Weird Crap in Australia

The Modern Meltdown

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.

  1. 1D AGO

    Episode 400 - The Wieambilla Shootings (+ Episode 400 Q&A!)

    In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla. In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear. This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: the timeline, the confrontation, and the aftermath of a tragedy that shocked communities across Australia. --- To celebrate episode 400, stick around after the show for a Q&A with Holly & Matthew, featuring questions from you, our listeners! Sources used this episode (in appearance order):  Clarke, H. (2022, December 12). The deep grief felt by Rachel McCrow’s former partner. Country Caller. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://countrycaller.com.au/2022/12/15/the-deep-grief-felt-by-rachel-mccrows-former-partner/Sutton, C. (2022, December 15). Wieambilla shooting: Constable Matthew Arnold's girlfriend Arli shares final texts. The Daily Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11537317/Wieambilla-shooting-Constable-Matthew-Arnolds-girlfriend-Arli-shares-final-texts.htmlRead, C. (2023, January 29). Police killers’ daughter tells of phone call hours before parents started shooting. Brisbane Times. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/police-killers-daughter-tells-of-phone-call-hours-before-parents-started-shooting-20230123-p5ceu0.htmlIssa, A. (2022, December 22). Nathaniel Train had warrant for his arrest. The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/22/afternoon-update-nathaniel-train-had-warrant-for-his-arrest-teens-unwanted-sex-and-low-quality-apartments-selling-for-a-lossNathaniel Train had warrant out for his arrest at time of Wieambilla shootings, police reveal. (2022, December 22). The Guardian. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/dec/22/nathaniel-train-had-warrant-out-for-his-arrest-at-time-of-wieambilla-shootings-police-revealGreen, E. (2022, December 15). Father of cop killers Nathaniel and Gareth Train breaks silence. Couorier Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/father-of-wieambilla-cop-shooters-nathaniel-and-gavin-train-speaks-out/news-story/0c13540084d0e4502ea80fb6259b9d9bMcMillan, A. (2022, December 13). Rookie officer hid in burning grass, sent goodbye texts to her family. Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.smh.com.au/national/slipping-through-the-killers-sights-a-rookie-cop-hid-in-burning-grass-and-sent-goodbye-texts-to-her-family-20221213-p5c5vv.htmlChamberlin, T., Kyriacou, K., Scott, S., Nolan, M., Philp, J., Devon, E., & Morri, M. (2022, December 17). Qld police shooting: Local cops formed extraction team to save colleagues. The Courier Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/qld-police-shooting-local-cops-formed-extraction-team-to-save-colleague/news-story/bff3da3bcc6bfa446f9e6ea583f191b1.Scott, S. (2022, December 16). Qld police shooting: Alan Dare’s wife recounts last conversation. The Courier Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.couriermail.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/police-courts-qld/qld-police-shooting-alan-dares-wife-recounts-last-conversation/Nolan, M., & Burley, M. (2022, December 18). Mates are raising money for Alan Dare’s partner after he was shot and killed at Wieambilla. The Courier Mail. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/toowoomba/mates-are-raising-money-for-alan-dares-partner-after-he-was-shot-and-killed-at-wieambilla/news-story/fb4c6301a7dcb8ec5874c7ea7e53cbbbTassell, D. (2022, December 17). Family of Wieambilla shooting victim Alan Dare say he deserved better on Monday night. 7News. Retrieved January 29, 2025, from https://7news.com.au/news/qld/family-of-wieambilla-shooting-victim-alan-dare-say-he-deserved-better-on-monday-night-c-9160991Coroners Court of Queensland. (2025, November 25). Findings of inquest into the deaths at Wieambilla. https://www.coronerscourt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0012/888627/Findings-of-inquest-into-the-deaths-at-Wieambilla-Redacted-25.11.2025.pdfWu, D. (2022, December 16). Devastated wife of Alan Dare reveals final words he uttered before he was killed while rushing to investigate sound of gunfire. Sky News. Retrieved January 29, 225, from https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/devastated-wife-of-alan-dare-reveals-final-words-he-uttered-before-he-was-killed-while-rushing-to-investigate-sound-of-gunfire/news-story/b9ac0d0819b4982610b653217b19797a Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

    2h 35m
4.7
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

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.

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