Weird Crap in Australia

Among all the bands to make it out of Australia, only 3 have become international sensations: INXS, The Wiggles... and AC/DC. Starting as a garage band in Sydney in the early 1970s, AC/DC took the world by storm with hit album after hit album, raging their way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2010. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the 2nd biggest band on Australian shores, and the jou...

In the 1990s, Peter Khoury was already worried about strange encounters felt by both himself and his family. From strange men standing at second-storey windows, to footsteps with no owner, he thought he'd "seen" it all. Nothing would prepare him for his next encounter with aliens, right in his bedroom one July morning... Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used un...

In the 1990s, Peter Khoury was already worried about strange encounters felt by both himself and his family. From strange men standing at second-storey windows, to footsteps with no owner, he thought he'd "seen" it all. Nothing would prepare him for his next encounter with aliens, right in his bedroom one July morning... Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used un...

In 1888, as Gentleman Jack stalked the nights in the East End, people grew terrified and suspected everyone, from a Prince of Windsor to the local hairdresser. Thousands of miles away, Fred Deeming was on the hunt for his own victims. Or was he? Sources indicate that Deeming may have been in London at the time those murders took place. Whatever the answer, this episode is not about the Whitechapel...

Captain Charles Hyndman was known for making himself a nuisance around Sydney in whatever way he could manage during the 1840s. An opponent of such horrible ideas as education for all and abolishing Squatters' rights, he took to explaining his political ideas to large audiences, wherever they had gathered. In 1843, Hyndman was arrested for grandstanding on the edge of a race track, and given a psy...

On the evening of Aug 6, 1949, a sensational story appeared on page 1, next to news of a deadly quake in Ecuador; the headline read, Thrown into sea by Reds! While fear of the Red Tide was not as strong in Australia as it was in the USA, the idea that the Russians and other communist nations sought to influence Australia's politics was still strong. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the Red...

Renowned illusionist Harry Houdini started his career back in the 1890s, forging a path to fame through his ability to escape any situation unharmed. But 40 years beforehand, in the 1850s, a convict sentenced to Transportation for thievery began his own tale of daring escapes in Western Australia. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the life and escapes of Joseph Johns, aka Moondyne Joe. Main...

Around the world, there are cases that have gone unsolved so long that they enter the realm of mythology, rather than history. In the UK, Jack the Ripper fascinates true crime buffs. In the USA, it's the Zodiac killer. In Australia, we don't have a serial killer, but we do have Mr Cruel. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the case, and examine what gives it such longevity. *contains crimes a...

Around the world, there are cases that have gone unsolved so long that they enter the realm of mythology, rather than history. In the UK, Jack the Ripper fascinates true crime buffs. In the USA, it's the Zodiac killer. In Australia, we don't have a serial killer, but we do have Mr Cruel. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the case, and examine what gives it such longevity. *contains crimes a...

In the middle of the Rocks, Sydney, lives a building that has stood the test of time. Originally constructed by convicts for convicts, the Barracks has a long, colourful history, and a few ghosts to boot. Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the Barracks, its ghosts and its history! Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Becom...

When Europeans came to Australia, they brought with them their monsters - demons, devils and starving men. What they didn't know was that monsters already stalked the Australian landscape, targeting people for their dinner. We've covered Bunyips and Yowies in this series (Episode 3). We've covered the monsters that live in our country - or did before they were extinguished (Episodes 5, 16, 19, 30,...

As Rosaleen Norton was exhibiting her artwork and being raided for obscenity, a young man indulged in the black market of pornographic art - while making a living as a children's comic book illustrator. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the story of the Lone Avenger, his creator, and the justification for Australian comics' censorship. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" –...

As Rosaleen Norton was exhibiting her artwork and being raided for obscenity, a young man indulged in the black market of pornographic art - while making a living as a children's comic book illustrator. Join Holly and Matthew as they look into the story of the Lone Avenger, his creator, and the justification for Australian comics' censorship. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" –...

The legend of Crocodile Dundee has melted into the pop culture collective of the Australian stereotype. Join Holly and Matthew as they look at the man who inspired the legend of Crocodile Dundee, and other parts of Australia's reputation. Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spre...

There are a few places put forward as the "MOST HAUNTED" places in Australia. We looked into the one most cited (and requested) amongst experts and fans alike... 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-in-australia--2968350/support .

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...