Weird Crap in Australia

Picnic at Hanging Rock has become so much a part of Australian lore that few people realise it was a book before it was a movie. Claiming the book was based on a dream, the author has summarily refused to confirm or deny that the events within were based on true events. So hang on to your headphones, because Holly and Matthew are on the case! Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" –...

Hidden in the rain forests of northern Queensland lays a pool of water that is calm, flat and inviting. Below the surface is a churning pool ready to drag you down, haunted by the ghosts of victims past sand present... Welcome to Babinda Boulders, housing such landmarks as The Devil's Pool and the Washing Machine. With a reported 17 victims between 1959 and 2008, almost all male, this pool is beau...

During the 1950s and 60s, Sydney's Kings Cross was one of the more liberal suburbs, hosting artists, musicians, transients and other people who lived on the fringes of society. One of these artists, Rosaleen Norton, was known for something a little different around the area. As High Priestess of her coven, the Witch of Kings Cross hosted all manner of parties and orgies, the likes of which most of...

In 1994, fishermen along the Hawkescury river north of Sydney were trawling for squid. Net snags are not unusual in the industry, especially when trawling rivers. However, what these fishermen dragged up from the depths would kickstart a mystery that would last 25 years... Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. Sources cited: Ke...

In 1979, on an early June evening, a family and a group of school children attended Sydney's Luna Park, seeking to enjoy the fun atmosphere of a Saturday night after exploring the city. From that night grew a legend of demons, child sacrifice and a haunted theme park. Join Holly and Matthew as they examine the history and legends surrounding the Luna Park Ghost Train Fire. Main Theme music – Kevin...

In October 2001, on a property nestled in south-east Queensland, three people slept. Disturbed by something they can't quite quantify, one of them wakes up and enters the lounge room... ...only to see one of her housemates being abducted by aliens. Two hours later, that same housemate is found, dehydrated and lethargic, almost 800km to the north, in the city of Mackay. How did she get there? What...

Kelly Cahill’s close encounter in 1993, near Victoria’s Dandenong Ranges, remains one of Australia’s most notorious UFO and alien abduction cases. Cahill and her husband were driving home at night when they spotted an unusual, blinding light in the sky. Moments later, they saw a large, disc-shaped object hovering on the side of the road. According to Cahill, as they approached the craft, they expe...

The Family Murders in Adelaide, one of Australia’s most chilling and disturbing cases, spanned from 1979 to 1983, involving the abduction, abuse, and murder of young men. The victims, aged between 14 and 25, were brutally tortured and killed, with their bodies often left mutilated in various locations. The group behind these atrocities became known as "The Family," a name referring to an alleged n...

The Family Murders in Adelaide, one of Australia’s most chilling and disturbing cases, spanned from 1979 to 1983, involving the abduction, abuse, and murder of young men. The victims, aged between 14 and 25, were brutally tortured and killed, with their bodies often left mutilated in various locations. The group behind these atrocities became known as "The Family," a name referring to an alleged n...

The Family Murders in Adelaide, one of Australia’s most chilling and disturbing cases, spanned from 1979 to 1983, involving the abduction, abuse, and murder of young men. The victims, aged between 14 and 25, were brutally tortured and killed, with their bodies often left mutilated in various locations. The group behind these atrocities became known as "The Family," a name referring to an alleged n...

The Tromp family road trip in 2016 captivated Australia with its tale of sudden paranoia, strange behavior, and inexplicable actions. Mark and Jacoba Tromp, along with their three adult children, abruptly left their farm in Victoria without any clear reason, embarking on a bizarre journey that would scatter family members across New South Wales. The family reportedly left behind phones, passports,...

Kalkajaka, also known as Black Mountain, is an eerie and distinctive mountain located near Cooktown, Queensland, made up of massive black granite boulders stacked upon each other, forming a labyrinth of passageways and caves. Known to the Kuku Yalanji people as a sacred and dangerous place, Kalkajaka has long been associated with myths and legends of spirits, mysterious disappearances, and paranor...

Australia’s history with feral animals began with early European colonisation, introducing species that have dramatically reshaped the continent's ecology. Today, feral animals—unmanaged populations of non-native species—include the feral cat, rabbit, fox, camel, horse, pig, and water buffalo. These animals have had a profound impact on native flora and fauna, often outcompeting or preying upon en...

The mysterious “Bass Strait Triangle” has long intrigued and unsettled Australians, encompassing a section of the Bass Strait between mainland Australia and Tasmania. Since the early 20th century, reports of strange disappearances, UFO sightings, and unusual magnetic disturbances have shrouded this area in mystery, leading it to be compared to the Bermuda Triangle. The most infamous case associate...

A massive, mysterious geoglyph appeared in the South Australian outback near the town of Marree, capturing worldwide attention. Dubbed the "Marree Man," this massive figure was a stylised outline of an Indigenous man holding a throwing stick, measuring around 4.2 kilometres (2.6 miles) in length. Its creation has never been officially claimed, and the artist(s) remain unknown to this day, sparking...

The Port Arthur Massacre, one of Australia's most tragic and defining moments, occurred on April 28, 1996. A gunman opened fire on the visitors of the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, resulting in 35 deaths and 23 injuries. This horrifying attack shocked the nation and led to significant changes in Australian gun laws, including the introduction of strict firearm regulations and a national g...

The Port Arthur Massacre, one of Australia's most tragic and defining moments, occurred on April 28, 1996. A gunman opened fire on the visitors of the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, resulting in 35 deaths and 23 injuries. This horrifying attack shocked the nation and led to significant changes in Australian gun laws, including the introduction of strict firearm regulations and a national g...

The Port Arthur Massacre, one of Australia's most tragic and defining moments, occurred on April 28, 1996. A gunman opened fire on the visitors of the Port Arthur Historic Site in Tasmania, resulting in 35 deaths and 23 injuries. This horrifying attack shocked the nation and led to significant changes in Australian gun laws, including the introduction of strict firearm regulations and a national g...

Port Arthur, located in Tasmania, was established as a penal colony, quickly becoming one of the most notorious sites in Australia’s convict history. Originally set up as a timber station, it soon became a place for the most hardened and repeat offenders who were sent to the island for punishment and rehabilitation. Over the decades, Port Arthur’s high-security prison became infamous for its harsh...

Lasseter's Reef, one of Australia's most enduring gold mining legends, continues to captivate adventurers and treasure hunters. The story begins with Harold Lasseter, an early 20th-century prospector, who claimed to have discovered a rich gold reef somewhere in the vast and unforgiving deserts of central Australia. His discovery, however, was never proven, and Lasseter’s attempts to return to the...

Australia was home to a remarkable array of megafauna, some of which were the largest creatures to ever walk the Earth. Their sudden disappearance has been the subject of much debate. The megafauna era represents a time of extraordinary biodiversity in Australia's ancient past, where creatures far larger than those seen today dominated the ecosystem. While most of these giants vanished long ago, t...

The infamous "Highway of Death" between Townsville and Mount Isa in Queensland, Australia, became synonymous with tragedy after a series of unsolved murders and disappearances. Over the past few decades, at least 12 people have been found dead or gone missing along the "Townsville Killing FIelds", often under mysterious and chilling circumstances. The isolated road, a stretch of Flinders Highway,...

The Westall UFO Incident, which occurred on April 6, 1966, in Melbourne, remains one of Australia’s most fascinating and mysterious events. Over 200 students and teachers at Grange Horse Primary School and Westall High School witnessed an unidentified flying object (UFO) hovering in the sky, before it quickly ascended and disappeared at high speed. The object was described as being a silver, sauce...

The Hawkesbury River Monster is one of Australia's most intriguing cryptid legends, said to haunt the waters of the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales. Descriptions of the creature vary, with some reporting it as a giant eel or snake-like creature, while others claim it resembles a prehistoric sea monster. Sightings date back to the 19th century, with locals recounting strange occurrences and mys...

Christmas in Australia offers a very different experience compared to the traditional wintery celebrations in the United States. While American Christmases are often associated with cold weather, snow, and cosy fires, Australians celebrate the holiday in the heat of summer. The iconic imagery of snowmen and sleigh rides is replaced with beach barbecues and outdoor gatherings. Christmas Day falls d...