Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian film dramatizing the true story of three Aboriginal girls who escape a government settlement in 1931 and walk 1,500 miles home along Western Australia’s rabbit-proof fence.
The film follows Molly Craig, her younger sister Daisy, and their cousin Gracie—Aboriginal children forcibly removed under Australia’s assimilation policy. Taken to Moore River Native Settlement south of Perth, they escape within weeks and begin a nearly impossible journey north. With no maps, only knowledge that a rabbit-proof fence stretches across the desert toward their homeland, the girls follow it for nine weeks, surviving on bush knowledge, stolen food, and determination. The story is based on Doris Pilkington’s 1996 book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, recounting her own mother’s escape.
The Real History Behind the Film
Rabbit-Proof Fence dramatizes documented government policy. In 1931, A.O. Neville served as Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia, giving him legal guardianship over every Aboriginal child in the state. Under the Aborigines Act, authorities removed children without parental consent, sending them to institutions for training as domestic servants or laborers. This became known as the Stolen Generations—an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 Indigenous children removed between 1910 and the 1970s. Director Phillip Noyce based the film on historical records and Pilkington’s family account, preserving the girls’ specific names, ages, and route.
Who Are the Main Characters?
- Molly Craig (Everlyn Sampi)—the 14-year-old leader, determined to return to her mother in Jigalong.
- Daisy Kadibil (Tianna Sansbury)—Molly’s younger sister, age eight at the time of escape.
- Gracie Fields (Laura Monaghan)—their cousin, who accompanies the sisters but later chooses a different path.
- A.O. Neville (Kenneth Branagh)—the Chief Protector who authorizes the removal, portrayed as a bureaucratic figure enforcing what he believed was humane policy.
- Maud (Deborah Mailman)—Molly and Daisy’s mother, who fights to keep her children and watches them being taken.
Our guide to the best rabbit proof fence products covers modern fencing solutions—a far different use than the historical fence in this film.
What Makes the Rabbit-Proof Fence Central to the Story?
The real rabbit-proof fence was a pest-exclusion barrier built across Western Australia between 1901 and 1907 to stop rabbits from invading farmland. Stretching over 2,000 miles, it ran north-south through the desert where the girls traveled. In the film, the fence is a lifeline and compass. The girls know their home lies north of Moore River, and the fence provides a straight reference line through featureless scrubland. Without it, they would have no reliable way to navigate 1,500 miles. Symbolically, a human-built barrier designed to control animals becomes the route leading these children back to freedom.
What Happens During the Journey?
The escape sequence—climbing through a window at Moore River—begins the central act. Over nine weeks, the three girls walk north through harsh desert, relying on the fence as guide and wild food for survival. They avoid roads and settlements to evade recapture. Trackers follow, sometimes coming within hours of catching them. Gracie leaves the group and is eventually caught; Molly and Daisy continue alone, hiding by day and walking at night. The final act shows the sisters arriving back in Jigalong, where their mother Maud is waiting. In real life, Molly and Daisy both made it home; Molly later had her own children forcibly removed in a heartbreaking continuation of the same policy.
| Detail | Fact from the Film |
|---|---|
| Year of events | 1931 |
| Starting point | Moore River Native Settlement (south of Perth) |
| Destination | Jigalong, Western Australia |
| Distance traveled | Approximately 1,500 miles (2,400 km) |
| Time on foot | Nine weeks |
| Guide landmark | Rabbit-proof fence |
| Based on book | Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington (1996) |
| Director | Phillip Noyce |
Why Does the Film Still Matter?
Rabbit-Proof Fence remains one of the most widely seen depictions of the Stolen Generations. It does not lecture—it shows what happened and lets audiences draw conclusions. The film earned critical acclaim for restrained storytelling and casting Aboriginal actors with no prior film experience. It won Australian Film Institute awards and received a standing ovation at Cannes. For viewers unfamiliar with Australian colonial history, the film provides a human entry point into a painful chapter minimized by official records. “Rabbit-proof fence” now carries dual meaning: a literal historical fence and a symbol of the route home for those who were taken.
Australian Screen Online’s study notes on Rabbit-Proof Fence provide additional context on production and historical accuracy.
FAQs
Are the events in the film completely accurate?
The film compresses timelines and adds narrative scenes, but the core story—three girls removed under the Aborigines Act, escaping Moore River, and following the fence home—is historically documented. Doris Pilkington’s book, written from interviews with her mother Molly, is the primary source.
How old were the girls during the escape?
Molly Craig was approximately 14, her sister Daisy was 8, and their cousin Gracie was around 10. Historical records from Moore River confirm their ages at admission.
Did Molly’s children also get removed?
Yes. After returning home and later marrying, Molly had her own daughters forcibly removed under the same policy. This second removal is not depicted in the film but is documented in historical records and family accounts.
What happened to the rabbit-proof fence after this period?
The fence system remained in use for pest control through the 20th century. Portions still stand today, maintained by state authorities, though modern methods have largely replaced the original design. The fence’s role in the film has made it a recognized cultural landmark.
References & Sources
- Wikipedia. “Rabbit-Proof Fence.” Provides production history, plot summary, and historical context for the film.
- Australian Screen Online. “Rabbit-Proof Fence study notes.” Curated by National Film and Sound Archive with teaching resources and production notes.
- ACMI. “Rabbit-Proof Fence study guide.” Australian Centre for the Moving Image’s educational resource covering themes and history.