Weird Crap in Australia

A massive part of Australian history has been ignored and forgotten by most of Australia in the last 120 years. The story of Federation started in the 1860s, not long after the famous Eureka Riots, and took until September 1900 to get ratified. Forget what little you learned about federation in school - this is the true story! Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod U...

Welcome to episode 100! To celebrate the milestone, we're covering a massive part of Australian history that has been ignored and forgotten by most of Australia in the last 120 years. The story of Federation started in the 1860s, not long after the famous Eureka Riots, and took until September 1900 to get ratified. Forget what little you learned about federation in school - this is the true story!...

The Nullarbor Plain, one of the most iconic and desolate landscapes in Australia, stretches across southern Australia, from South Australia to Western Australia. Its name, derived from the Latin nullus arbor meaning "no trees," is a fitting description of the barren, treeless expanse that characterizes the region. But despite its harshness, the Nullarbor is a place of remarkable natural beauty and...

The Woolworths bombings in Sydney became one of the most infamous acts of domestic terrorism in Australian history. In 1978, a series of bombings targeted the Woolworths stores across the city, leaving the public shaken and authorities scrambling for answers. The bombs, planted by an unknown group, were designed to cause maximum chaos and fear. Fortunately, no one was killed, but the explosions ca...

Australia is home to some of the most fascinating and unique dinosaur fossils in the world. From the towering Muttaburrasaurus to the fierce Qantassaurus, Australia's prehistoric creatures roamed a vastly different landscape millions of years ago. The country's diverse environments, from lush forests to arid deserts, created habitats for a variety of dinosaur species that continue to captivate pal...

The Eureka Stockade, one of the most significant events in Australian colonial history, took place when a group of gold miners, fed up with harsh taxes and unfair treatment, clashed with British soldiers in Ballarat, Victoria. The miners had been protesting against the expensive mining license system and the oppressive tactics used by authorities to enforce it. This led to an armed rebellion, wher...

The Eureka Stockade, one of the most significant events in Australian colonial history, took place when a group of gold miners, fed up with harsh taxes and unfair treatment, clashed with British soldiers in Ballarat, Victoria. The miners had been protesting against the expensive mining license system and the oppressive tactics used by authorities to enforce it. This led to an armed rebellion, wher...

The Eureka Stockade, one of the most significant events in Australian colonial history, took place when a group of gold miners, fed up with harsh taxes and unfair treatment, clashed with British soldiers in Ballarat, Victoria. The miners had been protesting against the expensive mining license system and the oppressive tactics used by authorities to enforce it. This led to an armed rebellion, wher...

The Eureka Stockade, one of the most significant events in Australian colonial history, took place when a group of gold miners, fed up with harsh taxes and unfair treatment, clashed with British soldiers in Ballarat, Victoria. The miners had been protesting against the expensive mining license system and the oppressive tactics used by authorities to enforce it. This led to an armed rebellion, wher...

The Australian Satanic Panic reached its peak, with widespread fear and hysteria over supposed Satanic ritual abuse and the influence of dark occult practices infiltrating Australian society. Fueled by sensational media reports and unsubstantiated claims, this moral panic sparked a wave of false accusations, leading to ruined lives and wrongful convictions. The panic was heavily influenced by inte...

The iconic horror film Saw was released, making its debut at the Sundance Film Festival before hitting theaters later that year. Directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, Saw introduced audiences to the twisted genius of John Kramer, also known as the Jigsaw killer, who forces his victims to complete deadly, life-or-death puzzles as a form of punishment for their perceived sins. The fil...

The Moorehouse Murders became one of the most chilling crime stories in Australian history. In 1986, two killers lured young women into their car before torturing and murdering them in their home in Perth, WA. The couple, who had a history of violent behavior, became notorious for their sadistic acts, which were discovered after they kidnapped Kate Moir, who later escaped to tell her story. Their...

The Moorehouse Murders became one of the most chilling crime stories in Australian history. In 1986, two killers lured young women into their car before torturing and murdering them in their home in Perth, WA. The couple, who had a history of violent behavior, became notorious for their sadistic acts, which were discovered after they kidnapped Kate Moir, who later escaped to tell her story. Their...

The discovery of Mungo Man, one of the most significant archaeological finds in Australia, took place near Lake Mungo, New South Wales, on February 26, 1974. Mungo Man is the remains of a man who lived around 42,000 years ago, making him one of the oldest known human skeletons found in Australia. The discovery was part of ongoing excavations at Lake Mungo, a site that has yielded some of the oldes...

We were hoping that there wouldn’t be a need for another one of these until our very podcast studio came under threat. In order to answer all your questions in one hit, here is a second update on the ongoing Australian bushfire natural disaster and when it came knocking at our door. Once again, supreme gratitude to emergency services personnel who keep us safe throughout the bushfire threat. Main...

Frederick Fisher's Ghost is one of Australia's earliest and most famous ghost stories, dating back to 1826. The tale revolves around the mysterious death of Frederick Fisher, a farmer from New South Wales, whose body was found buried in the swampy lands where Campbelltown Train Station now stands. It isbelieved that Fisher was murdered by his friend and fellow settler, George Worrall, who was late...

Frederick Fisher's Ghost is one of Australia's earliest and most famous ghost stories, dating back to 1826. The tale revolves around the mysterious death of Frederick Fisher, a farmer from New South Wales, whose body was found buried in the swampy lands where Campbelltown Train Station now stands. It isbelieved that Fisher was murdered by his friend and fellow settler, George Worrall, who was late...

The Tully UFO Nests, a baffling phenomenon, were discovered on January 19, 1966, in the small town of Tully, Queensland. A local farmer, George Pedley, reported seeing a flying saucer-like object hovering over his property before it flew away, leaving behind a series of circular indentations in the ground. These “nests” appeared to be the result of a large, heavy object landing and taking off, tho...

William Kamm, self-proclaimed as "The Little Pebble," founded a controversial religious group in New South Wales that later became widely known as the "Little Pebble Cult." Kamm claimed to have direct communication with the Virgin Mary and predicted various apocalyptic events, leading to a devoted following among his community. The sect, based on the South Coast of New South Wales, drew internatio...

William Kamm, self-proclaimed as "The Little Pebble," founded a controversial religious group in New South Wales that later became widely known as the "Little Pebble Cult." Kamm claimed to have direct communication with the Virgin Mary and predicted various apocalyptic events, leading to a devoted following among his community. The sect, based on the South Coast of New South Wales, drew internatio...

So many of our listeners have expressed concern about the Weird Crap team as Australia goes through its bushfire hellscape, and we thank you for it. In this small bonus episode, Holly and Matthew set out for international and domestic listeners alike what it's like in Canberra at the moment (not for the politicians - the little people). We don't get political, and we can't solve the problem, but w...

William Kamm, self-proclaimed as "The Little Pebble," founded a controversial religious group in New South Wales that later became widely known as the "Little Pebble Cult." Kamm claimed to have direct communication with the Virgin Mary and predicted various apocalyptic events, leading to a devoted following among his community. The sect, based on the South Coast of New South Wales, drew internatio...

The infamous Simpsons episode "Bart vs. Australia" aired on February 19, 1995, and became an iconic, if controversial, depiction of Australian culture in American pop culture. In the episode, Bart prank-calls Australia, racking up a massive phone bill and inciting outrage in the Australian government, who demand he travel to Australia for an apology. The Simpson family’s chaotic trip Down Under un...

William Kamm, self-proclaimed as "The Little Pebble," founded a controversial religious group in New South Wales that later became widely known as the "Little Pebble Cult." Kamm claimed to have direct communication with the Virgin Mary and predicted various apocalyptic events, leading to a devoted following among his community. The sect, based on the South Coast of New South Wales, drew internatio...

William Kamm, self-proclaimed as "The Little Pebble," founded a controversial religious group in New South Wales that later became widely known as the "Little Pebble Cult." Kamm claimed to have direct communication with the Virgin Mary and predicted various apocalyptic events, leading to a devoted following among his community. The sect, based on the South Coast of New South Wales, drew internatio...