January 25, 2025 • 46 mins
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.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
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.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
A strange, spiraling white light was spotted in the early
morning sky over Sydney, with even skeptical witnesses wondering if
it was a UFO.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
They were last seen on the beach with the tall
man and that's the best description police have ever.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Had of it.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
More than seventeen years after Harold Holt disappeared into raging
surf at Chevy A Beach, his widow has finally revealed
his last romantic words docky, terrifying, mesmerizing. That's the way
a number of Australians have described the alleged encounter with
the Yower.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's time for the Weird Crap in Australia podcast. Welcome
to the week Wrap in Australia podcast. I'm your host
Matthew sol joining me for another episode. Of course, is
the Researcher extraordinaire.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, I was waiting for you to say, holy soel.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Holly soul So are you usually cut in there? Usually
go it's me? Maybe I don't. I'm not sure that.
The other week we did we did put a call
out Holly concerning the reference we made yeap all right,
and we did get an email about that. So just
very quickly. What we were referencing was the film Firm Gully,
(01:17):
and that was on I think it was either last
week's episode the week before, but the first person straight
off the bench. And I think it's because Clint listened
to it today. That was Clint too, sent us through
an email. Hey guys, Fern Gully is a great movie.
I am forty and Avatar ripped it off, So there
(01:37):
you go. Thank you very much Clint for shooting that
email through. It's always nice to know that we're in
good company when it comes to our love of pop culture. Well,
today's episode, ladies and gentlemen, are you see you're hearing
about viruses, quarantines, lockdowns? Well, haven't we got a treat
for you? All of those things are in this episode.
(01:57):
We're taking a look back. Holly, do you want to
talk about this episode? You picked it, so you have to.
You have to explain why everyone has to now have
miserable flashbacks.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, no one has to have miserable flashbacks because this
quarantine station was not in use during the time that
shall not be named. I decided because I wanted something
a little lighter between a kidnapping and a murder that
I would do a historical episode, And what's more historical
than one hundred and fifty year old quarantine station.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And what's a quarantine station for.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's where you put sick people to either die or recover.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, this is Holly's lighter episode. I would have thought
blinky Bill would have been a better choice, but maybe
we'll pull that out.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
I can't pick to the next Criminals blinky Bill if
you use it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
We have a list of like three hundred odd episodes
at ideas at any given time that we haven't produced,
so a lot of them are murders. To be honest,
Holly's like, look through that list and she's like, look,
I need something a bit lighter, and we're going to
talk via and quarantines. So can everyone please, I'm begging you,
(03:05):
I'm throwing myself at the floor here. Can you all
please send Holly an email Wei crap in Australia at
gmail dot com with suggestions for some actual lighthearted episodes.
Until then, let's take a look at a historic quarantine station,
its history and how many viruses ran through that thing.
(03:26):
And I assume we're going to start with tuberculosis. Holy
take it away.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
The manly Quarantine Station, originally known as the North Heead
Quarantine Station, is Australia's longest continually operating quarantine station, functioning
for over one hundred and fifty two years. Nestled on
Gamai Territory on the northern side of Sydney Harbor, near
the present day of Manly, the site holds immense historical,
cultural and environmental significance. Today it operates as Q Station,
(03:53):
a space repurpose for modern uses such as conferences, weddings
and historical ghost tours. However, it's past till a complex
story of disease, resilience and changing social standards. The area
first entered European records on January twenty ninth, seventeen eighty eight,
when Captain Hunter and Lieutenant Bradley made a landing whiles
(04:13):
ofvying the new surrounds of what would become Port Jackson.
North Head's rugged geography, initially connected to the mainland by
only a sand spit and prone to tidal isolation, made
it an ideal site for containing diseases away from Sydney's
burgeoning population.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Northhead was traditionally known as Karrangle and held special significance
for the local Aboriginal people. It was used for ceremonies
and medicinal practices. North Head Sanctuary Brochure, twenty sixteen. Aboriginal
people referred to the North Head as the gateway to Heaven.
That's a quote from greuberg At twenty nineteen. Quote from
(04:49):
the North Headed Quarantine Station in Reserve, New South Wales
State Territory Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Unfortunately, Europeans are really good at taking local languages and
twisting the meaning gateway way to heaven being a quarantine station.
Oh yeah, you didn't think of that when you read that.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
No way did it. That's a that's terrible. We we
had like a lot of First Nations names down in
my area growing up, you know, growing up in rural
New South Wales. So my town was called Tumutt t
u m u t but pronounced with a tum tumit,
and that was derived from Dumat or Demat, which was
(05:29):
and I'm probably not pronouncing it correctly, but that was
the late the native language for the area. And you know,
the area was called Duma because that was translation to
resting place by the river. And so because people don't
listen very well, it became Tumut and the town slogan
is still resting place by the river. A little bit
(05:49):
of history for you. I think Gunda guys the same gender.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Guys sounds like a local word paramatter Canberra. Lots of
places are like that.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
The station's establishment came in response to the arrival of
mostly freeman immigrants and the need to manage infectious disease.
Before its official inception, vessels suspected of carrying disease were
temporarily detained at Spring Cove, a little small cove on
the little north of the station on the inner western
side of the head.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
As the dominant headland of the harbor, north Head was
of importance in navigation from the time of the first fleet.
By eighteen oh nine, navigational plans were showing an obelis
located in what was to become the Quarantine Station precinct,
presumed to have been used as a channel marker for
vessels negotiating the Sow and Pigs reef A teen made.
A high obelisk still exists on this site side L four,
(06:39):
which may be the original marker, making it potentially one
of the oldest European structures on Sydney Harbor. Flote from
north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve New South Wales State
Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And if it's one of the oldest European structures in
Sydney Harbor, it makes it one of the oldest European
structures in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And it's just that they still think it's the original
or okay, impressive.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
In eighteen twenty eight, the Basara merchants arrival marked the
beginning of systematic quarantine when it was ordered to anchor
under quarantine conditions.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And when we're talking about this specific era, Holly, we're
talking what syphilis, tuberculosis, typhus hyphus explaining typhus a little.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Bit lie life carrying Rash's disease.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Right, so bloodborne diseases via pess yes, yep. So yeah,
you know, you can't have a ship full of infectious
land in a burgeoning colony. You know, back in the day,
the flu or the common cold could wipe out an
entire colony overnight. There's an infamous story in America about
(07:47):
a colony of settlers called Roanoak, And now some people
have suggested that they simply moved in with the natives
after things got way too fucking hard and they decided
to live off the land with the Native Americans. But
the other side of that coin is that the potentially
a terrible virus ran through the population and wiped them
(08:09):
out after a particularly harsh winter. So yeah, colonies. You know,
they had to be very, very aware of the health
of the people coming in. So it was better to
let a virus or a past bonded virus run its
course before you unload it.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
The exception, of course being if you use it to
infiltrate local populations.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Small fox, yeah, smallpox, mean one of them, because what's
the black plague? I think predates this by one hundred
two hundred years, Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Sixteen hundreds yeah, sixteen hundreds yeah. By eighteen thirty two,
Governor Darling formalized quarantine practices with the Quarantine Act, establishing
the North Head Quarantine Station. The station's creation was necessitated
by a cholera epidemic that swept through Europe between eighteen
twenty nine and eighteen fifty one, so early quarantine passengers
(09:00):
often remained confined to their ships due to the lack
of accommodation options for them. This practice proved insufficient as
maritime traffic increased and other solutions were sourced.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
The quarantine station was established primarily to regulate the risk
of disease importation through the migration of Europeans, both free
and convict, and the arrival of merchant shipping. There was
always a close link between the requirement for quarantine and
the ebb and flow of scene born immigration, and the
growth of the quarantine station from the eighteen thirties parallels
(09:30):
the changes in immigration policy and practice. Quote from north
Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Up until the eighteen thirties, the majority of ships requiring
quarantine were convict transports and were thus under government contract.
The somewhat informal proclamation of quarantine by the governor of
the day was thus easy to enforce as they had
absolute control over the lives of the men and women
on board. This, of course, started slipping as soon as
freemen began to find their ways into our shores.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
One reason for the introduction of fo normal statutory regulation
for quarantine in New South Wales in eighteen thirty two
was the increasing rate of free immigrant vessels entering port.
In eighteen thirty one, thirty four immigrant ships had arrived.
This increased to sixty three in eighteen thirty two. The
captains of these free vessels were less likely were less
(10:19):
ready to comply with such informal and ad hoc processes. Thus,
a legislated requirement for all ships entering port to be
screened for disease and quarantine if necessary was needed quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
This act was of course contentious, but for reasons that
appear more like a goofish older brother tell trying to
lord his authority while mum is gone, rather than any
real threat to the colonies or their overlord.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
When the eighteen thirty two Quarantine Actor was passed in
New South Wales, Vincent Goldreach, British Secretary of State for
War and Colonies warn that quarantine was pudicial to the
trade of the Kingdom, that the colony should be aware
of the importance of not aggravating by unnecessary restrictions. The
embarrassment inseparable from a strict quarantine on British vessels from
(11:04):
north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve, which, if I'm understanding
my old speaky time language, Holly, they're basically just saying
what is good for Europe should be good for the
rest of you and go along with it, because you're
embarrassing us by not close.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
It's don't embarrass Britain by trying to quarantine us when
you know we're clean. Quarantine those guys don't impede us.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I see what they're saying. So everyone else is filthy
except the British.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yes, so don't impune our honor by sticking us in quarantine.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Oh right, right? Did they happen to walk around the
East End of London during eighteen thirty two?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
They were British high class, so I'm guessing they definitely
had at least lice.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
So what are we looking at there around eighteen thirty two.
It's East End, which will eventually end.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Up with the Jack the Ripper in the eighteen eighties.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Yes, yeah, so yeah, that was not the best part
of England at the time, and they're suggesting that everyone
else is dirty. Yeah, right, of course.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
In eighteen thirty seven, the arrival of the Lady mcnorton
exposed the flaws in this logic.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Actually, and Captain Cook wouldn't be too far along from
this and correct me if I'm wrong. He died of
extreme syphilitic infection.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Right, That was one of the reasons he was dying, Yes,
but it wasn't the thing that literally killed him.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And what else do he have? I think he had
an I.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Think he had a severe case of the stab.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
But yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Built in eighteen twenty nine, this four hundred and thirty
ton bark transported hundreds of passengers seeking a fresh start
in colonial Australia. Yet what should have been a hopeful
voyage for the mcnorton became one of tragedy and disease,
exposing the dire inadequacies of public health measures aboard emigrant vessels.
In eighteen thirty seven, the Lady mc norton embarked on
(12:57):
a harrowing journey from Ireland to Sydney, carrying immigrants affected
by the famine and hardship. Now this wasn't quite the
Potato femine which started in eighteen forty five. This is
only eighteen thirty seven, but the toll was starting. The
onboard conditions were deplorable, with passengers crammed into tight quarters
with poor sanitation and insufficient medical supplies. These are not convicts,
(13:19):
these are freemen.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Well, I mean yes, but I think that people have
a very romanticized view of what life on the open ocean.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Was like, it's not all like Treasure Island.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I think that, you know, pop culture has probably
misinformed people about exactly what, you know, they were dealing with.
It's like it took a very very long time before
they even understood scurvy. It took a very long time
before they understood the basics of nutrition, and it took
a very very long time before you even had tim
preserves that were sealed and good to eat on.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A ship reliably sealed.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, I mean a lot of ships ended up being wrecked,
a lot of ships ended up getting stuck. You know,
there was a lot of cannibalism, there were a lot
of you know, terrible storms like the you know, there's
more than enough stories out there. Well, I mean, funk,
we've covered one. You know, what's considered one of the
first European landings on the Australian mainland. You know, they
(14:20):
they turned into a basically a little criminal cult and
killed an eight some of them. So it's like, yeah,
it wasn't this this aggrandized life that people think it was.
But there's definitely a difference in standards, as you're alluding to, Holly,
between being brought here on a convict ship and and
(14:41):
of course being brought here as a as a quote
unquote freeman, which is why you know coming you know,
we're coming up to it, of course, the twenty sixth
of January, and I love I get to fucking hear
all of these people like shouting at me. You know,
celebrate January twenty six don't celebrate January twenty six But
when you look at history and you look at this
(15:03):
this time in our history, as colonials start coming across
to Australia to the mainland continent, you see that the
conditions are arriving and are not fucking fun. And this
is again as Holly pointed out, there the conditions are
being brought to here, that they're being brought as freemen,
and they're still suffering with terrible disease on board and
(15:25):
malnutrition and things like that. Do you can you imagine
how the poor buggers felt when they were brought here
against their will as conflicts on January twenty sixth.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
It would definitely have been relief just in the fact
of I'm off that fucking ship. But that's about it.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, exactly. Like for you know, there's this narrative especially
in the media, because the media loves to drum up
identity politics at the moment and at the behest of
their corporate overlords. We all know this, but there's every year,
every year, on the fucking year, you know, someone like
Peter Dartmore come out January twenty six, Australia a very
(16:02):
important rarah rah. And you know, the honest truth of
it is that most of our family, if you do
descend from the first or second fleets, you know, they're
brought here on shackles, they're sick, they they're suffering from malnutrition,
they're thrown on the beaches and told build a fucking
(16:23):
settlement in a completely unknown land, in an unknown climate,
and then they're told to survive, and we should be
proud of that. It doesn't really make sense whichever side
of the divide you said on. I don't necessarily think
that day was good for Europeans who were brought here
against their will, nor the indigenous populations who first encountered them.
(16:45):
And I think, like, yeah, this romanticized view of what
it was like back then to arrive to Australia, to
arrive via ship, I think is very romanticized, and I
think that.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I think a lot of people imagine disembarking the title
when they think of it.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I agree, Holly, I think they do, and I think
that's where this misconception comes from. People were brought here dirty,
they were suffering, they were sick, they were hungry.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Overpopulated prisons, British prisons for a long time before they
got on the ship.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. There was a reason that we needed
quarantine stations, and it wasn't because the history was all
beautiful sunshines and roses. You know, you've got to really,
that's what I love about the show. That's what I
love about talking about history, and what I've loved about
talking about history the last seven years doing the show
is that you learn so much about the bullshit, you know,
(17:41):
the facade that they teach you in school, and you know,
don't don't run from history, you know, learn from it.
Because people like to they like to put on the
rose tinted glasses, especially the professional media. They put on
those roads tinted glasses in order to sell you a narrative,
and the narrative is bull sit Anyway, enough of me
raiding back to the quarantine station, the.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Voyage of the McNaughton was marked by increasing misery as
passengers succumbed to the illnesses in staggering numbers. By the
time the ship reached austrained waters, fifty five individuals had died,
including children. The remaining passengers all sick and weak. The
mcnorton's arrival at Sydney Harbour presented authorities with a dire
public health crisis. The authorities offloaded passengers to the sparse
(18:26):
accommodations available, struggling to address their desperate needs. The station,
ill equipped for such an outbreak, lacked proper housing, medical staff,
and infrastructure, compounding the passengers suffering. In eighteen thirty seven,
it existed of one building, not enough to house the
four hundred odd passengers that were on that ship.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
No, not at all. That sounds absolutely fucking terrible, Holly.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
This incident became a catalyst for systematic changes in public
health protocol. The public and authorities recognized the critical importance
of improving conditions aboard emigrant ships. Reforms mandated by the
British government included appointing ship surgeons with greater authority, enforcing
better sanitation measures, and improving passenger relations to ensure basic
nutrition during voyages. Ship owners were held accountable for providing cleaner,
(19:13):
less crowded spaces, and mandatory vaccinations against diseases like smallpox
were introduced before boarding. Yes, they even managed to bully
the British government into vaccinating their emigrants.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yes, so the very early vaccine which was taking This
is literally how they did it. They took the inert
scabs from smallpox victims and they would turn that into
a solution. That solution would be injected to induce an
immune response. And guess what, people fucking hated it too.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Everyone's always been against vaccination, even though it seemed countless lives.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Eh, fuck it. Like, look, maybe i'm a bit of
a misanthroat these days. Maybe you know, the world has
turned me into a cynical missing throat. But look, make
decisions that you think are best for you. If you
make the right decisions, fucking rock on, Like, you're going
to live a really good, long, healthy life. If you
make bad decisions, you're the only one who can who
(20:16):
can be blamed. The only people I feel bad for
when people make bad or good decisions. The only people
who get affected by it are people like children who
you know they have to rely on their parents best
intentions in order to have a good health, happy, healthy life,
you know. So it's like, yeah, no, fuck it. If
people want to make bad decisions or good decisions, I
(20:37):
have no fucking say over it. So yeah, I definitely
think I'm very cynical and misanthropic these days.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
In subsequent years, facilities at north Head were upgraded to
include barracks for different groups such as single women, families,
and individuals. A dedicated hospital was established alongside a burial
ground for those who who come to illness despite quarantine measures.
These improvements reflected a shift towards more organized and humane
management of public health crises.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
The biggest impetus for change came not so much from
a concern about poor housing, but rather a concern, of
course I knew, I knew this was coming up, more
concern for the morals of the married women and the
two hundred single women let loose in the bush that
represented the undeveloped station at the time. The resulting changes
(21:26):
to the station, besides the use of the hospital ship,
included the construction of barracks for the single women in
the former sick ground, surrounded by a double fence with
the century station between them. To prevent communication with the women.
Two new buildings were built in the healthy ground, each
to house sixty people with verandas for dining, the original
burial ground was leveled and the gravestones, though not the dead,
(21:48):
were removed to the new second burial ground, thus removing
the burials from the view of the healthy ground. Quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Who do you think is most likely to be in
the healthy ground?
Speaker 1 (22:03):
The rich? Yep?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
How did you guess, Matthew?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
I don't know. It's something about the imbalance of power
and generally people with powerfuck over people without power.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I don't want those greavestones in my view, jeeps, move them,
give them for me.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Well, they left the bodies there with our gravestones, so
they certainly got haunted pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
But yes, morals of single women was exactly the reason
why they needed to upgrade those facilities.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Of course it is. You take a bunch of good,
classy British gals, you chuck them in the Australian bush
and you better believe they're going to have their knickerbockers
off and jump and naked in the dam. And you know,
causing all sorts of mischief, becoming sexy forest nymphs instantaneously,
especially when those hairpins get pulled out. I mean, look,
(22:51):
honest truth is they did it to stop people being raped. Yes,
that's really that's that's the honest truth of it. They
stop people from being rate, but.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
They treated those women like prisoners in order to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I hate old people, old timey people.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Oh look, it's still the same to this date. What's
the difference between that and turning around and saying to
a victim of assault, like, what were you wearing that night?
It's the same fucking thing.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh, I know. It is blaming the victim student in history.
So I just hate old timey people for it.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Outbreaks this is Holly's lighter episode. Everybody, Yes you're a monster. Yes.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, and
typhus persisted throughout the late nineteenth century. Public dissatisfaction, particularly
among wealthy passengers, spurred significant improvements.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
The inadequacy was further publicized during the quarantine of the
Baroda in eighteen seventy three, when first class passengers had
to do their own washing oh my god, Jeeves quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
And if if this doesn't tell you that public health
policy is dictated by the rich, I don't fucking know
what is.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Well, yeah, like that's it's interesting now that we've had
a few years removed from COVID and people are talking about,
you know, what did we do right with quarantines, what
we did did wrong? You know, what was an overreaction,
what was an underreaction, and a lot of you know,
there will be people who discuss that for the next
ten twelve years. And I have my own criticisms on
(24:29):
either side of the argument, believe it or not. And
I think there was overreaction and underreaction.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
For our cataloging if that go back to see our
miniso's because we literally catalog the entire COVID epidemic.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
I mean, I fucking love staying at home. It was
fucking brilliant. I didn't have to agree to any social engagements.
I didn't have to see anyone. It's fucking amazing. But yeah,
like when we look at when we look at public health,
you know, like Ully just alluded to there, it is
often dictated by the wealth, and as we went through
(25:02):
our own pandemic. I think that there was sort of
this space where it's like, Okay, you know, we can
work from home, we can be efficient from home. This
is all good. And then suddenly people's pockets started getting lighter.
And the people who suffered the most, of course, is
smaller medium businesses. But the people who were pushing all
(25:23):
the levers and pressing all those buttons to get things
going at their schedule was those big companies. Those big
companies they shake kens with the real estate companies. Real
estate companies didn't have the rent coming through that they wanted.
And then you know, big business wanted people back at
the office to stimulate the economy because having people in
(25:43):
a big office building, you know, it's not just about
wanting them to be quote unquote more productive in a
big office building. That's your cafes, your batisseries, your restaurants,
your lunch places, all those sort of things depend on
that that foot traffic. And you know, going on your
lunch break to go and make an innocuous purchase a JB.
(26:06):
Hi Fi or you know, your favorite vinyl records store
or a DVD shop or whatever wherever you're going to
buy your staff. You know, so our public health messaging
started to switch at a certain point because the wealthy
deemed it so. And this has always been going on,
you know, go back to the eighteen hundreds. It's again
it's the wealthy dictating where people are, what's in view
(26:27):
of them, and what conditions have to be met.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Floating quarantine hospitals were introduced, along with better water supplies
and a reservoir. A tram system was implemented to transport
goods and individuals efficiently between the quarantine station in Sydney.
Doctor Charles H mckeller, a prominent health officer, champion the
station's role in protecting New South Wales, emphasizing coordinated measures
at key ports such as Thursday Island in the Torres
(26:52):
Street and Albany.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
In Western Australia, the downturn and immigration during the economically
stagnant period of the eighteen sixties, triggered by the colonial
government canceling the regulations to provide assisted passage to migrants
in eighteen sixty, limited the use of the quarantine station
and the willingness of the government to spend money on
its upkeep. As a result of this downturn, between eighteen
(27:15):
sixty and eighteen seventy nine, only one hundred and thirty
eight immigrant vessels arrived, compared with four hundred and ten
between eighteen forty and eighteen fifty nine, and of these,
thirty three required cleansing at the quarantine station, but few
required their passengers to be landed and accommodated. In the
same period, twenty nine merchant or naval vessels were quarantined,
but again mainly for the cleansing of the ship rather
(27:38):
than the landing of diseased crews quoted from north Head
Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
The turn of the twentieth century brought federal oversight when
the Commonwealth took control in nineteen oh nine. By then
Australia's ports handled immense immigration traffic, reflecting the country's growing
prominence as a destination. Between nineteen oh one and nineteen forty,
Sydney's port welcomed the one hundred and thirty four thousand,
eight hundred and sixty four immigrants compared to Melbourne's one
(28:04):
hundred and fifteen nine hundred and eighty eight.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Keep in mind, of course, that that spike was definitely
due to World War One and World War Two.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yes, the end of World War One and then the
commencement of World War Two definitely added to it.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, and even after like obviously world War two wraps up,
you know, we take on a lot of European immigrants who,
instead of rebuilding, decide, you know, screw it, We're just
going to come to Australia.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Mostly Mediterranean for some reason.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Well it's not really yeah, you know, obviously not some reason.
What hollyes alluding to is the the Italian POWs that
we had here. Japanese POWs they returned home, but the
European prisoners of war they stayed. They stayed. They build
places like Griffith, they moved into Melbourne, they helped to
(28:57):
build Melbourne, Kowra, know, all of those sort of places,
and ended up benefiting from the immigrant labor. That's why
there is so much Greek architecture here. That is why
there's so much Italian architecture here, and it's why Australia
has always been a melting pot of different nationalities. We've
been doing this for a very long time.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The burgeoning infrastructure included sea and air facilities that diversified
entry points and rendered the North Head Quarantine Station far
less central than it used to be. Throughout the station's history,
its inhabitants left behind poignant traces of their presence. Carvings
in Sandstone, with eight hundred and fifty four recorded so far,
tell the stories of the individuals and groups who endured
(29:39):
quarantine there. These inscriptions, in languages ranging from English to
European and Asian languages and a couple of Islander languages,
offer a glimpse into their experiences of fear, hope, and resilience.
One particular site, building A twenty, was used as a
detention center for those deemed illegals, and as walls bear
carvings in Pacific Islander languages, underscoring is diverse and complex history. Matthew,
(30:03):
we recently watched a TV show conserving people of Pacific
Islander origin that were deemed illegals over in Australia. What
happened to them?
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Well, we've briefly talked about the Kanakas, when we talked
about federation.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yes, yeah, no, it was stolen generations, I believe.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
No, I think was federation.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
We were lots of things that we've very briefly edged on.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
We've circled it a lot, but we've never come down
never talked about. Yeah, so there's a show on Stan
highly recommended as well if you're looking for a really
good Australian near noir sort of cop story, which is
called Black Snow. In that first yeah, in the first
season they deal with the Kannakas and Kannaka workers and
(30:45):
the exploitation of those workers in its first season.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So the Kanakas, some of them were caught, some of
them were deemed to be here illegally, that overstayed visas,
they weren't on the right visa to begin with. They
were sent to the quarantine station because that was the
only detendent center they had that would hold them. And
that's how you got the Pacific Islander languages.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Yeah. Now we have actual detention centers and well we
have dissension centers in Papua New Guinea and.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Miller would used to be one.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Yeah. Well we'll talk about those at a later date.
And it is not for the light episode, a lease
you of, I'm yeah, I'm going to dig this in.
This is Yeah, this is a hell of a choice
only for a light episode.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
World War One introduced a new chapter for the station,
returning soldiers and nurses who had contracted infectious diseases such
as the Spanish influenza. We're quarantined there to prevent further outbreaks.
The pandemic of nineteen eighteen nineteen nineteen in Australia it
was nineteen nineteen nineteen twenty was particularly challenging as it
swept across the globe with unprecedented speed and lethality. The
(31:50):
station's measures, though not fool proof, contributed to mitigating the
local impact and for more of that, We're not going
to go through it again see episodes one fifty four,
one fifty five.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Yeah, the entirety of the Spanish flu The strategic importance
of north Head's location meant that existing coastal defenses from
the earliest days of colonization were upgraded as a result
of unfolding events in Europe during the nineteen thirties. In addition,
Northhead was constructed with concrete gun emplacements, tunnels, and an
underground plotting room. The associated barracks were built to house
(32:20):
and train the Army gunners who worked at north Head,
the largest barracks built in Australia prior to World War Two.
During World War II, the whole of north Head became
a major defense base, making it one of the most
heavily fortified sites in Australia After World War II, the
Australian Army School of Artillery was established here in nineteen
forty six and occupied the military buildings until relocating to
(32:42):
Victoria in nineteen ninety eight. North Head Sanctuary Brochure twenty
sixteen rode from the north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
It was the most heavily fortified site in Australia. It
still let three sub mini subs into bomb Sydney Harbour.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Well again, we covered that way way back, covered that
in volume two. I think of weird crap in Australia
and I don't know episode it's definitely before the hundreds.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
See my brain is saying in one hundred and forties,
so I've lost completely tracked.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
We've definitely covered that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
The body of Sydney Harbor is what it's got that there.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Was a lot of There was a lot of incompetence
that night.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Post war technological and medicinal advancements gradually diminished the need
for large scale quarantine facilities. Vaccines, antibiotics, and improved disease
monitoring revolutionized the public health, making prolonged isolation less necessary.
Between nineteen forty six and nineteen eighty, despite a significant
rise in immigration, only a small proportion of arrivals required quarantine.
(33:43):
By nineteen eighty four, the mainly quarantine station had served
its purpose, having processed thirteen thousand quarantine individuals and recorded
five hundred and seventy two deaths.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Concerning it had nearly a two hundred year run. That
doesn't seem like a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
They were less than three year year.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah, it doesn't seem lot, does it.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
So lots of people got thirteen thousand went through, so
lots of people got better and walked away. The station's
closure did not mark the end of its story. Its
transition into a heritage site began with its incorporation into
Sydney Harbor National Park in nineteen ninety four. The New
South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service sought private sector
funding for its preservation. By two thousand and six, the
(34:23):
Mallland Group had leased the site, ensuring its conservation and
repurposing it for public engagement. Visitors can now explore its
rich history through tours, including ghost tours that delve into
its more titillating tales. Its addition to the New South
Wales Heritage Register in nineteen ninety nine and the Australian
Heritage Register in two thousand and six cemented its importance
as a marker in our history.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
The Australian Army School of Artillery occupied the military buildings
on north Head until relocating to Victoria in nineteen ninety eight.
North Head Sanctuary Brochure twenty sixteen. Today many of the
military buildings are used by a variety of businesses. North
Heads Sanctuary Brochure twenty sixteen go from north Head Quarantine
Station and Reserve. I mean when they talk about businesses,
(35:06):
I'm assuming that they're tourist based businesses and.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
All of them, Oh okay, some of them are actual
private businesses.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Why would you put a private business out.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
There because it's beachfront property?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Why would you, okay, then build a house like you're not.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Allowed to build a house because it's part of the
National Park.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
So what kind of businesses function out there?
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Well, I don't know they're private. I couldn't find it
when I googled it. There are a couple of loifer
there as far as I can see.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Yeah, So what we're talking about is very very private businesses.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Yes, the rich people. You only know about them if
you know about them. Wink wink. Kind of businesses.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Not not your local tuch shop.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
No, no, unless you're talking about the cafeteria catering to
the tourists. The surrounding area part of the heritage listing
is notable not only for its historical value, but also
for its ecological significance in david species such as the
Eastern long nose bandicoot and the little penguin inhabit the landscape.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
What's the difference between a little penguin and a fairy penguin?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
About two inches. Fairy penguins are a little bit smaller.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
I love fairy penguins so well.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
They live alongside endemic plants like the Sunshine Model and
the Eastern Suburbs banks up, both of which are also endangered.
So they really only exist around north Head so because
all the Bundai guys kept killing them. Conservation efforts continue
to balance the preservation of this unique biodiversity with the
station's heritage. The quarantine station's laid history reflects broader narratives
(36:33):
of migration, public health, and cultural exchange. It stands as
a testament to human resilience and adaptation in the face
of adversity. Its legacy possessed not only in its physical moments,
but also in the stories it tells of immigrants searching
for a new life and those who endured illnesses and isolation,
and of course of a nation evolving irresponse to global
(36:53):
challenges like we always do.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
North Head in twenty twenty got a three point eight
nine million dollar finding boosts to upgrade improved safety via
a three year project concentrating on the area around the
Fairfax Lookouts and including rock stability and general safety improvement
for visitors. It could also include better seating. New South
Wales National Parks and Wildlife Services is seeking preparation of
(37:16):
concept designs will be placed on public exhibition for feedback.
In late twenty twenty one, the historic q Station was
acquired from Moreland by winning bitter from an international field
Harvard Hotel owner Glenn Piper, subject to approval by the
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Quote from
north Head to Quarantine Station and Reserve New South Wales
(37:37):
State Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Now it wouldn't be one of our colonial history episodes
if I didn't reward you with some ghost stories.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
So these come to us and via.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
My ghost stories website that I haunt when I'm looking through.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
All right, cue the scary music.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
A ghost O.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Yeah, yep, yes, it is holly very good, very good.
All right, let's getches in the with a little bit
of eerie music. We were early for our tour and
went into the little restaurant. I remember everything smelled great.
My husband and cousin's wife got a drink each, and
all I could smell was the alcohol. I couldn't smell
the food. As it got closer to the time of
(38:16):
the tour, we went outside into a room that is
next to the shower blocks. I didn't know that at
the time. When the tour started we were in a
building behind that room. As the guide was talking, I
could feel my legs anchored down so heavy that I disregarded.
After the initial intro, we went into a dark room,
which I think was like a barn. After more stories,
(38:37):
we all stood around and my legs were so heavy
my body was involuntarily moving forward. It was also freezing.
My hands and my body were like ice. During the tour,
we went to the nest creepy room filled with bunk beds.
There was supposed to be something very sinister in there.
We heard a crack near the fireplace and I could
(38:59):
feel I was being touched on my leg. I also
hurt a growl, but I chose to ignore that. I
was not going outside on my own, especially since I
could see footsteps go past the door. My husband, that
was in another part of the room, saw them too.
Off we went to the grave Digger cottage. As soon
as we got there, I could see someone look out
from the window. I mentioned it to my husband and
(39:21):
he could see it too. I didn't say where I
could see it, but when he said where he could
see it, it was the same windowpane. We went into
the cottage and the moment I walked in, I regretted it,
but somehow felt I couldn't leave. I walked around the house.
When I walked out of the middle room into the kitchen,
I could smell alcohol. I refused to go into the bathroom,
(39:42):
went past the middle room again. My husband was saying
the cupboard doors opened. I didn't believe him. Then my
cousin's wife said it too, so I thought i'd have
a look, and right in front of my eyes, the
doors opened and we could hear banging when we closed
the door again. We left the room into the li
living room. After a minute, my husband walked out. Checked
(40:03):
on him, and he said a man told him in
his ear to leave. When we walked into the morgue,
I had an uncontrollable urged cry. That feeling left after
a few minutes. They told us stories, and then we
made it back to the minibus. I noticed one of
my shoes were untied. I had double knotted it. Quote
from the Q Station Manly, September sixth, twenty eighteen by
(40:26):
Veron Kita Veroniquita, I think that's Veronica. Yeah, so if
that wasn't spooking up for you ladies and gentlemen, shoes
suddenly becoming untired, especially when they're double knodded. We have
one more little tail here to take you out. Remember,
turn the lights out.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Unless you're driving. Don't turn the lights off.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
Turn the lights off right now wherever you are, regardless
of the situation, day or night. Turn those lights off.
No illumination. We went into a small shower block which
was situated underneath it D Hall, which was used by
the third class passengers. The shower block was rather small.
Only four people at the time went in on the tour.
(41:08):
I was in the first group to go in, and
as I walked through the door, was immediately drawn to
the left of the room. Felt a cool breeze washed
from around my waist height up to my face. It
wasn't cold, just cooler than the rest of the room.
I stood there with my arms by my side and
just felt this weird sensation in my hands that I
(41:30):
can only describe as pins and needles. That's a heart attack, buddy,
you go get that checked.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
No, it's not. It Bellian poisoning.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
It was so different to anything I've ever experienced. It
wasn't scary or anything, just different. So as I'm standing there,
one of the guides calls in and ask if anyone
has experienced anything in there. All of the others in
there called out no. I didn't say anything because I
didn't want to know what I was feeling, burgeoning love
(41:59):
for requited love probably. Then the guide said, are you
sure there's no one in there who can feel anything
in their hands? At that point, I said yeah, and
then walked out of the room. I never mentioned anything
to my boyfriend, and he came out of the room
and told me what happened to him in there, which
was the exact same thing that happened to me or
(42:21):
breeze followed by pins and needles in both hands. Well,
the group moved on. I told the to a guide
what I felt in my hands and she said, yeah,
that's the way I send spirits too. So that was
my first official time having a physical reaction in my
body from a spirit being close by. It was amazingly awesome.
I like the attitude of this lady. Hollywood Manly Quarantine
(42:44):
Station goes to her twenty eleven June twenty eighth to
twenty eleven story via cookie not our cook not our
made cookie, different cookie, diferent cookies. There you go. There
are some chilling ghost stories to get you into the
movie for something spooky. So now go watch your horror
film for your Monday night or whenever you listen to
(43:06):
This could be a Monday night, could be a Friday night,
could be a Saunurday night. Some people could be putting
it on while they've brought someone home to have some
fun times after going to the club. Though, if I
am your sexy track, I'm very very disturbed, very very disturbed.
As is Holly not disturbed, Holly.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Is just kidding, Ollie is very entertained.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
If Welcome to the Weird craft in Australia podcast really
gets you going, send us an email week Crap in
Australia at gmail dot com. You can also reach out
to us via our social media. Just type in weird
Crap in Australia into the search box, and we'd love
to hear from all of you, of course, about any
(43:49):
particular thing related to the show, not just whether my
voice is the sexy voice in your bedroom late at night.
We also want to hear from you if you've been
to the quarantine station and maybe come across a ghost
or two. You can also help support us here at
wee Crap in Australia. Once again, if my sexy voice
is getting you off, then we definitely deserve a few dollars.
(44:09):
You can find us via Patreon. Just type in weir
Crap in Australia into the search bar. We also have
our book series, Volume one to five is available now
from our great mates at Impact Comics. If you want
a good old fashioned paperback internationally, you can pick that
up from Lulu dot com and if you prefer all digital.
You can pick it up from the Kindle shop. We
(44:30):
also have a series of T shirt designs. You can
find those on a red bubble and t public again
Weird Crap and Australia into the search bar. We'll bring
up those wonderful designs. I believe you can also get
those slapped on mugs and pet bandemmas and all sorts
of weird o things. And as is our custom, we
give Holly the final words.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
So I've got an idea. I'll float it by you
only fans, but just Matthew's voice, just the voice.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
Yep, Hi, there, you've reached Matthew's only fans, the host
of the wor Week Crap in Australia podcast. Today, I'm
going to read the weather. That's right.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
That just cost everyone fifty bucks, pay up.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Twenty five degrees slightly sonny some clown cover. Later in
the week, it's going to rain. There is a chance
that you're going to get a wet you like that.
I think we've lost Holly, ladies and gentlemen. I think
(45:30):
it turned into the the Matthew's final words there well,
as Holly said, if you would like me to start
an only fans where I talk to you in sexy voices.
You get to pick the material as well. Perhaps you
like fifty Shades of Gray. Perhaps you just want to
hear the local betting nods. I'm not judging anyone. I'm
not going to yuck your yum. Thank you so much
(45:53):
for joining us, of course, for another lighthearted week Crap
in Australia episode. I've been your host, Matthew, so joining
me of course, Holy Soul Me. Yeah, and we will
see And we will see you all again next week
for more weak crap in Australia. Until then, stay safe
and be kind to each other. Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (46:12):
Bye.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
The Weird Crap In Australia podcast is produced by Holly
and Matthew Soul for the Modern Meltdown. If you've enjoyed
this podcast, please rate and review on your favorite podcatching
app
A strange, spiraling white light was spotted in the early
morning sky over Sydney, with even skeptical witnesses wondering if
it was a UFO.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
They were last seen on the beach with the tall
man and that's the best description police have ever.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Had of it.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
More than seventeen years after Harold Holt disappeared into raging
surf at Chevy A Beach, his widow has finally revealed
his last romantic words docky, terrifying, mesmerizing. That's the way
a number of Australians have described the alleged encounter with
the Yower.
Speaker 1 (00:31):
It's time for the Weird Crap in Australia podcast. Welcome
to the week Wrap in Australia podcast. I'm your host
Matthew sol joining me for another episode. Of course, is
the Researcher extraordinaire.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Oh, I was waiting for you to say, holy soel.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Holly soul So are you usually cut in there? Usually
go it's me? Maybe I don't. I'm not sure that.
The other week we did we did put a call
out Holly concerning the reference we made yeap all right,
and we did get an email about that. So just
very quickly. What we were referencing was the film Firm Gully,
(01:17):
and that was on I think it was either last
week's episode the week before, but the first person straight
off the bench. And I think it's because Clint listened
to it today. That was Clint too, sent us through
an email. Hey guys, Fern Gully is a great movie.
I am forty and Avatar ripped it off, So there
(01:37):
you go. Thank you very much Clint for shooting that
email through. It's always nice to know that we're in
good company when it comes to our love of pop culture. Well,
today's episode, ladies and gentlemen, are you see you're hearing
about viruses, quarantines, lockdowns? Well, haven't we got a treat
for you? All of those things are in this episode.
(01:57):
We're taking a look back. Holly, do you want to
talk about this episode? You picked it, so you have to.
You have to explain why everyone has to now have
miserable flashbacks.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, no one has to have miserable flashbacks because this
quarantine station was not in use during the time that
shall not be named. I decided because I wanted something
a little lighter between a kidnapping and a murder that
I would do a historical episode, And what's more historical
than one hundred and fifty year old quarantine station.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
And what's a quarantine station for.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
It's where you put sick people to either die or recover.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Yeah, this is Holly's lighter episode. I would have thought
blinky Bill would have been a better choice, but maybe
we'll pull that out.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
I can't pick to the next Criminals blinky Bill if
you use it.
Speaker 1 (02:44):
We have a list of like three hundred odd episodes
at ideas at any given time that we haven't produced,
so a lot of them are murders. To be honest,
Holly's like, look through that list and she's like, look,
I need something a bit lighter, and we're going to
talk via and quarantines. So can everyone please, I'm begging you,
(03:05):
I'm throwing myself at the floor here. Can you all
please send Holly an email Wei crap in Australia at
gmail dot com with suggestions for some actual lighthearted episodes.
Until then, let's take a look at a historic quarantine station,
its history and how many viruses ran through that thing.
(03:26):
And I assume we're going to start with tuberculosis. Holy
take it away.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
The manly Quarantine Station, originally known as the North Heead
Quarantine Station, is Australia's longest continually operating quarantine station, functioning
for over one hundred and fifty two years. Nestled on
Gamai Territory on the northern side of Sydney Harbor, near
the present day of Manly, the site holds immense historical,
cultural and environmental significance. Today it operates as Q Station,
(03:53):
a space repurpose for modern uses such as conferences, weddings
and historical ghost tours. However, it's past till a complex
story of disease, resilience and changing social standards. The area
first entered European records on January twenty ninth, seventeen eighty eight,
when Captain Hunter and Lieutenant Bradley made a landing whiles
(04:13):
ofvying the new surrounds of what would become Port Jackson.
North Head's rugged geography, initially connected to the mainland by
only a sand spit and prone to tidal isolation, made
it an ideal site for containing diseases away from Sydney's
burgeoning population.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
Northhead was traditionally known as Karrangle and held special significance
for the local Aboriginal people. It was used for ceremonies
and medicinal practices. North Head Sanctuary Brochure, twenty sixteen. Aboriginal
people referred to the North Head as the gateway to Heaven.
That's a quote from greuberg At twenty nineteen. Quote from
(04:49):
the North Headed Quarantine Station in Reserve, New South Wales
State Territory Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Unfortunately, Europeans are really good at taking local languages and
twisting the meaning gateway way to heaven being a quarantine station.
Oh yeah, you didn't think of that when you read that.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
No way did it. That's a that's terrible. We we
had like a lot of First Nations names down in
my area growing up, you know, growing up in rural
New South Wales. So my town was called Tumutt t
u m u t but pronounced with a tum tumit,
and that was derived from Dumat or Demat, which was
(05:29):
and I'm probably not pronouncing it correctly, but that was
the late the native language for the area. And you know,
the area was called Duma because that was translation to
resting place by the river. And so because people don't
listen very well, it became Tumut and the town slogan
is still resting place by the river. A little bit
(05:49):
of history for you. I think Gunda guys the same gender.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Guys sounds like a local word paramatter Canberra. Lots of
places are like that.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
The station's establishment came in response to the arrival of
mostly freeman immigrants and the need to manage infectious disease.
Before its official inception, vessels suspected of carrying disease were
temporarily detained at Spring Cove, a little small cove on
the little north of the station on the inner western
side of the head.
Speaker 1 (06:16):
As the dominant headland of the harbor, north Head was
of importance in navigation from the time of the first fleet.
By eighteen oh nine, navigational plans were showing an obelis
located in what was to become the Quarantine Station precinct,
presumed to have been used as a channel marker for
vessels negotiating the Sow and Pigs reef A teen made.
A high obelisk still exists on this site side L four,
(06:39):
which may be the original marker, making it potentially one
of the oldest European structures on Sydney Harbor. Flote from
north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve New South Wales State
Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
And if it's one of the oldest European structures in
Sydney Harbor, it makes it one of the oldest European
structures in the country.
Speaker 1 (06:57):
And it's just that they still think it's the original
or okay, impressive.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
In eighteen twenty eight, the Basara merchants arrival marked the
beginning of systematic quarantine when it was ordered to anchor
under quarantine conditions.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
And when we're talking about this specific era, Holly, we're
talking what syphilis, tuberculosis, typhus hyphus explaining typhus a little.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Bit lie life carrying Rash's disease.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Right, so bloodborne diseases via pess yes, yep. So yeah,
you know, you can't have a ship full of infectious
land in a burgeoning colony. You know, back in the day,
the flu or the common cold could wipe out an
entire colony overnight. There's an infamous story in America about
(07:47):
a colony of settlers called Roanoak, And now some people
have suggested that they simply moved in with the natives
after things got way too fucking hard and they decided
to live off the land with the Native Americans. But
the other side of that coin is that the potentially
a terrible virus ran through the population and wiped them
(08:09):
out after a particularly harsh winter. So yeah, colonies. You know,
they had to be very, very aware of the health
of the people coming in. So it was better to
let a virus or a past bonded virus run its
course before you unload it.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
The exception, of course being if you use it to
infiltrate local populations.
Speaker 1 (08:31):
Small fox, yeah, smallpox, mean one of them, because what's
the black plague? I think predates this by one hundred
two hundred years, Am I wrong?
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Sixteen hundreds yeah, sixteen hundreds yeah. By eighteen thirty two,
Governor Darling formalized quarantine practices with the Quarantine Act, establishing
the North Head Quarantine Station. The station's creation was necessitated
by a cholera epidemic that swept through Europe between eighteen
twenty nine and eighteen fifty one, so early quarantine passengers
(09:00):
often remained confined to their ships due to the lack
of accommodation options for them. This practice proved insufficient as
maritime traffic increased and other solutions were sourced.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
The quarantine station was established primarily to regulate the risk
of disease importation through the migration of Europeans, both free
and convict, and the arrival of merchant shipping. There was
always a close link between the requirement for quarantine and
the ebb and flow of scene born immigration, and the
growth of the quarantine station from the eighteen thirties parallels
(09:30):
the changes in immigration policy and practice. Quote from north
Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (09:37):
Up until the eighteen thirties, the majority of ships requiring
quarantine were convict transports and were thus under government contract.
The somewhat informal proclamation of quarantine by the governor of
the day was thus easy to enforce as they had
absolute control over the lives of the men and women
on board. This, of course, started slipping as soon as
freemen began to find their ways into our shores.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
One reason for the introduction of fo normal statutory regulation
for quarantine in New South Wales in eighteen thirty two
was the increasing rate of free immigrant vessels entering port.
In eighteen thirty one, thirty four immigrant ships had arrived.
This increased to sixty three in eighteen thirty two. The
captains of these free vessels were less likely were less
(10:19):
ready to comply with such informal and ad hoc processes. Thus,
a legislated requirement for all ships entering port to be
screened for disease and quarantine if necessary was needed quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
This act was of course contentious, but for reasons that
appear more like a goofish older brother tell trying to
lord his authority while mum is gone, rather than any
real threat to the colonies or their overlord.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
When the eighteen thirty two Quarantine Actor was passed in
New South Wales, Vincent Goldreach, British Secretary of State for
War and Colonies warn that quarantine was pudicial to the
trade of the Kingdom, that the colony should be aware
of the importance of not aggravating by unnecessary restrictions. The
embarrassment inseparable from a strict quarantine on British vessels from
(11:04):
north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve, which, if I'm understanding
my old speaky time language, Holly, they're basically just saying
what is good for Europe should be good for the
rest of you and go along with it, because you're
embarrassing us by not close.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
It's don't embarrass Britain by trying to quarantine us when
you know we're clean. Quarantine those guys don't impede us.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
I see what they're saying. So everyone else is filthy
except the British.
Speaker 2 (11:33):
Yes, so don't impune our honor by sticking us in quarantine.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Oh right, right? Did they happen to walk around the
East End of London during eighteen thirty two?
Speaker 2 (11:45):
They were British high class, so I'm guessing they definitely
had at least lice.
Speaker 1 (11:48):
So what are we looking at there around eighteen thirty two.
It's East End, which will eventually end.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
Up with the Jack the Ripper in the eighteen eighties.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Yes, yeah, so yeah, that was not the best part
of England at the time, and they're suggesting that everyone
else is dirty. Yeah, right, of course.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
In eighteen thirty seven, the arrival of the Lady mcnorton
exposed the flaws in this logic.
Speaker 1 (12:14):
Actually, and Captain Cook wouldn't be too far along from
this and correct me if I'm wrong. He died of
extreme syphilitic infection.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
Right, That was one of the reasons he was dying, Yes,
but it wasn't the thing that literally killed him.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
And what else do he have? I think he had
an I.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
Think he had a severe case of the stab.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
But yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Built in eighteen twenty nine, this four hundred and thirty
ton bark transported hundreds of passengers seeking a fresh start
in colonial Australia. Yet what should have been a hopeful
voyage for the mcnorton became one of tragedy and disease,
exposing the dire inadequacies of public health measures aboard emigrant vessels.
In eighteen thirty seven, the Lady mc norton embarked on
(12:57):
a harrowing journey from Ireland to Sydney, carrying immigrants affected
by the famine and hardship. Now this wasn't quite the
Potato femine which started in eighteen forty five. This is
only eighteen thirty seven, but the toll was starting. The
onboard conditions were deplorable, with passengers crammed into tight quarters
with poor sanitation and insufficient medical supplies. These are not convicts,
(13:19):
these are freemen.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Well, I mean yes, but I think that people have
a very romanticized view of what life on the open ocean.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Was like, it's not all like Treasure Island.
Speaker 1 (13:31):
Yeah, I think that, you know, pop culture has probably
misinformed people about exactly what, you know, they were dealing with.
It's like it took a very very long time before
they even understood scurvy. It took a very long time
before they understood the basics of nutrition, and it took
a very very long time before you even had tim
preserves that were sealed and good to eat on.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
A ship reliably sealed.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
Yeah, I mean a lot of ships ended up being wrecked,
a lot of ships ended up getting stuck. You know,
there was a lot of cannibalism, there were a lot
of you know, terrible storms like the you know, there's
more than enough stories out there. Well, I mean, funk,
we've covered one. You know, what's considered one of the
first European landings on the Australian mainland. You know, they
(14:20):
they turned into a basically a little criminal cult and
killed an eight some of them. So it's like, yeah,
it wasn't this this aggrandized life that people think it was.
But there's definitely a difference in standards, as you're alluding to, Holly,
between being brought here on a convict ship and and
(14:41):
of course being brought here as a as a quote
unquote freeman, which is why you know coming you know,
we're coming up to it, of course, the twenty sixth
of January, and I love I get to fucking hear
all of these people like shouting at me. You know,
celebrate January twenty six don't celebrate January twenty six But
when you look at history and you look at this
(15:03):
this time in our history, as colonials start coming across
to Australia to the mainland continent, you see that the
conditions are arriving and are not fucking fun. And this
is again as Holly pointed out, there the conditions are
being brought to here, that they're being brought as freemen,
and they're still suffering with terrible disease on board and
(15:25):
malnutrition and things like that. Do you can you imagine
how the poor buggers felt when they were brought here
against their will as conflicts on January twenty sixth.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
It would definitely have been relief just in the fact
of I'm off that fucking ship. But that's about it.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
Yeah, exactly. Like for you know, there's this narrative especially
in the media, because the media loves to drum up
identity politics at the moment and at the behest of
their corporate overlords. We all know this, but there's every year,
every year, on the fucking year, you know, someone like
Peter Dartmore come out January twenty six, Australia a very
(16:02):
important rarah rah. And you know, the honest truth of
it is that most of our family, if you do
descend from the first or second fleets, you know, they're
brought here on shackles, they're sick, they they're suffering from malnutrition,
they're thrown on the beaches and told build a fucking
(16:23):
settlement in a completely unknown land, in an unknown climate,
and then they're told to survive, and we should be
proud of that. It doesn't really make sense whichever side
of the divide you said on. I don't necessarily think
that day was good for Europeans who were brought here
against their will, nor the indigenous populations who first encountered them.
(16:45):
And I think, like, yeah, this romanticized view of what
it was like back then to arrive to Australia, to
arrive via ship, I think is very romanticized, and I
think that.
Speaker 2 (16:57):
I think a lot of people imagine disembarking the title
when they think of it.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
I agree, Holly, I think they do, and I think
that's where this misconception comes from. People were brought here dirty,
they were suffering, they were sick, they were hungry.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Overpopulated prisons, British prisons for a long time before they
got on the ship.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Yeah, yeah, exactly. There was a reason that we needed
quarantine stations, and it wasn't because the history was all
beautiful sunshines and roses. You know, you've got to really,
that's what I love about the show. That's what I
love about talking about history, and what I've loved about
talking about history the last seven years doing the show
is that you learn so much about the bullshit, you know,
(17:41):
the facade that they teach you in school, and you know,
don't don't run from history, you know, learn from it.
Because people like to they like to put on the
rose tinted glasses, especially the professional media. They put on
those roads tinted glasses in order to sell you a narrative,
and the narrative is bull sit Anyway, enough of me
raiding back to the quarantine station, the.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
Voyage of the McNaughton was marked by increasing misery as
passengers succumbed to the illnesses in staggering numbers. By the
time the ship reached austrained waters, fifty five individuals had died,
including children. The remaining passengers all sick and weak. The
mcnorton's arrival at Sydney Harbour presented authorities with a dire
public health crisis. The authorities offloaded passengers to the sparse
(18:26):
accommodations available, struggling to address their desperate needs. The station,
ill equipped for such an outbreak, lacked proper housing, medical staff,
and infrastructure, compounding the passengers suffering. In eighteen thirty seven,
it existed of one building, not enough to house the
four hundred odd passengers that were on that ship.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
No, not at all. That sounds absolutely fucking terrible, Holly.
Speaker 2 (18:49):
This incident became a catalyst for systematic changes in public
health protocol. The public and authorities recognized the critical importance
of improving conditions aboard emigrant ships. Reforms mandated by the
British government included appointing ship surgeons with greater authority, enforcing
better sanitation measures, and improving passenger relations to ensure basic
nutrition during voyages. Ship owners were held accountable for providing cleaner,
(19:13):
less crowded spaces, and mandatory vaccinations against diseases like smallpox
were introduced before boarding. Yes, they even managed to bully
the British government into vaccinating their emigrants.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
Yes, so the very early vaccine which was taking This
is literally how they did it. They took the inert
scabs from smallpox victims and they would turn that into
a solution. That solution would be injected to induce an
immune response. And guess what, people fucking hated it too.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
Everyone's always been against vaccination, even though it seemed countless lives.
Speaker 1 (19:54):
Eh, fuck it. Like, look, maybe i'm a bit of
a misanthroat these days. Maybe you know, the world has
turned me into a cynical missing throat. But look, make
decisions that you think are best for you. If you
make the right decisions, fucking rock on, Like, you're going
to live a really good, long, healthy life. If you
make bad decisions, you're the only one who can who
(20:16):
can be blamed. The only people I feel bad for
when people make bad or good decisions. The only people
who get affected by it are people like children who
you know they have to rely on their parents best
intentions in order to have a good health, happy, healthy life,
you know. So it's like, yeah, no, fuck it. If
people want to make bad decisions or good decisions, I
(20:37):
have no fucking say over it. So yeah, I definitely
think I'm very cynical and misanthropic these days.
Speaker 2 (20:44):
In subsequent years, facilities at north Head were upgraded to
include barracks for different groups such as single women, families,
and individuals. A dedicated hospital was established alongside a burial
ground for those who who come to illness despite quarantine measures.
These improvements reflected a shift towards more organized and humane
management of public health crises.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
The biggest impetus for change came not so much from
a concern about poor housing, but rather a concern, of
course I knew, I knew this was coming up, more
concern for the morals of the married women and the
two hundred single women let loose in the bush that
represented the undeveloped station at the time. The resulting changes
(21:26):
to the station, besides the use of the hospital ship,
included the construction of barracks for the single women in
the former sick ground, surrounded by a double fence with
the century station between them. To prevent communication with the women.
Two new buildings were built in the healthy ground, each
to house sixty people with verandas for dining, the original
burial ground was leveled and the gravestones, though not the dead,
(21:48):
were removed to the new second burial ground, thus removing
the burials from the view of the healthy ground. Quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (21:59):
Who do you think is most likely to be in
the healthy ground?
Speaker 1 (22:03):
The rich? Yep?
Speaker 2 (22:05):
How did you guess, Matthew?
Speaker 1 (22:08):
I don't know. It's something about the imbalance of power
and generally people with powerfuck over people without power.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
I don't want those greavestones in my view, jeeps, move them,
give them for me.
Speaker 1 (22:19):
Well, they left the bodies there with our gravestones, so
they certainly got haunted pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
But yes, morals of single women was exactly the reason
why they needed to upgrade those facilities.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
Of course it is. You take a bunch of good,
classy British gals, you chuck them in the Australian bush
and you better believe they're going to have their knickerbockers
off and jump and naked in the dam. And you know,
causing all sorts of mischief, becoming sexy forest nymphs instantaneously,
especially when those hairpins get pulled out. I mean, look,
(22:51):
honest truth is they did it to stop people being raped. Yes,
that's really that's that's the honest truth of it. They
stop people from being rate, but.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
They treated those women like prisoners in order to do it.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
Yeah, exactly.
Speaker 2 (23:06):
I hate old people, old timey people.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Oh look, it's still the same to this date. What's
the difference between that and turning around and saying to
a victim of assault, like, what were you wearing that night?
It's the same fucking thing.
Speaker 2 (23:18):
Oh, I know. It is blaming the victim student in history.
So I just hate old timey people for it.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Outbreaks this is Holly's lighter episode. Everybody, Yes you're a monster. Yes.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Outbreaks of diseases such as smallpox, measles, scarlet fever, and
typhus persisted throughout the late nineteenth century. Public dissatisfaction, particularly
among wealthy passengers, spurred significant improvements.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
The inadequacy was further publicized during the quarantine of the
Baroda in eighteen seventy three, when first class passengers had
to do their own washing oh my god, Jeeves quote
from north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (23:59):
And if if this doesn't tell you that public health
policy is dictated by the rich, I don't fucking know
what is.
Speaker 1 (24:05):
Well, yeah, like that's it's interesting now that we've had
a few years removed from COVID and people are talking about,
you know, what did we do right with quarantines, what
we did did wrong? You know, what was an overreaction,
what was an underreaction, and a lot of you know,
there will be people who discuss that for the next
ten twelve years. And I have my own criticisms on
(24:29):
either side of the argument, believe it or not. And
I think there was overreaction and underreaction.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
For our cataloging if that go back to see our
miniso's because we literally catalog the entire COVID epidemic.
Speaker 1 (24:41):
I mean, I fucking love staying at home. It was
fucking brilliant. I didn't have to agree to any social engagements.
I didn't have to see anyone. It's fucking amazing. But yeah,
like when we look at when we look at public health,
you know, like Ully just alluded to there, it is
often dictated by the wealth, and as we went through
(25:02):
our own pandemic. I think that there was sort of
this space where it's like, Okay, you know, we can
work from home, we can be efficient from home. This
is all good. And then suddenly people's pockets started getting lighter.
And the people who suffered the most, of course, is
smaller medium businesses. But the people who were pushing all
(25:23):
the levers and pressing all those buttons to get things
going at their schedule was those big companies. Those big
companies they shake kens with the real estate companies. Real
estate companies didn't have the rent coming through that they wanted.
And then you know, big business wanted people back at
the office to stimulate the economy because having people in
(25:43):
a big office building, you know, it's not just about
wanting them to be quote unquote more productive in a
big office building. That's your cafes, your batisseries, your restaurants,
your lunch places, all those sort of things depend on
that that foot traffic. And you know, going on your
lunch break to go and make an innocuous purchase a JB.
(26:06):
Hi Fi or you know, your favorite vinyl records store
or a DVD shop or whatever wherever you're going to
buy your staff. You know, so our public health messaging
started to switch at a certain point because the wealthy
deemed it so. And this has always been going on,
you know, go back to the eighteen hundreds. It's again
it's the wealthy dictating where people are, what's in view
(26:27):
of them, and what conditions have to be met.
Speaker 2 (26:30):
Floating quarantine hospitals were introduced, along with better water supplies
and a reservoir. A tram system was implemented to transport
goods and individuals efficiently between the quarantine station in Sydney.
Doctor Charles H mckeller, a prominent health officer, champion the
station's role in protecting New South Wales, emphasizing coordinated measures
at key ports such as Thursday Island in the Torres
(26:52):
Street and Albany.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
In Western Australia, the downturn and immigration during the economically
stagnant period of the eighteen sixties, triggered by the colonial
government canceling the regulations to provide assisted passage to migrants
in eighteen sixty, limited the use of the quarantine station
and the willingness of the government to spend money on
its upkeep. As a result of this downturn, between eighteen
(27:15):
sixty and eighteen seventy nine, only one hundred and thirty
eight immigrant vessels arrived, compared with four hundred and ten
between eighteen forty and eighteen fifty nine, and of these,
thirty three required cleansing at the quarantine station, but few
required their passengers to be landed and accommodated. In the
same period, twenty nine merchant or naval vessels were quarantined,
but again mainly for the cleansing of the ship rather
(27:38):
than the landing of diseased crews quoted from north Head
Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (27:44):
The turn of the twentieth century brought federal oversight when
the Commonwealth took control in nineteen oh nine. By then
Australia's ports handled immense immigration traffic, reflecting the country's growing
prominence as a destination. Between nineteen oh one and nineteen forty,
Sydney's port welcomed the one hundred and thirty four thousand,
eight hundred and sixty four immigrants compared to Melbourne's one
(28:04):
hundred and fifteen nine hundred and eighty eight.
Speaker 1 (28:07):
Keep in mind, of course, that that spike was definitely
due to World War One and World War Two.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
Yes, the end of World War One and then the
commencement of World War Two definitely added to it.
Speaker 1 (28:19):
Yeah, and even after like obviously world War two wraps up,
you know, we take on a lot of European immigrants who,
instead of rebuilding, decide, you know, screw it, We're just
going to come to Australia.
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Mostly Mediterranean for some reason.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
Well it's not really yeah, you know, obviously not some reason.
What hollyes alluding to is the the Italian POWs that
we had here. Japanese POWs they returned home, but the
European prisoners of war they stayed. They stayed. They build
places like Griffith, they moved into Melbourne, they helped to
(28:57):
build Melbourne, Kowra, know, all of those sort of places,
and ended up benefiting from the immigrant labor. That's why
there is so much Greek architecture here. That is why
there's so much Italian architecture here, and it's why Australia
has always been a melting pot of different nationalities. We've
been doing this for a very long time.
Speaker 2 (29:17):
The burgeoning infrastructure included sea and air facilities that diversified
entry points and rendered the North Head Quarantine Station far
less central than it used to be. Throughout the station's history,
its inhabitants left behind poignant traces of their presence. Carvings
in Sandstone, with eight hundred and fifty four recorded so far,
tell the stories of the individuals and groups who endured
(29:39):
quarantine there. These inscriptions, in languages ranging from English to
European and Asian languages and a couple of Islander languages,
offer a glimpse into their experiences of fear, hope, and resilience.
One particular site, building A twenty, was used as a
detention center for those deemed illegals, and as walls bear
carvings in Pacific Islander languages, underscoring is diverse and complex history. Matthew,
(30:03):
we recently watched a TV show conserving people of Pacific
Islander origin that were deemed illegals over in Australia. What
happened to them?
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Well, we've briefly talked about the Kanakas, when we talked
about federation.
Speaker 2 (30:15):
Yes, yeah, no, it was stolen generations, I believe.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
No, I think was federation.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
We were lots of things that we've very briefly edged on.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
We've circled it a lot, but we've never come down
never talked about. Yeah, so there's a show on Stan
highly recommended as well if you're looking for a really
good Australian near noir sort of cop story, which is
called Black Snow. In that first yeah, in the first
season they deal with the Kannakas and Kannaka workers and
(30:45):
the exploitation of those workers in its first season.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
So the Kanakas, some of them were caught, some of
them were deemed to be here illegally, that overstayed visas,
they weren't on the right visa to begin with. They
were sent to the quarantine station because that was the
only detendent center they had that would hold them. And
that's how you got the Pacific Islander languages.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Yeah. Now we have actual detention centers and well we
have dissension centers in Papua New Guinea and.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
Miller would used to be one.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
Yeah. Well we'll talk about those at a later date.
And it is not for the light episode, a lease
you of, I'm yeah, I'm going to dig this in.
This is Yeah, this is a hell of a choice
only for a light episode.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
World War One introduced a new chapter for the station,
returning soldiers and nurses who had contracted infectious diseases such
as the Spanish influenza. We're quarantined there to prevent further outbreaks.
The pandemic of nineteen eighteen nineteen nineteen in Australia it
was nineteen nineteen nineteen twenty was particularly challenging as it
swept across the globe with unprecedented speed and lethality. The
(31:50):
station's measures, though not fool proof, contributed to mitigating the
local impact and for more of that, We're not going
to go through it again see episodes one fifty four,
one fifty five.
Speaker 1 (31:59):
Yeah, the entirety of the Spanish flu The strategic importance
of north Head's location meant that existing coastal defenses from
the earliest days of colonization were upgraded as a result
of unfolding events in Europe during the nineteen thirties. In addition,
Northhead was constructed with concrete gun emplacements, tunnels, and an
underground plotting room. The associated barracks were built to house
(32:20):
and train the Army gunners who worked at north Head,
the largest barracks built in Australia prior to World War Two.
During World War II, the whole of north Head became
a major defense base, making it one of the most
heavily fortified sites in Australia After World War II, the
Australian Army School of Artillery was established here in nineteen
forty six and occupied the military buildings until relocating to
(32:42):
Victoria in nineteen ninety eight. North Head Sanctuary Brochure twenty
sixteen rode from the north Head Quarantine Station and Reserve.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
It was the most heavily fortified site in Australia. It
still let three sub mini subs into bomb Sydney Harbour.
Speaker 1 (32:58):
Well again, we covered that way way back, covered that
in volume two. I think of weird crap in Australia
and I don't know episode it's definitely before the hundreds.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
See my brain is saying in one hundred and forties,
so I've lost completely tracked.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
We've definitely covered that.
Speaker 2 (33:14):
The body of Sydney Harbor is what it's got that there.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
Was a lot of There was a lot of incompetence
that night.
Speaker 2 (33:20):
Post war technological and medicinal advancements gradually diminished the need
for large scale quarantine facilities. Vaccines, antibiotics, and improved disease
monitoring revolutionized the public health, making prolonged isolation less necessary.
Between nineteen forty six and nineteen eighty, despite a significant
rise in immigration, only a small proportion of arrivals required quarantine.
(33:43):
By nineteen eighty four, the mainly quarantine station had served
its purpose, having processed thirteen thousand quarantine individuals and recorded
five hundred and seventy two deaths.
Speaker 1 (33:53):
Concerning it had nearly a two hundred year run. That
doesn't seem like a lot of people.
Speaker 2 (33:57):
They were less than three year year.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Yeah, it doesn't seem lot, does it.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
So lots of people got thirteen thousand went through, so
lots of people got better and walked away. The station's
closure did not mark the end of its story. Its
transition into a heritage site began with its incorporation into
Sydney Harbor National Park in nineteen ninety four. The New
South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service sought private sector
funding for its preservation. By two thousand and six, the
(34:23):
Mallland Group had leased the site, ensuring its conservation and
repurposing it for public engagement. Visitors can now explore its
rich history through tours, including ghost tours that delve into
its more titillating tales. Its addition to the New South
Wales Heritage Register in nineteen ninety nine and the Australian
Heritage Register in two thousand and six cemented its importance
as a marker in our history.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
The Australian Army School of Artillery occupied the military buildings
on north Head until relocating to Victoria in nineteen ninety eight.
North Head Sanctuary Brochure twenty sixteen. Today many of the
military buildings are used by a variety of businesses. North
Heads Sanctuary Brochure twenty sixteen go from north Head Quarantine
Station and Reserve. I mean when they talk about businesses,
(35:06):
I'm assuming that they're tourist based businesses and.
Speaker 2 (35:09):
All of them, Oh okay, some of them are actual
private businesses.
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Why would you put a private business out.
Speaker 2 (35:14):
There because it's beachfront property?
Speaker 1 (35:18):
Why would you, okay, then build a house like you're not.
Speaker 2 (35:22):
Allowed to build a house because it's part of the
National Park.
Speaker 1 (35:25):
So what kind of businesses function out there?
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Well, I don't know they're private. I couldn't find it
when I googled it. There are a couple of loifer
there as far as I can see.
Speaker 1 (35:34):
Yeah, So what we're talking about is very very private businesses.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Yes, the rich people. You only know about them if
you know about them. Wink wink. Kind of businesses.
Speaker 1 (35:43):
Not not your local tuch shop.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
No, no, unless you're talking about the cafeteria catering to
the tourists. The surrounding area part of the heritage listing
is notable not only for its historical value, but also
for its ecological significance in david species such as the
Eastern long nose bandicoot and the little penguin inhabit the landscape.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
What's the difference between a little penguin and a fairy penguin?
Speaker 2 (36:05):
About two inches. Fairy penguins are a little bit smaller.
Speaker 1 (36:09):
I love fairy penguins so well.
Speaker 2 (36:12):
They live alongside endemic plants like the Sunshine Model and
the Eastern Suburbs banks up, both of which are also endangered.
So they really only exist around north Head so because
all the Bundai guys kept killing them. Conservation efforts continue
to balance the preservation of this unique biodiversity with the
station's heritage. The quarantine station's laid history reflects broader narratives
(36:33):
of migration, public health, and cultural exchange. It stands as
a testament to human resilience and adaptation in the face
of adversity. Its legacy possessed not only in its physical moments,
but also in the stories it tells of immigrants searching
for a new life and those who endured illnesses and isolation,
and of course of a nation evolving irresponse to global
(36:53):
challenges like we always do.
Speaker 1 (36:55):
North Head in twenty twenty got a three point eight
nine million dollar finding boosts to upgrade improved safety via
a three year project concentrating on the area around the
Fairfax Lookouts and including rock stability and general safety improvement
for visitors. It could also include better seating. New South
Wales National Parks and Wildlife Services is seeking preparation of
(37:16):
concept designs will be placed on public exhibition for feedback.
In late twenty twenty one, the historic q Station was
acquired from Moreland by winning bitter from an international field
Harvard Hotel owner Glenn Piper, subject to approval by the
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service. Quote from
north Head to Quarantine Station and Reserve New South Wales
(37:37):
State Heritage Inventory.
Speaker 2 (37:39):
Now it wouldn't be one of our colonial history episodes
if I didn't reward you with some ghost stories.
Speaker 1 (37:43):
So these come to us and via.
Speaker 2 (37:45):
My ghost stories website that I haunt when I'm looking through.
Speaker 1 (37:49):
All right, cue the scary music.
Speaker 2 (37:53):
A ghost O.
Speaker 1 (37:54):
Yeah, yep, yes, it is holly very good, very good.
All right, let's getches in the with a little bit
of eerie music. We were early for our tour and
went into the little restaurant. I remember everything smelled great.
My husband and cousin's wife got a drink each, and
all I could smell was the alcohol. I couldn't smell
the food. As it got closer to the time of
(38:16):
the tour, we went outside into a room that is
next to the shower blocks. I didn't know that at
the time. When the tour started we were in a
building behind that room. As the guide was talking, I
could feel my legs anchored down so heavy that I disregarded.
After the initial intro, we went into a dark room,
which I think was like a barn. After more stories,
(38:37):
we all stood around and my legs were so heavy
my body was involuntarily moving forward. It was also freezing.
My hands and my body were like ice. During the tour,
we went to the nest creepy room filled with bunk beds.
There was supposed to be something very sinister in there.
We heard a crack near the fireplace and I could
(38:59):
feel I was being touched on my leg. I also
hurt a growl, but I chose to ignore that. I
was not going outside on my own, especially since I
could see footsteps go past the door. My husband, that
was in another part of the room, saw them too.
Off we went to the grave Digger cottage. As soon
as we got there, I could see someone look out
from the window. I mentioned it to my husband and
(39:21):
he could see it too. I didn't say where I
could see it, but when he said where he could
see it, it was the same windowpane. We went into
the cottage and the moment I walked in, I regretted it,
but somehow felt I couldn't leave. I walked around the house.
When I walked out of the middle room into the kitchen,
I could smell alcohol. I refused to go into the bathroom,
(39:42):
went past the middle room again. My husband was saying
the cupboard doors opened. I didn't believe him. Then my
cousin's wife said it too, so I thought i'd have
a look, and right in front of my eyes, the
doors opened and we could hear banging when we closed
the door again. We left the room into the li
living room. After a minute, my husband walked out. Checked
(40:03):
on him, and he said a man told him in
his ear to leave. When we walked into the morgue,
I had an uncontrollable urged cry. That feeling left after
a few minutes. They told us stories, and then we
made it back to the minibus. I noticed one of
my shoes were untied. I had double knotted it. Quote
from the Q Station Manly, September sixth, twenty eighteen by
(40:26):
Veron Kita Veroniquita, I think that's Veronica. Yeah, so if
that wasn't spooking up for you ladies and gentlemen, shoes
suddenly becoming untired, especially when they're double knodded. We have
one more little tail here to take you out. Remember,
turn the lights out.
Speaker 2 (40:46):
Unless you're driving. Don't turn the lights off.
Speaker 1 (40:48):
Turn the lights off right now wherever you are, regardless
of the situation, day or night. Turn those lights off.
No illumination. We went into a small shower block which
was situated underneath it D Hall, which was used by
the third class passengers. The shower block was rather small.
Only four people at the time went in on the tour.
(41:08):
I was in the first group to go in, and
as I walked through the door, was immediately drawn to
the left of the room. Felt a cool breeze washed
from around my waist height up to my face. It
wasn't cold, just cooler than the rest of the room.
I stood there with my arms by my side and
just felt this weird sensation in my hands that I
(41:30):
can only describe as pins and needles. That's a heart attack, buddy,
you go get that checked.
Speaker 2 (41:35):
No, it's not. It Bellian poisoning.
Speaker 1 (41:38):
It was so different to anything I've ever experienced. It
wasn't scary or anything, just different. So as I'm standing there,
one of the guides calls in and ask if anyone
has experienced anything in there. All of the others in
there called out no. I didn't say anything because I
didn't want to know what I was feeling, burgeoning love
(41:59):
for requited love probably. Then the guide said, are you
sure there's no one in there who can feel anything
in their hands? At that point, I said yeah, and
then walked out of the room. I never mentioned anything
to my boyfriend, and he came out of the room
and told me what happened to him in there, which
was the exact same thing that happened to me or
(42:21):
breeze followed by pins and needles in both hands. Well,
the group moved on. I told the to a guide
what I felt in my hands and she said, yeah,
that's the way I send spirits too. So that was
my first official time having a physical reaction in my
body from a spirit being close by. It was amazingly awesome.
I like the attitude of this lady. Hollywood Manly Quarantine
(42:44):
Station goes to her twenty eleven June twenty eighth to
twenty eleven story via cookie not our cook not our
made cookie, different cookie, diferent cookies. There you go. There
are some chilling ghost stories to get you into the
movie for something spooky. So now go watch your horror
film for your Monday night or whenever you listen to
(43:06):
This could be a Monday night, could be a Friday night,
could be a Saunurday night. Some people could be putting
it on while they've brought someone home to have some
fun times after going to the club. Though, if I
am your sexy track, I'm very very disturbed, very very disturbed.
As is Holly not disturbed, Holly.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Is just kidding, Ollie is very entertained.
Speaker 1 (43:29):
If Welcome to the Weird craft in Australia podcast really
gets you going, send us an email week Crap in
Australia at gmail dot com. You can also reach out
to us via our social media. Just type in weird
Crap in Australia into the search box, and we'd love
to hear from all of you, of course, about any
(43:49):
particular thing related to the show, not just whether my
voice is the sexy voice in your bedroom late at night.
We also want to hear from you if you've been
to the quarantine station and maybe come across a ghost
or two. You can also help support us here at
wee Crap in Australia. Once again, if my sexy voice
is getting you off, then we definitely deserve a few dollars.
(44:09):
You can find us via Patreon. Just type in weir
Crap in Australia into the search bar. We also have
our book series, Volume one to five is available now
from our great mates at Impact Comics. If you want
a good old fashioned paperback internationally, you can pick that
up from Lulu dot com and if you prefer all digital.
You can pick it up from the Kindle shop. We
(44:30):
also have a series of T shirt designs. You can
find those on a red bubble and t public again
Weird Crap and Australia into the search bar. We'll bring
up those wonderful designs. I believe you can also get
those slapped on mugs and pet bandemmas and all sorts
of weird o things. And as is our custom, we
give Holly the final words.
Speaker 2 (44:50):
So I've got an idea. I'll float it by you
only fans, but just Matthew's voice, just the voice.
Speaker 1 (44:55):
Yep, Hi, there, you've reached Matthew's only fans, the host
of the wor Week Crap in Australia podcast. Today, I'm
going to read the weather. That's right.
Speaker 2 (45:06):
That just cost everyone fifty bucks, pay up.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Twenty five degrees slightly sonny some clown cover. Later in
the week, it's going to rain. There is a chance
that you're going to get a wet you like that.
I think we've lost Holly, ladies and gentlemen. I think
(45:30):
it turned into the the Matthew's final words there well,
as Holly said, if you would like me to start
an only fans where I talk to you in sexy voices.
You get to pick the material as well. Perhaps you
like fifty Shades of Gray. Perhaps you just want to
hear the local betting nods. I'm not judging anyone. I'm
not going to yuck your yum. Thank you so much
(45:53):
for joining us, of course, for another lighthearted week Crap
in Australia episode. I've been your host, Matthew, so joining
me of course, Holy Soul Me. Yeah, and we will
see And we will see you all again next week
for more weak crap in Australia. Until then, stay safe
and be kind to each other. Bye for now.
Speaker 2 (46:12):
Bye.
Speaker 1 (46:27):
The Weird Crap In Australia podcast is produced by Holly
and Matthew Soul for the Modern Meltdown. If you've enjoyed
this podcast, please rate and review on your favorite podcatching
app
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!