Forgotten Australia
byForgotten Australia
HistoryTrue Crime
Created by Michael Adams, author of The Murder Squad and Hanging Ned Kelly, Forgotten Australia delves deep into bloody crimes, dark histories, unsolved mysteries, eccentric personalities and bizarre happenings that are almost always stranger than fiction. Each episode brings to life people and events that were once known to everyone but are now barely remembered by anyone. Based on intensive original research, Forgotten Australia is crafted with a novelist’s eye for character and detail to create gripping narratives that sound so fresh it's like they're ripped from today's headlines. This is the history you wish you’d been taught in s...
Episodes(40 episodes)
S10E8 - This Week in 1986 – Part Three: The Murders of Anita Cobby, Sallie-Anne Huckstepp and Megan Kalajzich
Australia is shocked by three Sydney murders – even as a spate of brutal attacks on sex workers goes ignored by the police and tabloid media. Plus: Lindy Chamberlain freed as the newspapers dodge accountability, and David Brett’s strange tale gets lost; DNA set to revolutionise crime fighting, while science explains how you don’t get AIDS; Paul Hogan's peak year gathers pace; and cult leaders L. Ron Hubbard and Charles Manson return the the headlines.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of...
Published: Feb 2, 2026Duration: 43:47
S10E7 - This Week in 1986: Part Two – A Billionaire Tyrant Terrorises His People
In the Philippines, authoritarian ‘strongman’ President Ferdinand Marcos – having once survived a sex tape scandal that should've sunk him, and having siphoned billions from the people he's impoverished, oppressed, tortured and murdered – unleashes his police and military goons to assassinate and terrorise the opposition during ‘free’ elections.Plus: Rupert Murdoch smashes the print unions; Maggie Thatcher hit by two scandals; and Australians fear they'll be living in George Orwell's 1984 under the proposed Australia Card.Hear This Week in 1986 – Part 3 now early and ad-free as a supporter.It’s easy to get a free trial that w...
Published: Jan 29, 2026Duration: 29:00
S10E6 - This Week in 1986 – Part One: The Strange Death That Freed Lindy Chamberlain
After an Englishman fell to his death at Uluru on Australia Day 1986, a search of the area would find the crucial evidence that proved Lindy Chamberlain was innocent of the murder of her baby daughter Azaria. But who was the tortured soul whose fate set her free?Also: the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster; Star Wars can't live up to the hype; President Reagan guns for Colonel Gadaffi; and Donald Trump explains his Russia-friendly plan for world peace as he talks up his awesome dome project and shows off his new mega-mansion Mar-A-Lago!*Parts 2 & 3 are...
Published: Jan 26, 2026Duration: 54:14
S10E5 - Spotlight – History Daily – The Rum Rebellion – 26 January 1808
Welcome to the first episode of Forgotten Australia Spotlight, which is to showcase the work of other history storytellers. First up, History Daily, with their episode about the Rum Rebellion, which took place on the 20th anniversary of what would later be called Australia Day. It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian history? Check out my books!They’ll Ne...
Published: Jan 23, 2026Duration: 19:41
S10E4 - Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Four
Having left his mark on Australia, Professor Charles Peart’s legend is to fade with the years, even as others step up to even greater heights for even more dangerous plunges – intentional and accidental.To support Forgotten Australia:www.patreon.com/forgottenaustraliawww.apple.co/forgottenaustraliaLifeline13 11 14 0477 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books!They’ll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html<...
Published: Jan 19, 2026Duration: 27:56
S10E3 - Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Three
Arriving in Australia, Professor Charles Peart lives up the hype and wows crowds in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, before showing New Zealand audiences what he can do. But the daredevil has even wilder stunts planned for his return season in 1896.Hear the final instalment now early and ad-free by becoming a Forgotten Australia supporter.Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaLifeline13 11 14 0477 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/ Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my boo...
Published: Jan 14, 2026Duration: 58:00
S10E2 - Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Two
After a diving tragedy shocks London, Professor Charles Peart rises to fame with his daring and dizzying head-first pool stunts. When Australian circus owners come looking for acts to take Down Under, they believe they’ve found a star performer.Hear Death-Defying Death Divers parts 3 and 4 now early and ad-free as a Forgotten Australia supporter. You can use a free trial that's easy to cancel. If you decide to continue supporting, it'll cost the same as a cup of coffee per month. Supporters help me to keep making Forgotten Australia as...
Published: Jan 11, 2026Duration: 47:52
S10E1 - New Season Miniseries: Death-Defying Death Divers – Part One
Welcome to Season 10! There are a lot of wild stranger-than-fiction episodes and miniseries coming your way in 2026. To start the New Year, let's splashback 130 years...In 1895, Australians were astounded by Charles Peart, whose claim to fame was diving head-first from 100 feet into water just six feet deep. How did he do it? How long could he do it?In this four-part miniseries, we plunge into the strange world of striving divers, conniving showmen and sensationalist reporters who brought dizzying and often deadly thrills to audiences in England, the United States, Australia and New Zealand...
Published: Jan 4, 2026Duration: 53:16
S9E82 - The Marvellous Mary Stoddard
In 1881, plucky Mary Stoddard won the Great Australian Christmas Card Competition and launched her long and brilliant career in the Sydney art scene. While colonial gentlemen usually didn’t take ‘lady artists’ terribly seriously, Mary’s mastery of the pen and brush, particularly when doing portraits of powerful men, commanded respect, praise and plenty more prizes. She was a true pioneer.To hear the bonus episode 'The Day Australian Art Changed Forever', and get access to other exclusive shows, and get all episodes early and ad-free, become an Patreon or Apple supporter. Click here for a free tria...
Published: Dec 30, 2025Duration: 1:05:27
S9E81 - The Garden Palace Mystery Revisited
Hope you all had a great Christmas. New episodes will be out next week. In the meantime...Australia's first Christmas cards were displayed at The Garden Place. In this episode, originally released in 2023, we look at the raising – and blazing – of colonial Sydney's most spectacular building. Nearly 150 years after its conception, questions linger about its destruction.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia...
Published: Dec 26, 2025Duration: 1:04:59
S9E80 - Australia’s Great Christmas Card Competition
In 1881, after years of a Christmas card market dominated by wintry imports, the John Sands company launched a competition for Australian-themed designs, with the best and most popular artworks to be reproduced for sale to the public. Who would win? What did this contest and ongoing card mania mean for Australian cultural identity, women's employment, art and culture, education and industry – and for the authenticity of our creativity and communication?Bessie Rouse's scrap album, featuring early Christmas card designs:https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/bessie-rouses-scrap-album/It’s easy to get a free...
Published: Dec 21, 2025Duration: 1:03:36
S9E79 - When Santa Broke Into Pentridge
A new Christmas episode is on the way. In the meantime, let’s revisit the cheekiest Santa Claus in Australian true crime history: Dusty Sheehan – the young Melbourne larrikin, hapless crook and serial prison escape artist – who made news everywhere in 1951 when he broke into Pentridge to bring joy to jailbirds.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian true crime an...
Published: Dec 15, 2025Duration: 32:25
S9E78 - Shirley Butler: The Christmas Murder – Part Two
In the weeks after Shirley Butler's murder, newspaper reports hinted that police weren't divulging everything they knew. Then, in June 1953, nearly six months after her death, detectives announced a stunning breakthrough. But the arrest of their ‘Hitler’ suspect would pale in comparisons with the revelations to come.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my...
Published: Dec 8, 2025Duration: 41:50
S9E77 - Shirley Butler: The Christmas Murder – Part One
In this re-release episode, we revisit one of Australia’s most haunting murder cases. On Christmas Day 1952, the body of Shirley Butler was found not far from her Sydney home. The vivacious 21-year-old had last been seen on Christmas Eve, in a festive mood, boarding a packed city. What had happened next? Who had killed her and why? In their search for answers, an army of detectives would scour the city for clues – and authorise a world-first radio re-enactment of her last fateful journey. The man they were looking for? A Russian magician with a Hitler moustache.<br...
Published: Dec 7, 2025Duration: 38:02
S9E76 - Short – Stunt Pilot Percy Snell
In September 1920, Captain Percy Snell thrilled Brisbane by performing aviation stunts in a biplane right over the centre of the city. Forgotten today, this fearless flier was a man of many adventures, including heroics and possible crimes in the Great War. Back home, when not entertaining the future King of England, Percy was piloting a state premier on an aerial election campaign tour that ended in what may have been Australia’s first political assassination attempt.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit eith...
Published: Nov 28, 2025Duration: 20:13
S9E75 - Short – The “Man-Woman” Murder Case That Shocked Australia
In 1920, Sydney police arrested a man named Harry Crawford for murder — giving Australian newspapers the story of the year when it was revealed this male suspect was biologically female. The Eugene Falleni "man-woman" case — as it became known — culminated in a sensational trial, though doubts that justice was done persist to this day.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australi...
Published: Nov 26, 2025Duration: 16:52
S9E74 - Short – Sydney’s Horror Shipwreck
In 1857, Sydneysiders awoke to the nightmare vision of their harbour bobbing with bodies. The great ship Dunbar been dashed against The Gap and there seemed to be no survivors. But one lucky chap had lived – and he’d live not only to pay it forward but to see his tale told on stage and screen. It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia<...
Published: Nov 23, 2025Duration: 16:17
S9E73 - Short – Australia’s First Night at the Flicks
In August 1896, Aussies went to the movies for the first time – and it happened at Melbourne’s Opera House just nine months after the French Lumiere brothers got le punters to pay to see the moving pictures in Paris.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books!They’ll Never Hold Me...
Published: Nov 20, 2025Duration: 11:03
S9E72 - Short – Escaping Hell
In 1824, two desperate convicts escaped the penal outpost of Macquarie Harbour, risking murder and cannibalism for a fleeting chance at freedom.It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books!They’ll Never Hold Me:https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.htmlThe Murder Squad:ht...
Published: Nov 17, 2025Duration: 12:50
S9E71 - Short – The Canberra Air Disaster Mystery
In August 1940, an RAAF Hudson bomber crashed in Canberra, killing four of Australia's top wartime leaders — along with six other men. It was a tragedy that'd lead to the downfall of one Prime Minister and set two politicians on their paths to that top job. But what — or who — caused the crash?It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links:Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustraliaApple: apple.co/forgottenaustraliaWant more original Australian true cri...
Published: Nov 13, 2025Duration: 18:08