Richard Zachariah, a respected figure in Australian television, radio, and literary circles, has died at the age of 80. The journalist, author, and former ABC presenter passed away after a decades-long career marked by eloquent storytelling, nostalgic reflection, and a genuine affection for Australia’s rural landscapes.
Zachariah was perhaps best known to many Australians as the charismatic co-host of The Home Show on ABC television in the 1990s. Alongside fashion icon and television personality Maggie Tabberer, who was also his former partner, Zachariah brought warmth and intelligence to the program, exploring homes and lifestyles with both curiosity and class.
A Partnership That Lit Up Australian Screens
The Home Show was a lifestyle and design program that quickly became a staple of Australian weekend viewing. What set it apart, and contributed to its popularity, was the chemistry between its two hosts.
Zachariah and Tabberer, both stylish and self-assured, offered a vision of domesticity and personal expression that was deeply appealing to audiences. Their blend of banter, insight, and gentle humour resonated with viewers across the country.
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Although the couple eventually parted ways, both professionally and personally, their time on screen together remains a cherished memory for many Australians who tuned in during the show’s heyday.
From Western Victoria to the World
Born in Victoria, Zachariah’s early years were spent in the regional town of Hamilton, in the Western District — a part of Australia that would later inspire some of his most acclaimed writing.
He attended school in the area and formed an early connection to the wide landscapes and agricultural communities that dotted the region. That connection endured throughout his life and became a major thematic focus in his writing.
In a 2017 interview on ABC Radio Melbourne’s The Conversation Hour, Zachariah described his lifelong love for the Western District: “I was gone and hooked and I still am,” he said. “I’ve just got goosebumps talking about it.”
A Career Beyond the Camera
While he found fame on television, Zachariah’s talents extended far beyond broadcasting. He was a journalist and author, with a keen ability to chronicle the emotional undercurrents of Australian life.
In 2017, he published The Vanished Land: Disappearing Dynasties of Victoria’s Western District. The book served as both a historical documentation and a personal lament for a changing world — one in which traditional rural aristocracies were giving way to the realities of modern life.
In a glowing review for the Sydney Morning Herald, journalist and author Fiona Capp wrote: “Zachariah’s defiant nostalgia, lyrical prose and Chekhovian melancholy make for a tale of novelistic power.”
A Life Well Travelled
According to his publisher, Wakefield Press, Zachariah lived in London, Sydney, and Melbourne over the course of his life. These urban centres offered cultural richness and media opportunities that suited his talents, but he always retained a deep affection for Australia’s countryside.
In recent years, Zachariah resided in the Adelaide Hills — a peaceful retreat that likely offered inspiration and serenity in equal measure.
Colleagues and readers remember him not just for his public persona, but for the thoughtful, introspective man behind the microphone and pen. His passion for storytelling, artful prose, and deep respect for heritage were central to everything he produced.
Friends, Colleagues Pay Tribute
Photographs taken in 2017 show Zachariah in the company of fellow writers John Birmingham and Brett Worthington, suggesting the continued importance of his connection to Australia’s literary and journalistic community.
Many who knew Zachariah — from producers and co-hosts to readers and listeners — have shared tributes remembering his contribution to media, culture, and regional history. His voice, they say, was distinctive and deeply human — a rare combination of warmth, intellect, and authenticity.
While his television work brought him into the homes of millions, his writing allowed readers to access a more personal, contemplative side of the broadcaster.
Final Farewell
A funeral service for Richard Zachariah will be held on April 23 at the Eastern Park Chapel in Warrnambool, Victoria — not far from the landscapes that inspired his most passionate prose.
It will likely be attended by friends, family, former colleagues, and admirers who were touched by his words, his broadcasts, and his ability to make meaning out of change, loss, and memory.
Zachariah’s death marks the passing of a storyteller who was never afraid to speak with depth and vulnerability. Whether exploring elegant homes on screen or examining the decline of rural dynasties in his writing, he did so with a reverence for beauty, place, and people.
His legacy is one of charm and substance — a broadcaster who cared about more than just the moment, and a writer who sought to preserve the echoes of a vanishing world.
As the ABC and broader media community bid farewell, many will remember Richard Zachariah not only as a presenter or author, but as a voice that celebrated both Australia’s present and its past with equal clarity.
