Neighbours is celebrating its 40th anniversary this week. Over the next couple of days, I thought I would share some of my top 10s.
Today’s Top 10 is the iconic families that have lived on Ramsay Street.
I decided to focus on families instead of individual characters because there are too many icons, and it would be impossible to reduce the list to just 10.
This is my Top 10 list of Neighbours’ families. I’m sure I may have missed your favourite family, or you may not agree with the ranking. Let me know!
10. The Willis’
The Willis family was first introduced to Neighbours in 1989, with Brad (Benjamin Mitchell) appearing in a guest role.
I couldn’t help but love Pam (Sue Jones) and Doug (Terence Donovan) and their constant squabbling and family dramas.
The Willis family disappeared from our screens in 1996 when Cody (Peta Brady) was shot and killed.
However, we were introduced to a new generation of the Willis family in 2013. Brad Willis (Kit Gamblin) returned to Neighbours, with his third face and personality transplant, along with his family.
While the family has come and gone, Terese Willis (Rebekah Elmaloglou) continues to make her presence known on the street.
9. The Mangels
When you think of Neighbours at its peak, Nell Mangel (Vivean Gray) is one of those iconic characters you remember.
While she was an annoying busybody, you couldn’t help but love to hate her.
The Mangel family grew over the years with Joe (Mark Little), Skye (Stephanie MacIntosh), and Plane Jane Superbrain (Annie Jones) becoming key characters in the show’s history.
Annie Jones had made a few guest appearances throughout the years before returning in a permanent capacity in 2018.
When Jane returned, it wasn’t long before her family was on the street, with Nic (Charlotte Chimes/Hanna Monsoon) and Byron (Joe Klocek/Xavier Molyneaux) causing a few dramas wherever they went.
8. The Brennans
The introduction of the Brennan family was a slow and steady one over the years, with Mark Brennan (Scott McGregor) joining the show in 2010.
Unlike some of the other families that treaded the street, this family unit was very much about the siblings rather than the patriarchs.
It is also safe to say that the Brennans brought the hotness to the street. Every single one of them was stunning.
Aaron Brennan (Matt Wilson) is currently still living on Ramsay Street, after the death of his husband, and co-parenting their daughter, Abigail, with the surrogate mother (Nic).
7. The Cannings
Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan) was introduced to Neighbours in a recurring capacity in 2008 as a bully/bad boy at Erinsborough High.
Once a permanent fixture and now a lovable rogue, his nan Sheila (Colette Mann) was on the doorstep, sticking her oar in wherever she could. Sheila was a character that just oozed iconic status.
There’s something about a bogan family that brings so much character to the street. We also saw Sheila’s kids, Gary (Damian Richardson) and Naomi (Morgana O’Reilly), make appearances.
6. The Varga-Murphys
While the Varga-Murphys have only just arrived as part of the Amazon Years, I feel they’ve already left their mark in the history of Ramsay Street.
The Wifeys dynamic is just beautiful to watch, and I think their queer interracial relationship is extremely fresh and well-written.
With more time, I feel we would have had the pleasure of meeting more of their complex family.
Remi’s half-brother Taye, played by the stunning Lakota Johnson, had joined the show as a regular earlier in 2025.
Over the last two years, we’ve been introduced to some others from the VM clan, including Cara’s sister, Chelsea, who has just returned to the show to create more drama.
5. The Scullys
The Scullys arrived on Ramsay Street in 1999 and were labeled “bogans” by the neighbours.
First impressions weren’t exactly the best, with Lyn (Janet Andrewartha) constantly calling Susan “Sue.”
However, as the years progressed, the Scullys became a superb family to watch.
Janet took the role of Lyn and made it her own. She was superb and knew how to deliver both comedy and drama.
Steph (Carla Bonner) also became one of the most iconic characters in the show, and while the producers did her dirty by having her kill Ringo, she remains unforgettable.
4. The Rebecchis
1995 saw Toadie Rebecchi (Ryan Maloney) join the show initially for one episode. However, playing the troublesome class clown and making such a good impression that he became a regular.
We saw his family turn up over the years, all named after fish, bringing loads of problems. However, Toadie was the key character for this family.
You had to love Angie (Lesley Baker), who let everyone know exactly what she thought. It was always fun when she turned up to meddle.
Toadie’s wife Sonya (Eve Morey) was a complex character and a delight to watch.
In 2017, the Rebecchi family was extended with Shane (Nicholas Coghlan), and his family turned up to cause their own issues. Initially living next door, they eventually moved into Toadie’s Tardis of a home.
After 30 years on the street, Toadie has moved away. Don’t worry, he has left his daughter Nell (Ayisha Salem-Towner) to live with his ex-wife Terese (yes, I am talking about the Willis Terese).
3. The Ramsays
The Ramsays are such an integral part of Neighbours and Ramsay Street’s history. After all, the street is named after Max’s (Francis Bell) grandfather.
The first scene of Neighbours featured Shane (Peter O’Brien) and Danny (David Clencie).
It wasn’t so much Max’s family that made the show. To be honest, I didn’t care for Max. It was when his sister Madge (Anne Charleston) turned up and brought her family with her that things took off.
This is the family group that everyone remembers from the heyday. Charlene (Kylie Minogue) and Henry (Craig McLachlan) were key characters of the show.
When Madge died in 2001, you’d think that would be the end of her character. But not in soapland—Madge has made guest appearances throughout the years… as a ghost (of sorts).
In 2009, history was rewritten, and we were introduced to some new Ramsays: three orphans, with the eldest, Kate (Ashleigh Brewer), taking on the parental role.
I don’t think anyone really got over the retcon, but Kate became part of the show’s history.
After five years on the show, the new Ramsays were no more, and Ramsay Street was Ramsay-less again.
Until 2024, when Shane introduced us to his son, Max Ramsay Jr (Ben Jackson), who had been shipped to Erinsborough to escape his troubles…or bring them with him, more like!
2. The Kennedys
The Kennedys arrived in 1994 with a bang. The whole street knew they’d arrived. The entire family brought a different, but refreshing, feel to the show. And that’s exactly what the show needed.
Every single Kennedy has earned their place as one of the iconic characters of Ramsay Street.
Patriarchs Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan (Jackie Woodburne) have provided us with decades of great storylines, whether comedic or drama-infused.
Their kids, Mal (Benjamin McNair), Libby (Kym Valentine), and Billy (Jesse Spencer), left their mark on the street too.
As the years went on, we were introduced to many more of the Kennedy clan, or they took in a waif and stray every now and then.
Holly (Lucinda Armstrong Hall), Karl’s daughter from an affair, has made guest appearances throughout the years. However, for the Amazon Years, she became a permanent character who must hold the world record for being in the most hostage situations.
1. The Robinsons
The Robinsons have been in the show from the beginning, and they’ve played an integral part in Neighbours ever since.
If you were ever to look at the Robinson family tree, you’d probably find a link to nearly every family that has lived on Ramsay Street.
If you thought Six Degrees of Keven Bacon was a challenge, you clearly haven’t met Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis).
Jim (Alan Dale) and his mother-in-law Helen (Anne Haddy) were the iconic characters who led the original Robinsons.
When the show was axed by Channel 7 and then taken over by Channel 10, there were a few cast changes, including Scott Robinson, with Jason Donovan taking over the role from Darius Perkins, making it one of the most well-known characters of the show.
It feels like there has always been a Robinson on Neighbours, and with Paul having such a large history, he has been able to bring a continuous flow of his family, whether it be one of his 8 kids or his grandkids making an appearance.
