Weird Crap in Australia

Australia is famous for a few things, most of which will kill you: Sun, Surf, Snakes, and Spiders. We've already covered most of the others, so why not focus on those creatures that feature in the most populous of fears: arachnophobia. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into some of the most interesting spiders on this continent, some interesting stories about them, and maybe learn a thing or two...

The story of Jimmy Governor and his family is a particularly interesting story. Born in the world of the colonies and dying just short of the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, this is the story of Australia's Indigenous outlaws who rebelled against the bigots in their life, only to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and times of th...

The story of Jimmy Governor and his family is a particularly interesting story. Born in the world of the colonies and dying just short of the birth of the Commonwealth of Australia, this is the story of Australia's Indigenous outlaws who rebelled against the bigots in their life, only to find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and times of th...

At around 6.10pm on Oct 4, 1960, Anglican Minister Rev Lionel Browning and his wife were standing in their dining room, in the rectory at Cressy, Tas. They were looking east towards the hills, which were partially obscured by low clouds and rain, thus forming a rainbow in the setting sunlight. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/sup...

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time on the wholesome side of the internet knows there are 3 pillars of society that the internet looks up to. These three pillars are men who have made an impression on the people who watched their shows, and encourage them to do their very best. These three men are Bob Ross, Fred Rogers, and Steve Irwin. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life of th...

Anyone who spends a decent amount of time on the wholesome side of the internet knows there are 3 pillars of society that the internet looks up to. These three pillars are men who have made an impression on the people who watched their shows, and encourage them to do their very best. These three men are Bob Ross, Fred Rogers, and Steve Irwin. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life of th...

When Adelaide was constructed, planners were sure that, being a free colony without convicts, there would be no crime. How wrong they were... Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the first murder in a government building in Adelaide, and the many voices that saw it happen. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supp...

Monsters have been seen on the Australian continent all over, not just in NSW and Victoria. Join Holly and Matthew as they get on the trail of 3 such creatures, and the legends that have sprung up around them. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-i...

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church? Join Holly and Mat...

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church? Join Holly and Mat...

Australia's record protecting children of all nationalities is poor at best, and nothing makes this more obvious than even a cursory glance at the history of the Australian Catholic Church. For decades, people have been abandoning organised religion Could it have something to do with the power and control abusers have displayed over victims, cushioned in the bosom of the Church? Join Holly and Mat...

Stop me if you've heard this one. Agent Smith, General Zod and Aldrich Killian walk into a pub... Australia is a land of contrasts: Surf and sand, cold beer and hot days, gay bashings and a cult film about a trio of drag queens... Wait, what? In 1994, a small film made by a bunch of guerrilla filmmakers rewrote what being gay, transgender or a drag queen meant to the Australian public at large. Fr...

Stop me if you've heard this one. Agent Smith, General Zod and Aldrich Killian walk into a pub... Australia is a land of contrasts: Surf and sand, cold beer and hot days, gay bashings and a cult film about a trio of drag queens... Wait, what? In 1994, a small film made by a bunch of guerrilla filmmakers rewrote what being gay, transgender or a drag queen meant to the Australian public at large. Fr...

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway. 30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in simil...

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway. 30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in simil...

Between 1975 and 1999, dozens of men across Sydney found themselves the victims of assaults and murders. In 1988, Scott Johnson died off the cliffs of Manly. His body was found naked, and an investigation went underway. 30 years, 3 inquests and a public campaign later, his killer was close to hand. The investigation into Scott Johnson's murder uncovered many other men who lost their lives in simil...

It’s October 1, 1980, in the early morning in Victorian farm country. The sounds of cattle aren't entirely out of place in the area of Rosedale, VIC and one farm hand on the White Acres cattle station decided to investigate a small disturbance to the herd at about 1 am. The tone of the animals was strange, loud and unusual. Something was messing with the herd, causing them distress. Join Holly and...

When Europeans first set foot in Botany Bay, the local populations found their homes, their foods ounces and their lives under immediate threat. Some sought to negotiate; some fled. Still others stood their ground, and became a thorn in the side of the British Empire. This is one such story. Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the scant and biased histories of the era, and seek out the truth on...

How did a criminal on the run result in the election of Pauline Hanson in the 1990s? Why did a man and some photos turn the public against the police? Just who is the Drop-in-Bandit? Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Brendan Abbott and his crime-sprees. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supporter of this pod...

Cockatoo Island, situated deep inside Sydney Harbour, has had continual use since time immemorial. Originally a sacred site, the island became a penal colony, a shipyard, and now a tourist location. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the history of the site, and the stories of ghosts that haunt the island's many buildings. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod...

When Europeans landed on the shores of Australia, a world of foreign animals and strange plants greeted their refined, English sensibilities. While the Americas had big cows and the bones of bigger elephants, Australia was home to jumping deer and teddy bears that drop from the trees to rip you apart. It took decades for the "duck-mole" to be discovered - and it took even longer for its strangest...

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia in February 2020, the Australian government faced its biggest medical emergency since the 1920s. With 100 years to prepare and refine their responses to the issue, the changes, differences and actions taken by the Australian Government helped us avoid disaster. Thanks to the work of the Lost Generation and their elders, the 2020 government knew exactly what...

I'm sure you all saw this coming. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit Australia in February 2020, the Australian government faced its biggest medical emergency since the 1920s. With 100 years to prepare and refine their responses to the issue, the changes, differences and actions taken by the Australian Government helped us avoid disaster. Thanks to the work of the Lost Generation and their elders, the...

Keren Rowland was 20 years old when she went missing on 26 February 1971, the night of the Royal Canberra Show. Since then, what happened to her has been theorised and questioned, but one thing is sure: she was murdered. Join Holly and Matthew in welcoming our first guest host, host of Capital Crime Files podcast Nichole Overall, as we look into this case that has fascinated Canberra and surrounds...

Canberra may be the home of our lizard overlords, but in the 1970s, it was also the personal haunting ground for UFOs - and especially the poor woman Vikki Klein. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into Claude and the dog-faced aliens, and the journey of the Klein family. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supporte...