Episodes

  • Episode 347 - The North Head Quarantine Station

    Episode 347 - The North Head Quarantine Station
    Jan 26 2025
    The North Head Quarantine Station, located on the northern headland of Sydney Harbour, holds a chilling legacy as one of Australia's most significant quarantine sites. Operating from 1833 to 1984, the station housed those afflicted by contagious diseases, such as smallpox, Spanish flu, and the plague, aiming to prevent outbreaks in the Australian colony. Thousands passed through its gates, many of whom never left.

    With its preserved heritage buildings and proximity to mass graves, North Head is also notorious for its ghost stories and reported paranormal activity. Stories of shadowy figures, unexplained sounds, and otherworldly encounters are told by staff and visitors alike, cementing its place as a hotspot for both history buffs and ghost hunters.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they uncover the harrowing stories of survival, death, and the spectres that linger in the shadows of the North Head Quarantine Station.


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    47 mins
  • Episode 346 - The Wooreen School Kidnapping

    Episode 346 - The Wooreen School Kidnapping
    Jan 20 2025
    Edwin Eastwood was back at it again. Armed with a firearm, he entered the Wooreen State School and took nine students and their teacher, Rob Hunter, hostage. The kidnapper's demands for a ransom and threats heightened the terror of those involved. What did he want? Drugs, money and freedom.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the details of the kidnapping, the experiences of those involved, and the long-lasting impact this ordeal had on the victims and Mr Lindsay Thompson.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    46 mins
  • Episode 345 - The Faraday School Kidnapping

    Episode 345 - The Faraday School Kidnapping
    Jan 13 2025
    The Faraday School kidnapping shocked Australia, as a group of six schoolgirls and their teacher, Mary Gibbs, were taken by two armed kidnappers. They stormed the small Faraday School in rural Victoria and held the group hostage, demanding a ransom of a cool million dollars. The police launched an intense search while the kidnappers took the victims into the bushland, keeping them captive for several days.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the details of the kidnapping, the resilience of the victims, and the enduring impact this crime has had on its victims.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    49 mins
  • Episode 344 - The Royal Train Wreck (1920)

    Episode 344 - The Royal Train Wreck (1920)
    Jan 6 2025
    A Royal Train carrying Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII), derailed near Jarnadup, Western Australia, during his Australian tour. The accident occurred when the rails spread, causing the last two carriages, including the Prince’s, to overturn down a low embankment. Remarkably, no one was injured, though the event temporarily trapped the Prince and his entourage in the overturned carriage.

    This incident, though potentially perilous, endeared the Prince even more to Australians. Known affectionately as the “Digger Prince,” his poise and quick wit during the ordeal reinforced his popularity with the public, already captivated by his tour of the country. The event remains a notable chapter in the history of royal visits to Australia, reflecting both the challenges of travel and the Prince's grace under pressure.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the derailment, the tour, and the wider context of royal visits to Australia.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    32 mins
  • Episode 343 - The 1949 Coal Miners' Strike

    Episode 343 - The 1949 Coal Miners' Strike
    Dec 30 2024
    In 1949, one of Australia’s largest industrial actions took place when coal miners staged a well-planned strike. Beginning in June and lasting nearly seven weeks, the strike involved more than 23,000 workers protesting poor wages and dangerous working conditions in the coal mines. Coal was a critical energy resource post-World War II, and the strike brought industries and households across the nation to a standstill, causing significant economic and social disruption.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they unearth the tensions, key players, and ramifications of the 1949 Coal Miners’ Strike, exploring its profound legacy on Australian industrial relations.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    48 mins
  • Episode 342 - The Royal Flying Doctor Service Part 2

    Episode 342 - The Royal Flying Doctor Service Part 2
    Dec 23 2024
    Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has stood as a beacon of hope for those living in its most remote and unforgiving regions. Founded in 1928 by Reverend John Flynn, the service was born out of the need to provide critical medical care to isolated communities. Initially known as the Aerial Medical Service, it has grown into one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations, covering 7.69 million square kilometres.

    The RFDS's impact is profound, delivering essential healthcare, emergency evacuations, and telehealth consultations to areas that would otherwise lack access. Whether reaching a station deep in the Outback or responding to life-threatening accidents far from conventional hospitals, the RFDS remains a lifeline for countless Australians. Its innovation and adaptability have secured its place as a vital part of the nation's heritage.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they take to the skies to uncover the history, challenges, and extraordinary feats of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the people who keep it airborne.


    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    40 mins
  • Episode 341 - The Royal Flying Doctor Service Part 1

    Episode 341 - The Royal Flying Doctor Service Part 1
    Dec 16 2024
    Australia's Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) has stood as a beacon of hope for those living in its most remote and unforgiving regions. Founded in 1928 by Reverend John Flynn, the service was born out of the need to provide critical medical care to isolated communities. Initially known as the Aerial Medical Service, it has grown into one of the world’s largest and most comprehensive aeromedical organisations, covering 7.69 million square kilometres.

    The RFDS's impact is profound, delivering essential healthcare, emergency evacuations, and telehealth consultations to areas that would otherwise lack access. Whether reaching a station deep in the Outback or responding to life-threatening accidents far from conventional hospitals, the RFDS remains a lifeline for countless Australians. Its innovation and adaptability have secured its place as a vital part of the nation's heritage.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they take to the skies to uncover the history, challenges, and extraordinary feats of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, and the people who keep it airborne.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 340 - The Thallium Craze of the 1950s Part 4

    Episode 340 - The Thallium Craze of the 1950s Part 4
    Dec 9 2024
    In the 1950s, Australia was gripped by a bizarre and terrifying trend of thallium poisoning, one of the most sinister and mysterious poisoning cases in Australian history. Thallium, a highly toxic metal, was used in a range of household items, including rat poisons and insecticides, and became the weapon of choice for a number of perpetrators. The poison’s ability to cause severe and often fatal damage to the nervous system made it incredibly difficult to detect, and as such, it led to a series of deaths and illnesses across the country. At the time, symptoms of poisoning were easily mistaken for other diseases, leading to confusion and numerous misdiagnoses.

    Join Holly & Matthew as they delve into this shocking chapter of Australian crime history, exploring the chilling details of the poisonings and how they led to greater awareness and safety regulations around toxic substances in Australia.

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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    43 mins