Territory Famous

Goat Island isn't what you think it is. Despite the name, there aren't any goats. What you will find is a pub in the middle of the crocodile-infested Adelaide River, a Danish bloke known as King Kai, a "pet" crocodile named Casey, a tiny dog that spent years chasing a three-metre saltwater crocodile, and a frying pan that somehow became part of Territory history. In this episode of Territory Famou...

This episode covers the coronial inquest findings into the death of Mitchell Thomas following a fatal house fire in the Northern Territory. The coroner concluded the fire was caused by electrical arcing in degraded wiring located in the roof cavity of the home. The property was public housing, built in the late 1980s, and evidence presented during the inquest highlighted long-standing maintenance...

Well... I stuffed up. 🤦‍♀️ I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they were both called Crocs Gone Wild . I was going to delete it, but then I realised it's actually a bloody funny episode, and quite a few of you had already downloaded it. So I'm leaving it there as a little bonus. The real Territory Famous: Crocs Gone Wild is out...

Oops... Wrong Crocs! 🐊😂 Well... this wasn't the plan. I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they both happened to be called Crocs Gone Wild . I was going to delete it, but quite a few people had already downloaded it, and honestly... it's still a bloody entertaining episode. So instead of pretending it never happened, I'm leavin...

The episode centers on the deaths of two men at Hidden Valley near Darwin, whose deaths led to a coronial inquest and renewed scrutiny of dog management across the Territory. We'll explore what happened, the evidence presented to the coroner, and the recommendations that followed. We'll also take a closer look at the role of camp dogs in remote communities and the challenges surrounding dog popula...

In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the case of Dennis Rostron, one of the Northern Territory's most confronting family homicide cases. In 1988, five members of Rostron's family were killed at an outstation near Maningrida in Arnhem Land. Drawing on Supreme Court records, contemporary newspaper reporting, parole decisions and later interviews, we follow the events leading up to the sho...

This week on Territory Famous we're looking at two extraordinary events that unfolded in the skies above the Northern Territory. First, we revisit the dramatic 1972 hijacking of Ansett Flight 232, a bizarre and tense ordeal that unfolded in Alice Springs and became one of the most unusual aviation incidents in Australian history. Then we travel back to August 1989, when a routine sunrise balloon f...

In June 2011, 25-year-old Levi Griffiths was walking home along a dark stretch of road in Darwin’s rural area when his life was tragically cut short. What happened afterwards would shock the Northern Territory. In this episode of Territory Famous, we look into the case of Nicholas “Shonky” Cassidy — from the fatal collision on Girraween Road, to the elaborate cover-up that followed, the legal loop...

In Part 2 of the Ben Hoffmann case, Territory Famous follows the long and chaotic court process that unfolded after the 2019 Darwin shootings. What began as a murder trial quickly became one of the most bizarre and difficult Supreme Court proceedings the Northern Territory had seen in years. This episode covers: • Hoffmann’s behavior inside the courtroom • His repeated clashes with lawyers and the...

In 2019, Ben Hoffman was involved in a drug-fueled shooting rampage that resulted in a serious violent incident and multiple shots being fired. This episode focuses on the events of the shooting itself, including how the situation unfolded and escalated, the actions taken during the incident, and the immediate response from those involved and emergency services. It covers the timeline of the day a...

In this episode, I’m covering a pretty full-on pub bashing that happened at the Airport Hotel in Darwin back in 2007. This one stood out to me straight away because I actually used to work there as what they call a toppy (topless barmaid), and later did bookings for the pub — so I know the pub pretty well I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about this episode though, because it got pretty wild. Afte...

This is the third and final episode in the Zak Grieve series. In this episode, we focus on Christopher Malyschko — the man who carried out the killing of Ray Niceforo — and what happened after the trial. We go through Christopher’s sentencing, including why he received a non-parole period of 18 years instead of the standard 20. The court considered his background, his lack of prior serious offendi...

In Part 2 of Zak Grieve’s story, we move beyond the events of that night and into the courtroom, where the real complexities of this case begin to unfold. This episode focuses on what happened after the murder of Ray Niceforo, and how the legal system responded to the roles each person played. While the facts of the case were laid out in court, what followed raised serious questions about justice,...

This episode focuses on the lead-up to the murder of Raffaele “Ray” Niceforo, and the role of Bronwyn Buttery. For years, Bronwyn lived in a relationship marked by control, intimidation and violence. What started as a relationship that seemed promising slowly deteriorated into something much darker — leaving her isolated, financially strained, and fearful for her safety and the safety of her child...

Just a quick update—no episode this week. I'm currently researching and recording a 3-part series on Zak Grieve and his legal battle. The research for this one has taken a lot more time than usual. I would rather hold off on releasing it for a week than rush the job and leave out any information. (Also, my son’s had COVID this week, so I’ve been busy playing Florence Nightingale—poorly—with a fair...

In early 1998, a small house in Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory became the centre of one of the most intense and well-documented paranormal cases in Australian history. What started as a few strange incidents quickly escalated into full-blown chaos — stones falling from ceilings, knives flying across rooms, messages appearing on walls, and objects materialising out of nowhere. Multiple witnes...

In this episode of Territory Famous, I’m sharing the story of how a girl from the Gold Coast ended up travelling and working across the Northern Territory as a skimpy barmaid. Moving from the beaches and nightlife of the Gold Coast to the rugged landscapes of the Top End was a massive culture shock. The Northern Territory is a completely different world – bigger skies, wilder country, remote towns...

In August 2014, two months after the tragic death of Bill Scott, another fatal crocodile attack shook the Northern Territory. Lanh Van Tran, a 57‑year‑old fisherman, was on the banks of the Adelaide River with his wife, fishing near the Adelaide River Bridge when his line got snagged in the murky water. Believing the snag was caught on a branch, he waded in to free it. That decision was routine —...

In June 2014, Bill Scott was on a family fishing trip at a remote billabong in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory when the day turned into something no one could have imagined. While sitting in a small aluminum boat, Bill reached over the side to fill a bucket with water. In seconds, a large saltwater crocodile surged up from behind the motor, grabbed him and dragged him from the boat...

In 2022, a helicopter crash during a crocodile egg-collecting operation in the Northern Territory claimed the life of Chris Wilson, known to many as “Willow.” Pilot Sebastian Robinson survived but sustained serious injuries that would permanently alter his life. The incident sent shockwaves across Australia, not only because of the tragedy itself, but because of who was involved. Matt Wright, star...

On January 5, 1977, Alice Springs witnessed something no one expected — not an accident, not a mechanical failure, but a deliberate act of destruction. In what became known as the Connellan Air Disaster, Colin Richard Forman stole a Beechcraft Baron aircraft and flew it directly into the Connair complex at Alice Springs Airport. It was a calculated suicide attack, driven by anger and revenge again...

Correction Notice: In the original recording of this episode, I made a couple of errors : The crocodile attack occurred in the early morning (AM), and the size of the crocodile mentioned should be 15 feet, not 15 meters. Thank you for your understanding — I’ll be correcting this in future versions of the episode, but for now the main story and context remain accurate. * In this episode, we explore...

In 2012, Edward Ned Kelly was shot and killed at his home in Broadwater, New South Wales. The man responsible was Jonathan Stenberg. After the murder, Stenberg went on the run — but what followed was anything but ordinary. While wanted for a brutal killing, Stenberg travelled through Queensland, where he auditioned for a role in the film Mystery Road . He was offered a part, then disappeared befor...

The Australian outback is vast, isolated, and unforgiving. A place where distance, heat, and terrain can quickly turn ordinary travel into a life-threatening situation. In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine two separate disappearances connected by the same remote stretch of the Northern Territory: the Stuart Highway. In 2020, Claire Hockridge became stranded in extreme desert conditions...

On 13 August 1983, people near Uluru went out expecting an ordinary night and instead found themselves caught up in sudden and extreme violence. In a matter of minutes, lives were lost, others were seriously injured, and many people were left trying to process something that made no sense at the time. In this episode, I go through what led up to that night, how events unfolded, and the court proce...