FORGOTTEN AUSTRALIA PLUS

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Forgotten Australia

Forgotten Australia

Created by Michael Adams, author of The Murder Squad and Hanging Ned Kelly, Forgotten Australia delves deep into bloody crimes, dark histories, unsolved mysteries, eccentric personalities and bizarre happenings that are almost always stranger than fiction. Each episode brings to life people and events that were once known to everyone but are now barely remembered by anyone. Based on intensive original research, Forgotten Australia is crafted with a novelist’s eye for character and detail to create gripping narratives that sound so fresh it's like they're ripped from today's headlines. This is the history you wish you’d been taught in school. You can get early ad-free access and bonus Forgotten Australia episodes by subscribing at Apple or supporting at Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. New Season Miniseries: Death-Defying Death Divers – Part One

    8 HR AGO

    New Season Miniseries: Death-Defying Death Divers – Part One

    Welcome to Season 10! There are a lot of wild stranger-than-fiction episodes and miniseries coming your way in 2026. To start the New Year, let's splashback 130 years... In 1895, Australians were astounded by Charles Peart, whose claim to fame was diving head-first from 100 feet into water just six feet deep. How did he do it? How long could he do it? In this four-part miniseries, we plunge into the strange world of striving divers, conniving showmen and sensationalist reporters who brought dizzying and often deadly thrills to audiences in England, the United States, Australia and New Zealand from the 1880s. Join these diving ‘Professors’ as they try to defy death with stunts from the highest of pool platforms – and the even-higher reaches of the world’s most famous new bridges in London, New York and, eventually, Sydney. *All four episodes of Death-Defying Death Divers are available now ad-free for supporters.* Use a free trial to hear them. Cancel before it expires and you won't be charged Apple users – click Forgotten Australia Plus – Subscribe – or go to www.apple.com/forgottenaustralia For Patreon – www.patreon.com/forgottenaustralia The epilogue episodes, Death-Defying Destiny Deciders will be available soon for supporters and go on general release late in the month. Need help? Lifeline 13 11 14  0477 13 11 14  https://www.lifeline.org.au/  Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    53 min
  2. Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Four

    1 DAY AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Four

    Having left his mark on Australia, Professor Charles Peart’s legend is to fade with the years, even as others step up to even greater heights for even more dangerous plunges – intentional and accidental. *Days after recording this miniseries in mid-December, I learned that my great-grandfather had been a celebrated London high diver and competitive swimmer from 1895 onwards. Since then I've been learning a lot about this side of the family. These episodes – which takes us from Waterloo and the Western Front, to Western Australia and Lord Howe Island – will be ready soon and available first to Forgotten Australia Plus supporters.*

    28 min
  3. Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Three

    1 DAY AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Three

    *Early and ad-free for Forgotten Australia Plus subscribers – use a free trial for access to all episodes. Cancel before it expires and you won't be charged* Arriving in Australia, Professor Charles Peart lives up the hype and wows crowds in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, before showing New Zealand audiences what he can do. But the daredevil has even wilder stunts planned for his return season in 1896.

    58 min
  4. Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Two

    1 DAY AGO • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Death-Defying Death Divers – Part Two

    *Early and ad-free for Forgotten Australia Plus subscribers – use a free trial for access to all episodes. Cancel before it expires and you won't be charged* After a diving tragedy shocks London, Professor Charles Peart rises to fame with his daring headfirst stunts. When Australian circus owners come looking for acts to take Down Under, they believe they’ve found a star performer.

    48 min
  5. The Marvellous Mary Stoddard

    5 DAYS AGO

    The Marvellous Mary Stoddard

    In 1881, plucky Mary Stoddard won the Great Australian Christmas Card Competition and launched her long and brilliant career in the Sydney art scene. While colonial gentlemen usually didn’t take ‘lady artists’ terribly seriously, Mary’s mastery of the pen and brush, particularly when doing portraits of powerful men, commanded respect, praise and plenty more prizes. She was a true pioneer. To hear the bonus episode 'The Day Australian Art Changed Forever', and get access to other exclusive shows, and get all episodes early and ad-free, become an Patreon or Apple supporter. Click here for a free trial that's easy to cancel if it's not for you: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia ABC Radio National Link to the interview about Federation: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/nightlife-history/106188548 To see Mary Stoddard and Catherine Devine’s postage stamp designs:  https://www.linns.com/news/us-stamps-postal-history/here_s-how-to-classify-the-1888-centenary-stamps-of-new-south-wa.html To see Mary Stoddard’s design for the Melbourne Exhibition Certificate https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/253965 To see Mary Stoddard’s still life From Earth and Ocean https://www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/collection/works/5951/ To see Mary Stoddard’s portrait of Sir Henry Parkes: https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au/history-article/portraits/ To see the National Archives of Australia collection mentioned: https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/AdvSearchSeries.aspx Then: In the field ‘Series number’ type A1861. On the next page, you’ll see 'Items in this series on Record Search - 9448' Click 9448 – and on the next page order by ‘Digitised Item’. Then click on whichever description takes your fancy. Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  6. Bonus Episode: The Day Australian Art Changed Forever

    6 DAYS AGO · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

    Bonus Episode: The Day Australian Art Changed Forever

    Priced at a few quid back in the day, they're now worth a fortune! That was something no-one would have predicted in August 1889, when Tom Roberts and fellow Heidelberg School painters opened their 9 x 5 Impressionist Exhibition in Melbourne. Their art caused confusion and copped a lot of derision. But the Impressionists turned comically bad reviews into publicity – and got the last laugh when their show changed what Australians talked about when they talked about art. To hear this bonus episode, and get access to other exclusive shows, become an Apple supporter. You can use a free trial that's easy to cancel – and if you keep supporting it'll cost the same as a cup of coffee per month to help keep Forgotten Australia going.

    17 min
  7. The Garden Palace Mystery Revisited

    26/12/2025

    The Garden Palace Mystery Revisited

    Hope you all had a great Christmas. New episodes will be out next week. In the meantime... Australia's first Christmas cards were displayed at The Garden Place. In this episode, originally released in 2023, we look at the raising – and blazing – of colonial Sydney's most spectacular building. Nearly 150 years after its conception, questions linger about its destruction. It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 5m
  8. Australia’s Great Christmas Card Competition

    21/12/2025

    Australia’s Great Christmas Card Competition

    In 1881, after years of a Christmas card market dominated by wintry imports, the John Sands company launched a competition for Australian-themed designs, with the best and most popular artworks to be reproduced for sale to the public. Who would win? What did this contest and ongoing card mania mean for Australian cultural identity, women's employment, art and culture, education and industry – and for the authenticity of our creativity and communication? Bessie Rouse's scrap album, featuring early Christmas card designs: https://mhnsw.au/stories/general/bessie-rouses-scrap-album/ It’s easy to get a free trial that will give you access to ad-free, early and bonus episodes. Hit either of these links: Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia Want more original Australian true crime and history? Check out my books! They’ll Never Hold Me: https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html The Murder Squad: https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html Hanging Ned Kelly: https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html Australia’s Sweetheart: https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    1h 4m
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Hosts & Guests

About

Created by Michael Adams, author of The Murder Squad and Hanging Ned Kelly, Forgotten Australia delves deep into bloody crimes, dark histories, unsolved mysteries, eccentric personalities and bizarre happenings that are almost always stranger than fiction. Each episode brings to life people and events that were once known to everyone but are now barely remembered by anyone. Based on intensive original research, Forgotten Australia is crafted with a novelist’s eye for character and detail to create gripping narratives that sound so fresh it's like they're ripped from today's headlines. This is the history you wish you’d been taught in school. You can get early ad-free access and bonus Forgotten Australia episodes by subscribing at Apple or supporting at Patreon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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