Oliver contacted
Albert Finney who was then planning to produce the film
Ned Kelly in Australia in 1963. Finney gave him a letter of introduction to an agency in Sydney and Oliver emigrated in 1963, later becoming an Australian citizen. He frequently visits
Fareham, Hampshire to see his old friends. Oliver became a busy theatre and television actor in Australia. He had many guest starring roles on Australian drama series, appearing frequently in the top-rated
Crawford Productions police dramas
Homicide,
Division 4,
Matlock Police, and in Crawford's adventure series
Hunter (1967). He played Clarry in
The Shifting Heart. HE appeared in the 1971 film
Nickel Queen, directed by
John McCallum. After this he returned to television guest roles for Crawfords, and other companies. He also appeared in several British TV series at the beginning of the 70's, such as
Paul Temple,
Thirty-Minute Theatre, and also played two roles in the
Gerry Anderson series
UFO – a doctor in the episode entitled "Confetti Check A-OK" as well as a SHADO technician in the episode entitled "The Sound of Silence". Oliver also worked for a time as a presenter on
Play School in 1967. Oliver has appeared in many local productions in guest roles, but became best down for his regular role in rural series '
Bellbird (TV series) in 1969 until 1971 as Tom Grey, In 1972 he joined the cast of fledgling soap opera
Number 96 playing the role of Janie Somers' new beau, Jack Sellars. Back-slapping rough diamond Jack, nicknamed 'Jolly Jack Sellars' was intended as a guest character to appear for a run of just three weeks, but the makers of the show were impressed with his performance and the character was made into an ongoing lead regular in the serial. Oliver became one of the
Number 96s most popular cast members. In late 1973, along with much of the show's regular cast, he reprised his television role in a feature film spinoff of the serial, also called
Number 96. Oliver stayed in the role in the series for more than two years, finally electing to leave in mid-1974. He quickly returned to guest starring roles on television and film roles of varying sizes. He briefly returned to
Number 96 in the same role in September 1975.
Further film, television and stage Oliver's film roles included
ABBA: The Movie (1977). His primary role in the film was as
ABBA's gruff bodyguard; however, he additionally appeared in the film as a barman and as a chatty moustached taxi driver shown mainly from behind. Through the late 1970s and the 1980s, Oliver appeared in guest and regular roles in many Australian drama series and serials, including
Prisoner,
Holiday Island,
Cop Shop,
Sons and Daughters and
A Country Practice. He also appeared in the acclaimed miniseries
The Dismissal portraying
Reg Withers. Oliver also acted on the stage in numerous productions, appearing in such plays as
The Knack,
Cactus Flower,
How the Other Half Loves and
The Club. In 2015, it was announced that Oliver had cut back further on his role as Lou and would only appear from time to time as a guest. In October 2016 it was announced that Oliver had left the role after 24 years and his last appearance aired in December 2016. Lou did not feature in the
series finale, but there was still a reference to his character in the form of a lawyers' office called "T Oliver". Executive producer
Jason Herbison later revealed that he had personally called Oliver to inquire about returning for the final episode, but Oliver turned it down as he was "at a different point in his life now". ==Awards==