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Forgotten Australia

Michael Adams

Bloody crimes, unsolved mysteries, eccentric celebrities, dark events and bizarre happenings: it's all here – the stuff you wish they'd taught you in school!

Dive into our strange-but-true history via never-before-told stories, author interviews, weekly flashbacks and the weekly trivia quiz.

Forgotten Australia is created and hosted by Michael Adams, author of the acclaimed true crime books The Murder Squad, Hanging Ned Kelly and They'll Never Hold Me.

He's also a regular history and true crime commentator on ABC Nightlife and the podcast Australian True Crime.

Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month to get ad-free early episodes, exclusive bonus episodes, a show shout-out and the chance to win prizes in the special edition trivia quiz episodes.

Get a week's free trial here:

Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia

Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

Check out my books!

They’ll Never Hold Me:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html

The Murder Squad:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html

Hanging Ned Kelly:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html

Australia’s Sweetheart:

https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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S10 · E77
Tuesday · 19 min
Short – Good Evening and Welcome to Television: The Real Story Behind An AI Slop Promo
This week marks the 70th anniversary of regular television broadcasting in Australia. Channel Nine recently 'recreated' the 'Good Evening and Welcome to Television' moment in a fakes-over-facts promo generated by artificial intelligence. In this short, we look at the strange evolution of Australian TV, which started in colonial times. It’s a rich history, and one that deserves better than cheap slop that flattens understanding. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E76
September 7 · 49 min
Talking History – Blackbirding: A Reckoning With the Australian Slave Trade
Blackbirding – A Reckoning with the Australian Slave Trade. We talk about the practices and policies that led to a staggering death toll – and how we don’t remember because our forgetting was engineered by language and laws meant to obscure and hide the true horrors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E75
September 7 · 1 hr 5 min
Australia’s Slave Ship Massacre – Part Three: Confessions of Mass Murderers
Dr James Patrick Murray kidnaps and kills more people, and goes mad and is nearly murdered himself, before returning to Australia to be acclaimed as a saviour during a smallpox outbreak. But the hero becomes villain overnight when the truth of the massacre is revealed. Yet the doctor – dubbed ‘the worst demon of them all’ – still has diabolical tricks to play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E74
September 6 · 52 min
Australia’s Slave Ship Massacre – Part Two: Shoot Them All
Dr James Patrick Murray takes the brig Carl to the sunny South Seas and into a heart of darkness beyond the imagination of even Joseph Conrad. In this nightmare of his creation, shooting dozens of defenceless men is only the start of the atrocities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E73
September 6 · 1 hr 2 min
Australia’s Slave Ship Massacre – Part One: Doctor Evil
Dr James Patrick Murray ranks as one of the most evil characters in Australian history. In September 1871, he ordered the massacre of 70 men that his slavers had kidnapped from Bougainville and imprisoned aboard their ship. In Part One, we look at Dr Murray’s background – and how he became widely hated across Australia long before he became a mass murderer. Originally released in 2021. Re-released to accompany the new Talking History episode called Blackbirding – A Reckoning With the Australian Slave Trade Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E72
September 3 · 45 min
The Last Gasp: Stubbing Out Ciggie Commercials – Part Two
From 1972, Paul Hogan was the Australian tobacco industry’s most formidable marketing weapon, the Winfield warrior in a new era of mandatory health warnings. When a total ban on ciggie commercials loomed, the manufacturers were to pivot and spend even more money with media companies and sporting bodies to ensure they stayed in play after that fateful day. Much later, Aussie A-list ciggie frontmen would all say the same thing: ‘But, we didn't know…’ Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E71
August 31 · 1 hr 2 min
The Last Gasp: Stubbing Out Ciggie Commercials – Part One
Fifty years ago this week – 1 September 1976 – tobacco commercials were banned on Australian television. So, it was goodbye to Paul Hogan, Stuart Wagstaff, Norman Gunston and other celebs selling ciggies and smoking to adults and kids alike via the idiot box. In this episode, we sift the dirty ashtray of recent history for a look at the powerful profiteers who put the A-list on the payroll, chronicling how multinational tobacco companies, the Australian media and government undermined medical science to make a killing. Part Two will be available first for supporters. It will go on general release later in the week. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E70
August 28 · 19 min
Short - Our Forgotten Crime Fiction Mastermind
Aussie writer Charles Shaw came from the school of hard knocks to create a true-blue noir antihero in a series of novels that were internationally popular and compared with the work of hardboiled master Mickey Spillane. He also wrote another bestseller that was adapted into a Hollywood classic in the 1950s. You may even have seen it! Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E69
August 26 · 13 min
Short – Bravery & Barbarism: The Wave Hill Walk-Off
Sixty years ago this week, Gurindji elder Vincent Lingiari led 200 Aboriginal stockmen and their families in the Wave Hill Walk-Off. They were protesting pitiful pay and conditions and demanding the return of traditional lands. The Walk-Off was the start of a brave eight-year struggle. In this episode, we also look at the brutality of the killing times at Wave Hill. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E68
August 24 · 35 min
The Small Town ‘Teacher’s Pet’ Murder
Nearly 100 years ago, the village of Wolumla on the far south coast of NSW was shocked by its first murder. The motive for this crime was so scandalous that a wall of silence protected suspects and other victims from police and public exposure. Available for the first time on general release, this episode was made for supporters in 2021. For access to more than a dozen ad-free exclusive bonus episodes, become a Forgotten Australia supporter. Use a free trial: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E67
August 17 · 29 min
Aussie History Trivia Quiz #4 – Cops, Crims, Kooks, Censors & Singers
How well do you know your murderers, mobsters, armed robbers and bent coppers? How good is your memory for Aussie rock hits of the 1970s and 1980s? Test yourself with this all-new trivia quiz. 30 questions across three rounds. How high can you score? Use a free trial for access to supporter benefits: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E65
August 9 · 36 min
Dead Men Don’t Fill Out Census Forms – Part Two: A Forgotten Serial Killer?
Digging into the murderer’s past and future is to find two more cold-blooded killings. Forgotten Australia is created and hosted by Michael Adams, author of the acclaimed true crime books The Murder Squad, Hanging Ned Kelly and They'll Never Hold Me. He’s also a regular guest on ABC Nightlife, ABC Overnight and Australian True Crime. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E64
August 5 · 50 min
Dead Men Don’t Fill Out Census Forms – Part One: Murder at Scrubby Creek
A shocking early result of our first national census was... murder! In 1911, a Cloncurry census collector's investigations into an unreturned form turned up a dead man, burned to bones in the vastness of the Never Never. But this cold-blooded crime was very likely not the killer's first murder – nor his last. Get a supporter free trial here: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Forgotten Australia is created and hosted by Michael Adams, author of the acclaimed true crime books The Murder Squad, Hanging Ned Kelly and They'll Never Hold Me. He’s also a regular history commentator on ABC Nightlife and the podcast Australian True Crime. Michael's books: They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E63
July 27 · 46 min
Talking History – Abe Saffron: Mr Sin as Man and Myth
Did Abe Saffron kill Juanita Nielsen? Order the Luna Park fire? Or was so-called Mr Sin exerting a more subtle yet no less more sinister force on Australian society? Author Stuart Coupe joins us to talk about separating fact from fiction in his new book Saffron Incorporated: The First King Of The Cross And Fifty Years Of Sex, Murder, Music And Mayhem. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E62
July 23 · 45 min
True Crime Classic Miniseries: Bloody Murder in the Blue Mountains – Part Three
Even when the verdict is delivered in the Katoomba murder trial, the story is far from over – especially after the convicted man makes a startling allegation. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.htm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E61
July 22 · 41 min
True Crime Classic Miniseries: Bloody Murder in the Blue Mountains – Part Two
In the wake of the gory outrage at the California, the accused faces an inquest and then his trial for murder. If he's found guilty, he'll be sentenced to death. But is he bad – or mad? Parts 3 will be on general release soon. You can hear it now early and ad-free by supporting the podcast: Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E60
July 19 · 44 min
True Crime Classic Miniseries: Bloody Murder in the Blue Mountains – Part One
A Katoomba hotel. A locked room. Screams in the night and a body in the morning. The mystery of what happened in Australia’s favourite resort town in autumn 1917 was like something by Agatha Christie. Except this wasn’t a whodunit – it was a whydunit. Parts 2 & 3 will be on general release soon. You can hear them now early and ad-free by supporting the podcast: Apple - http://apple.co/forgottenaustralia Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/ForgottenAustralia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E58
July 16 · 1 hr 1 min
The Bunbury Bombing
Fifty years ago this month – 19 July 1976 – Australia’s first act of environmental terrorism was directed at the Bunnings-owned wood chip export facility in Bunbury. Who were the bombers? What had they hoped to achieve? What was the fallout for the growing green movement? Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E57
July 12 · 41 min
Talking History – White Death: The American Legend Behind Australia’s Best-Worst Movie
In 1936, western author Zane Grey came Down Under to catch giant sharks and film his adventures. The result was White Death, a so-bad-it’s-good monster movie. Vicki Hastrich, author of The Last Days of Zane Grey, joins us to talk about his time on our shores and seas, how we reacted to and were changed by this American celebrity, and how she reckoned with disturbing revelations about him in her book. Watch an excerpt from White Death - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ghdeDVHsE Forgotten Australia is created and hosted by Michael Adams, author of the acclaimed true crime books The Murder Squad, Hanging Ned Kelly and They'll Never Hold Me. He’s also a regular history commentator on ABC Nightlife and the podcast Australian True Crime. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S10 · E56
July 6 · 53 min
True Crime Classic – Sydney’s Wildest Woman
While 1950s eccentrics Bea Miles and Rosaleen Norton are well remembered, Luba Shishova was twice as wild yet she's all but forgotten. Dubbed ‘Olga from the Volga’ and a ‘one-woman Russian Revolution’, this chaotic beauty cut a swathe through Kings Cross, earning adoring fans among the city’s reporters and outraging the cops and the judges. Now, for the first time, Luba’s story is told in detail – from her background in a war zone and her bikini court sensation to her flesh-ripping assaults and stints in jail and psych hospitals. Forgotten Australia is created and hosted by Michael Adams, author of the acclaimed true crime books The Murder Squad, Hanging Ned Kelly and They'll Never Hold Me. He’s also a regular history commentator on ABC Nightlife and the podcast Australian True Crime. Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes. Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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