feet and Paris Or The Bush: The Story Of The Cods. She worked alongside veteran filmmaker Wayne Groom between 2012 – 2022.
In 2018 Carolyn wrote and directed a film documenting the infamous ‘Somerton Man’ mystery. After the film’s premiere in Adelaide the South Australian State Government agreed to exhume the body of the unknown man found on Somerton Beach in 1948 and in 2022 researchers successfully identified the man, solving the 74 year mystery. Carolyn featured in three episodes of the ABC’s Australian Story program dedicated to the subject between 2018 – 2022.
In 2017 Wayne and Carolyn were nominated for an Australian Writers Guild Award (AWGIE) for their Paris Or The Bush script and in 2023 they won the ‘Digital Technologies’ prize awarded by the History Trust Of South Australia, in recognition of their historical documentary films.
In 2026 Carolyn completed work on a feature-length documentary about Graeham Goble, founding member of the iconic Australian band, Little River Band.
Carolyn was also a Lecturer in Documentary Film at the University of South Australia for 19 years and was the Program Director for Film and Television for 3 years. She completed a Doctor of Philosophy degree in 2012. Her thesis Inside The Screen: Engaging The Contemporary Documentary Audience included the short documentary Inside The Brotherhood Reel.
FILMOGRAPHY
The Boy Inside Little River Band (unreleased)
Writer/Co-Producer/Director/Editor
This feature length documentary provides an exclusive insight into the life and music of Graeham Goble. With 5 US Top 10 singles to his name, he is Australia’s most successful songwriter. Best known as a founding member of Little River Band, little else is known about the man behind the hit songs Reminiscing, Take It Easy On Me, The Night Owls & Lady. The authorised biography features interviews with family, friends and colleagues who have been part of Graeham’s life.
Marjorie Lawrence: The World At Her Feet (2021)
Co-Producer/Editor
Born in 1907 in regional Victoria, Australia Marjorie Lawrence dreamt of being a Soprano Opera Singer. During the 1930s she sang on stages across the world, including Paris and New York. At the height of her career, she was tragically cut down by Polio. Remarkably she partially recovered from the illness and continued singing from a wheelchair and in 1955 MGM made a film about her life. This feature length documentary narrated by Dame Kirk Te Kanawa, features interviews with her biographer and other historians who provide a detailed account of Marjorie’s life.
Broadcast of ABC, Australia
Tour de Legacy: The Western Front (2019)
Co-Producer/Editor
A remarkable documentary about a group of cyclists who ride from London through the battlefields of France and Belgium to commemorate one hundred years since the end of World War One.
Broadcast on SBS, Australia & 9 Network, Australia
Missing Pieces: The Curious Case Of The Somerton Man (2018)
Writer/Co-Producer/Director/Editor
In 1948 the body of a man was found on Somerton Beach in South Australia and 70 years on, he remains unidentified. Through interviews with primary witnesses and researchers this documentary presents the facts of what happened on the beach and asks, who is the Somerton Man?
Premiered at Mercury Cinema, Adelaide
Paris Or The Bush: The Story Of The Cods (2016)
Co-writer/Co-Producer/Editor
A rowing eight from Murray Bridge, South Australia, overcome prejudice, age, injury and poverty to represent Australia at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
Broadcast on Foxtel History Channel and 9 Network Australia
Muddied Waters (2012)
Writer/Researcher
Muddied Waters is a 2012 television documentary that explores community concerns over the Federal Government’s Murray Darling Basin Plan through the stories of the people who live and work in the Basin communities.
Broadcast on 7 Network Australia
