Weird Crap in Australia

Weird Crap in Australia

Welcome to "Weird Crap in Australia," a podcast hosted by Holly and Matthew, a husband and wife team with a passion for all things strange and unusual in the land down under. Each episode, Holly, a trained historian, and Matthew, a pop-culture enthusiast, dive into the weird and wacky aspects of Australian history and society. From the colonial era to the present day, they explore topics such as aliens, monsters, ghosts, and true crime, uncovering the stories and legends that have fascinated Australians for generations. As a social historian, Holly provides a unique perspective on the cultural significance of these strange phenomena, while Matthew brings his expertise in pop-culture to the table, offering insights into how these stories have been portrayed in movies, TV shows, and other media. With a mix of humor and insight, "Weird Crap in Australia" is the perfect podcast for anyone who loves to explore the oddities and quirks of our world. Join Holly and Matthew as they take you on a journey through the strange and wonderful world of Australia's weirdest stories. *** Did you know a full firefight between MPs and soldiers took place in Central Station (Sydney) in February 1916, and you can still find the bullet holes in the pillars? Did you know that one of Australia’s convict ships was waylaid by Americans during the aftermath of the American Revolution in 1815? Did you know we have a dinosaur called Qantassaurus, and that most Australian fossil expeditions of the 1970s and 1980s were sponsored by corporations, rather than the government? Did you know that the majority of the miners that took part in the Eureka Stockade of 1854 were Chinese, African-American, or from other ‘minority’ groups? And that the Victorian Gold Rush is where Australia learned to love Chinese food? There’s a lot of history when it comes to this country - even just in the last 200 years - and very little of it is taught in our school systems. We feel that, in order to preserve the past, we have to get it out there into the minds of the present, and hopefully apply those lessons to the future. If you agree, we'd love you to join us. New episodes release 12pm AEDST/AEST every Monday. ______ Main Theme music – Kevin MacLeod "Slow Ticking Clock" – Kevin MacLeod Used under a Creative Commons license. All sound and voice clips used are (c) their respective owners. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Episodes

August 24, 2025 106 mins
What happens when you take werewolves, marsupials, a low budget, and the golden age of Ozploitation cinema? You get Howling III: The Marsupials — one of the strangest, campiest horror sequels ever put to film.

In this commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they sit down with this oddball slice of Australian cinema. From the marsupial pouch transformations to the utterly bonkers plot, we’ll laugh, groan, and celebrate everything...
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On the morning of 18 January 1977, Blue Mountains commuters boarded their usual train, expecting nothing more than another routine ride to work. Instead, the Granville train disaster became Australia’s deadliest rail accident. 

When a commuter train derailed and slammed into a road bridge, the collapse that followed trapped dozens in a nightmare of twisted metal and rubble. Rescue crews fought against the clock, and the nation watch...
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On the morning of 18 January 1977, Blue Mountains commuters boarded their usual train, expecting nothing more than another routine ride to work. Instead, the Granville train disaster became Australia’s deadliest rail accident. 

When a commuter train derailed and slammed into a road bridge, the collapse that followed trapped dozens in a nightmare of twisted metal and rubble. Rescue crews fought against the clock, and the nation watch...
Mark as Played
August 3, 2025 63 mins
Every year, a sleepy New South Wales town gets turned into a pit lane paradise as 150,000 fans descend on Mount Panorama for the Bathurst 1000 — Australia’s most iconic car race. But Bathurst isn’t just about lap times and burnout smoke. Behind the wheelspin lies a deep and chaotic history: from the deadly results of some races, to the Peter Brock legacy, to the legendary Holden vs Ford rivalry that turned race day into a full-blow...
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In this series, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what happens when divisions in the communit...
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In this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what happens when divisions in the communi...
Mark as Played
HIn this episode, we dive into one of the most confronting chapters of modern Australian history: the Cronulla Riots of December 2005. Sparked by rising tensions, fuelled by alcohol, misinformation, and nationalism, what started as a “community protest” quickly turned into an ugly and violent display of racial hatred.

Join Holly & Matthew as they look into an event about fear, blame, and what happens when divisions in the commun...
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In the lonely dunes of South Australia’s Coorong, legend speaks of a bushranger so strange he’s hard to forget: the Birdman of the Coorong. Unlike his horse-riding peers, this eccentric outlaw was rumoured to have galloped through the saltbush atop an ostrich.

Was he a real menace to passing coaches, or just a yarn spun to spook travellers on the road to Kingston SE?

Join Holly & Matthew as they dig into the history, rumour, and ...
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Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence.

Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, backstage drama, controversies, and last...
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Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence.

Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, backstage drama, controversies, and last...
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Before they were stadium superstars, INXS were just six Aussie blokes carving out a sound in the sweaty pubs of Sydney. In this episode, we chart the meteoric rise of one of Australia’s biggest musical exports—from their gritty early days, to the glitz of international fame, and the tragic loss of frontman Michael Hutchence.

Join Holly & Matthew as they dive into their chart-topping hits, backstage drama, controversies, and last...
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Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place in history.

Mawson’s leadership, gri...
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Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place in history.

Mawson’s leadership, gri...
Mark as Played
Douglas Mawson wasn’t just a survivor—he was a scientific powerhouse who helped put Australia on the map of polar exploration. His adventures began with the 1907–1909 Nimrod Expedition under Ernest Shackleton, during which he became one of the first to reach the Magnetic South Pole and climb Mount Erebus. But it was his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition from 1911 to 1914 that sealed his place in history.

Mawson’s leadership, gri...
Mark as Played
May 18, 2025 52 mins
Australia’s largest bird of prey, the wedge-tailed eagle , is a creature of raw power and mythic presence. With a piercing gaze adapted for hunting across vast landscapes, these raptors are found soaring over deserts, forests, and farmland alike.

Once hunted by farmers who saw them as threats to livestock, wedge-tails are now protected. Revered in local lore and feared by foxes, drones, and the occasional unlucky hang-glider, the we...
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May 11, 2025 65 mins
David Gulpilil, born in Arnhem Land in 1953, was more than just an actor—he was a cultural bridge, storyteller, and proud Yolŋu man who changed the face of Australian cinema. From his breakout role in Walkabout (1971) to his haunting final performance in My Name is Gulpilil (2021), his work brought Australian First Nations voices and perspectives to screens around the world.

Off-screen, Gulpilil lived a life as complex as any of his...
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The legend of the ANZACs was born not through victory, but through courage, endurance, and mateship under fire. From the rocky shores of Gallipoli to the muddy battlefields of the Western Front, Australian and New Zealand troops earned a reputation for resilience, resourcefulness, and unbreakable spirit.

Though the Gallipoli campaign ended in withdrawal, the actions of the ANZACs forged a national identity that continues to shape Au...
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The legend of the ANZACs was born not through victory, but through courage, endurance, and mateship under fire. From the rocky shores of Gallipoli to the muddy battlefields of the Western Front, Australian and New Zealand troops earned a reputation for resilience, resourcefulness, and unbreakable spirit.

Though the Gallipoli campaign ended in withdrawal, the actions of the ANZACs forged a national identity that continues to shape Au...
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In the icy waters of Twofold Bay, a strange alliance once thrived between man and whale. At the heart of it was Old Tom, a killer whale unlike any other—who, along with his pod, helped human whalers hunt baleen whales in exchange for first dibs on the spoils.

This wasn’t legend. It was a documented partnership that spanned generations, built on eerie trust and uncanny understanding. But like many good things, it didn’t last. When Ol...
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Carl Williams rose from small-time drug dealer to one of the most powerful—and dangerous—figures in Melbourne’s gangland wars. Known for his smiling, seemingly unbothered public appearances, Williams was anything but harmless. He orchestrated a bloody campaign that left multiple rivals dead, including members of the Moran family, as he sought to dominate Melbourne’s criminal underworld in the early 2000s.

Join Holly & Matthew as...
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