It is set primarily during the Christmas rush period when young school leaver, Lisa, joins the women.

The novel was also adapted into a movie in 2018, titled Ladies in Black, and directed by Australian film director Bruce Beresford.

Beresford spent some 25 years trying to raise the money to make this film after securing the rights from St John, whom he had known at Sydney University in the 1960s.

[2] In September 2023, it was announced the ABC had commissioned a six-part series based on the book, which would see the women enter the sixties.

[3][4] In November 2023, the series was confirmed to be filming in South Australia, along with the announcement of the cast.