"E Street" was created and produced by Forrest Redlich. The structure of the original cast and the format of the first episodes were modelled on "A Country Practice", a highly successful serial on Seven Network Redlich had worked on as a writer, script editor, and a producer for several years until 1988. The earliest episodes of "E Street" could be seen as an urban version of that soap, tackling human interest, issue-led stories over two weekly hour-long episodes, with continuing storylines carried by the small regular ensemble cast. Further similarities included setting much of the action around the local police station, a pub, and a doctor's surgery with the regular cast established as working at one of these locations. Whereas in rural "A Country Practice", a veterinary practice was featured regularly, in suburban "E Street", this was replaced with a legal-aid centre.