Butterfly Island

{{Short description|Television series}}

{{about|the Australian TV series|the Mexican island|Janitzio}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}}

{{Infobox television

| image =

| caption =

| genre =

| writer = David Phillips

| director = Howard Rubie

| starring = Grigor Taylor
Mouche Phillips
Penne Hackforth-Jones

| composer =

| country = Australia

| language = English

| num_episodes = 8 (season one)
22 (season two)
16 (season three)

| producer = Stanley Walsh

| camera =

| runtime = 30 mins

| channel = ABC (series one)
Seven (series two)

| first_aired = {{start date|1985}}

| last_aired = {{end date|1987}}

}}

Butterfly Island is an Australian children's drama television series. The first season cost $1.6 million, the second $3.2 million.Albert Moran, Moran's Guide to Australian TV Series, AFTRS 1993 p 96 This was the first mainstream Australian TV show where an Asian actor, David Phu An Chiem was given a lead role.{{cite news |url=https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/other-industries/incredible-ragstoriches-story-behind-aussie-entrepreneurs-success/news-story/8e3f80c7d4714e93e8392642c75f6bea|title=Incredible rags-to-riches story behind Aussie entrepreneur's success|date=4 March 2019|author=Alexis Carey|work=news.com.au }}

The first eight part season aired on the ABC in 1985. It followed the Wilson family who run a holiday resort. Also featured are a Vietnamese refugee and a crooked property developer.{{Citation | last= Watson | first= Bronwyn | title= Island family drama | url= | periodical= The Sydney Morning Herald | date= 15 July 1985}}{{Citation | last= Voumard | first= Sonya | title= Drama in the Tropics | url= | periodical= The Age | date= 11 July 1985}} The second 22-part season moved to Channel 7 in 1987.{{Citation | last= Bellamy | first= Louise | title= Tropical warmth will help ease those winter chills | url= | periodical= The Age | date= 26 March 1987}} A planned third season was axed in 1987 after a casting dispute with the Actors’ Equity over the use of an American actress.{{Citation | last= Hooks | first= Barbara | title= No Butterfly Island thanks to actors' union | url= | periodical= The Age | date= 24 June 1987}} The series was revived in 1991.{{Citation | last= | first= | title= New film studio | url= | periodical= The Canberra Times | date= 28 October 1991}}