Gina Rinehart has been described as her father Lang Hancock's "alter ego" in the first instalment of a two-part ABC Australian Story special on her life.

The mining magnate's close relationship with her father and her upbringing as his ambitious protégé featured prominently in the special, but those hoping for coverage of the family's dramatic falling-out will have to wait until next week.

The ABC negotiated with Rinehart for five months to secure her first in-depth interview in more than a decade, which her estranged children blasted as a "public relations exercise".

Monday night's instalment focused on the Hancock dynasty, a six-generation mining family, and Rinehart's unique upbringing in which she was groomed to take over her father's iron ore empire.

Archival footage of Hancock and interviews with family friends, such as businessman John Singleton, showed how deeply Rinehart, 61, shared her father's steely determination to own a mine.

"Almost everything that he wanted to achieve, he shared with Gina," family friend Imelda Roche said. "He used to call her 'fella'. She was, in many ways, his alter ego."

The Australian Story special comes at an interesting time for the Rinehart family. The opening of Roy Hill in September will fulfil the family's long-held dream to own and operate their own iron ore mine, a historic $10 billion project.

At the same time, Rinehart is battling her oldest children, John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart, in the Federal and Supreme Court systems over their share in the Roy Hill project and the family's $4 billion trust.

John Hancock and Bianca Rinehart dismissed the Australian Story special as a "public relations exercise" in a letter sent by their lawyers to ABC managing director Mark Scott this week.

"The facts cannot be improved by telling one side of the story against a background of dramatic music, references to Shakespeare and commentary from a few old mates," said the letter obtained by The Australian.

The ABC special showed likeness in the lives of Rinehart and her father, both divisive figures.

Lang Hancock's only child is seen supporting him every step of the way after he discovers the world's largest iron ore deposit.

When Lang Hancock wants to use nuclear bombs to help mine the iron, he sends his teenage daughter to front the media because it would sound better coming from her.

At one point, Rinehart sounded resentful about the bad coverage her father received despite bringing vast wealth to the West Australian economy.

"Does that mean he was honoured in government and media and others?" she said. "Of course not."

Reactions to the Australian Story special were surprisingly mixed, with some viewers sympathising with Rinehart's upbringing and praising her close relationship to Hancock.

Others accused the ABC of bias and accused the interview of being nothing more than "Coalition propaganda".

Part two will examine Hancock's marriage to maid Rose Porteous, which Rinehart disapproved of, and her legal battle with her own children.

The second part of Australian Story: Iron, Iron, Iron - The Hancock Dynasty airs on Monday, July 13 at 8pm on the ABC.

Great episode @AustralianStory #GinaRinehart was a beautiful confident young woman. Love that her #1 supporter was her dad #empoweringwomen— Skevy Lorenzi (@skevylorenzi) July 6, 2015

@Caroline_J @jurylady5 @AustralianStory your perspective was excellent. To me Gina grew up with extreme RW conservative ideals..no choice— Sir Dame FuFu (@u_hardy) July 6, 2015

@AustralianStory sounding like written by #GinaRinehart's PR team. Hmmm...— James Ostroburski (@JOstroburski) July 6, 2015

Thoroughly enjoyed Part 1 of @AustralianStory a very sympathetic portrayal of Gina,better than the horse s**t #CH9 put on.— Stuart Halliday (@halliday72) July 6, 2015

Wow great @AustralianStory Lang Hancock really was ahead of his time and Gina had the business smarts & work ethic to continue on his legacy— Mick O'Brien (@mickobrien83) July 6, 2015

@AustralianStory, the most repulsive, biased reporting on the ABC. Why no enquiry?— Gerg (@Gergyl) July 6, 2015

@AustralianStory How low is OUR ABC prepared to go, to keep Gina, IPA & Abbott happy! This is pure Coalition propaganda.— Rhona Eastment (@bensab3) July 6, 2015