Who the Hell is Hamish?

Who the Hell is Hamish?

He was born Hamish Watson, a surfie dude from Sydney – but he could morph into whatever you needed him to be. Hamish is due to be sentenced to jail in early 2019 for swindling a handful of victims out of more than $7m. But these crimes are just the final pages in a resume too thick to staple; for decades he’s duped victims in the US, Canada, Britain, Hong Kong and Australia. How did he do it? How did he evade authorities around the world for so long and what’s he done with all those tens of millions of dollars he stole?

Episodes

Trailer

February 3, 2019 • 1 min
On the trail of a serial conman. A new podcast from the team that brought you The Teacher's Pet, coming soon. Music credits for this episode:Meydan - L'Etoile danse pt 2  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Day Max Died

February 7, 2019 • 19 mins
Tracy fell in love with Max Tavita, a man who won her over with tales of a life in the investment world and how he was working in the World Trade Center in New York when the first plane hit in 2001. Then Hamish crashed into their lives. Music credits for this episode:Meydan - L'Etoile danse pt 2Lee Rosevere - DecompressionDerjuli - Driving in a carUuriter - Years and years, future peaceStephen Ludwig - 214S  

See omnystudio.com/list...

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Fashion Crimes

February 14, 2019 • 35 mins
Hamish McLaren was always attracted to the high-life. It was inevitable he'd gravitate to fashion. And so, nestled among the retirees and energy healers Hamish stole from was another name: Lisa Ho. But had Hamish met his match in this high profile Sydney designer? Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2, Blind, RainChris Zabriskie - Cylinder FiveSmallertide - One March Day  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Gatsby of the Great Lakes

February 21, 2019 • 36 mins
Hamish arrived in sleepy Blueys Beach with a beautiful woman on his arm, and on the run from his past. Rumours of dark deeds wafted through in his wake. Then he met Bec Rosen. He'd shower her with love.They'd be married on the balcony of a beach shack. He'd become a father figure to her boys. And then he'd cruelly betray them all. Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2, RainRafael_Archangel - Melancholy TuneUuriter - Years And Y...

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The Intern

February 28, 2019 • 41 mins
Jane was destined for big things. She was the great hope of her local school. She was in love with Jack, her teenage sweetheart. Life was sweet. Then along came Hamish, promising an internship and a placement at Princeton. Two families would be devastated by the results. Music credits:Meydn - L'Etoile danse Pt.2,Smallertide - One March Dayelectric-tric - Sketch 3, Sketch 14Komiku - Action Time Attack ResearchChris Zabriskie- Last N...

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Who the Hell is Phil?

March 7, 2019 • 42 mins
Hamish arrived on the floor of the Sydney Futures Exchange in the late 90s - he talked big, but they all knew he traded small. They called him a One Lot Wonder. And they all wondered where he got his cash. There were cars and boats and trips in private jets and a girlfriend called The Pleasure Machine. But it was all other people's money. One of his victims reported $20m dollars worth of fraud to police, but Hamish slithered away t...

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Kevin from Queensland Goes to Canada

March 14, 2019 • 50 mins
Skiing was Hamish Watson's great love. Before he was a puffed-up futures trader in Sydney, he was a pumped-up muscle-bound ski instructor, in Australia and Canada. The ski fields of Canada were his home away from home, a place where he could show off the millions he'd stolen. He flew in on private jets, he bought properties, he handed out Rolex watches and he regaled the locals with tales of life as a billionaire who was mates with...

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On the Couch with Hamish

March 21, 2019 • 40 mins
He killed off his parents, by air and by sea. He ran over his twin brother Phil, and killed him too. What are we to make of these fanciful stories Hamish made up about his life? We've called in experts. And, we've gathered bevy of ex-girlfriends to give us their take on their time with Hamish.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Definition of Evil

March 28, 2019 • 66 mins
It may appear that Hamish got away with his schemes for decades. But he didn't. He kept getting caught out, time and again. It's self evident that many systems failed to apprehend this serial offender. How could this be so?  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Bonus Episode - Jane

April 4, 2019 • 93 mins
As a bonus for all listeners, we are publishing the full interview with Jane, recorded in her house north of Sydney. She speaks at length about her experiences of Hamish, the impact it had on her life, and how she hopes to begin moving on.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Reckoning

June 21, 2019 • 36 mins
For years Hamish McLaren had evaded the law. But not any more. The brutal truth, like a runaway out-of-control limited edition Mercedes McLaren, is bearing down on him. There's no escape. Judgement Day for Hamish McLaren, has finally arrived.  

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Introducing: Nowhere Child

August 2, 2019 • 1 min
William Tyrrell was a three year old boy who disappeared from the village of Kendall, on the mid-north-coast of New South Wales. Key facts were kept from the public, from day one. A lot of what was reported, especially early on, was false. In the new podcast, Nowhere Child, The Australian’s Caroline Overington delves into a case where notions of class and privilege; opportunity and poverty came crashing together, to create a n...

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Introducing: The Lighthouse

November 15, 2019 • 3 mins
Theo Hayez is missing in Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town on Australia’s most easterly mainland point, frequently in the spotlight for its famous residents. Theo’s from Brussels. He’s 18 and on a backpacking holiday when he vanishes in May 2019. Behind the scenes local volunteers who’ve never met Theo begin searching and investigating with his family, parallel to a major police investigation. As the search narrows to the ...

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Introducing: The Breakdown

March 28, 2021 • 39 mins

Australian rugby once had $40 million in the bank. Crowds over 100,000. TV audiences of 3 million. Today the Wallabies have sunk to their lowest world ranking ever. Off the field rugby is a "war zone" with a $20 million deficit last year alone.

The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why. Jessica Halloran and Claire Harvey have int...

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Introducing: What Really Happened in Wuhan

December 19, 2021 • 41 mins

Investigative journalist Sharri Markson goes deep into the secret history of Covid-19. 
In a series of exclusive interviews - from Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo to intelligence chiefs and Chinese dissidents - Markson takes us inside the investigation behind her bestselling book and documentary, to explore what really happened in Wuhan and beyond. 

In this first episode, Sharri Markson has a frank and freewheeling c...

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Introducing: My Sister's Secrets

February 6, 2022 • 38 mins

My Sister's Secrets is the gripping story of one woman's quest to get justice for her sister - and along the way, to uncover the hidden places in her family, and all our families.

In this first episode, you meet Alexandra Tapp who died at just 32, haunted by the predators in her own family. Now her sister is on a quest for justice. 

My Sister's Secrets is The Australian's newest podcast. Presented by Virginia Tapscott and Stev...

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It's back: The Teacher's Pet returns for Australian listeners

June 29, 2023 • 35 secs

The Australian's global smash-hit podcast Teacher's Pet returns for Australian audiences on July 1.

You can find it wherever you got this podcast. Just search for "The Teacher's Pet". 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Introducing Breaking Badness

December 12, 2023 • 28 mins

From our colleagues at The Telegraph, a new podcast from inside prison walls, with former homicide detective Gary Jubelin, host of I Catch Killers. This is Episode 1 of Breaking Badness.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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From The Front: Hedley Thomas’ new cold case podcast, 'Bronwyn'

May 23, 2024 • 20 mins

Where is Bronwyn Winfield? The devoted mum has been missing since 1993 – and the man behind The Teacher’s Pet is on the case.  

Go to theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn to listen. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more.

This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou an...

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Transcript

Introducing Dear Rachelle

April 9, 2025 • 3 mins

For two decades, the family of murdered 23-year-old woman Rachelle Childs have fought for answers. Though her killer is still at large, they believe her case case can be solved. 

Dear Rachelle is hosted and investigated by journalist Ashlea Hansen, together with retired detective and cold case specialist Damian Loone, who appeared in The Australian’s award-winning podcast series The Teacher&rsqu...

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Transcript

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