In the very last of our great history stories, we turn to Harry Houdini, one of the great magicians in history, and his time in Australia. His tale is told by Andrew McConville, from State Library Victoria. There are almost 280 stories in the In Black and White show, and they're all available for free in this podcast feed. As we say goodbye after five ears unearthing colourful stories from our past, we would like to sincerely thank our listeners for tuning in and sharing your ratings and reviews. Tune in to the final episode for some final thank you and a farewell message from the host, Jen Kelly. Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the very last of our great history stories, we turn to Harry Houdini, one of the great magicians in history, and his time in Australia. His tale is told by Andrew McConville, from State Library Victoria. There are almost 280 stories in the In Black and White show, and they're all available for free in this podcast feed. As we say goodbye after five ears unearthing colourful stories from our past, we would like to sincerely thank our listeners for tuning in and sharing your ratings and reviews. Tune in to the final episode for some final thank yous and a farewell message from the host, Jen Kelly. Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. George Melville was a daring highwayman who pulled off one of Australia's biggest heists. But when the law caught up with him, his fate was most gruesome indeed. Damien Beard from Pentridge Prison Tours joins the show with more. Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Love the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. George Melville was a daring highwayman who pulled off one of Australia's biggest heists. But when the law caught up with him, his fate was most gruesome indeed. Damien Beard from Pentridge Prison Tours joins the show with more. Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 Love the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Paris Olympics in the books, we tell the tale of Cecil Healy, a champion swimmer who innovated in the pool. But it's for an amazing act of sportsmanship that he should perhaps be best remembered. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show for part 2 of a bonus two-part series. Learn more about Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/Like the show? Go to: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Paris Olympics in the books, we tell the tale of Cecil Healy, a champion swimmer who innovated in the pool. But it's for an amazing act of sportsmanship that he should perhaps be best remembered. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show for part 1 of a bonus two-part series. Learn more about Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/Like the show? Go to: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To the outside world, Monte Punshon was utterly respectable. But her perfect 19th-century diction disguised her wild past as a bad girl who hung out at edgy Melbourne bars and secret drag parties and was monitored in the lead-up to WWII by security services who suspected her Japanese teacher was a spy. The ANU's Tessa Morris-Suzuki joins the show to talk about the woman dubbed "the world's oldest lesbian" after coming out at the age of 103. Get the book at: https://www.mup.com.au/books/a-secretive-century-paperback-softback Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rosaleen Norton was a bohemian artist and occultist who horrified Australian society in the 1950s. There were wild tales of devil worship, satanic rituals, blood sacrifices and sex orgies. But were they true? Author Peter Coleman is here to sort the fact from the fiction for us. Get Peter’s book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Peter-Coleman-Australia's-Most-Bizarre-Crimes-9781923046269Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Freame was raised in Japan under the ancient bushido code but wound up fighting for Australia. But was this Anzac hero betrayed by his nation? His story is told in a new book called The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli by Ryan Butta. Get Ryan’s book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Ryan-Butta-Bravest-Scout-at-Gallipoli-9781922992086 Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Freame was raised in Japan under the ancient bushido code but wound up fighting for Australia. But was this Anzac hero betrayed by his nation? His story is told in a new book called The Bravest Scout at Gallipoli by Ryan Butta. Get Ryan’s book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/browse/book/Ryan-Butta-Bravest-Scout-at-Gallipoli-9781922992086 Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Marie Grunke entered a strict convent in Melbourne in the 1960s, she couldn’t tell anyone her shameful pregnancy secret. But Marie’s story would have a surprising ending. Her story is told in a new book called Unconventional Women: The Story of the Last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia, by writer Sarah Gilbert, who joins the show with more.Get Sarah's book at: https://www.mup.com.au/books/unconventional-women-paperback-softback Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Marie Grunke entered a strict convent in Melbourne in the 1960s, she couldn’t tell anyone her shameful pregnancy secret. But Marie’s story would have a surprising ending. Her story is told in a new book called Unconventional Women: The Story of the Last Blessed Sacrament Sisters in Australia, by writer Sarah Gilbert, who joins the show with more.Get Sarah's book at: https://www.mup.com.au/books/unconventional-women-paperback-softback Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was known as one of the men who told Australians what was happening in the Gallipoli campaign. But at a place named Krithia, Charles Bean risked his life to place himself at the heart of the action. Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show with more. Get Mat's book at: https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/krithia-the-forgotten-anzac-battle-of-gallipoli Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the enduring images of the Rum Rebellion is of Governor William Bligh cowering under his bed as the mob draws near. But it was his daughter Mary who owned the hour - keeping armed rebels at bay using nothing but her parasol. Author and Journalist Sue Williams joins the show with more. Learn more about That Bligh Girl at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Sue-Williams-That-Bligh-Girl-9781761065880/ Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When stories of the Kelly Gang are written, it's always their charismatic leader who grabs the spotlight. But Joseph Byrne lived his own very colourful life. Author Georgina Phelan outlines how the young bushranger went from larrikin to outlaw.To order the book, visithttps://anoutlawsjournal.wordpress.com/2024/06/27/author-signed-copies-of-joseph-byrne-from-larrikin-to-outlaw/Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT.The last photos ever taken of  Edward Feeney and Charles Marks showed them holding hands and pointing guns at each other. What happened next was a bizarre case that saw one man dead and the other on trial for murder. Historian Michael Adams, host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, joins the show with more.More about Forgotten Australia at: https://forgottenaustralia.com/Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm.If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline: 13 11 14Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT.The last photos ever taken of  Edward Feeney and Charles Marks showed them holding hands and pointing guns at each other. What happened next was a bizarre case that saw one man dead and the other on trial for murder. Historian Michael Adams, host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, joins the show with more.More about Forgotten Australia at: https://forgottenaustralia.com/Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm.If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline: 13 11 14Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jean Lee was sentenced to die by 12 good men and true for the gruesome torture and murder of an SP bookie in Carlton in 1949.But was the last woman executed in Australia just covering for her outlaw lover? Pentridge Prison Tours guide Damien Beard joins the show with more. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jean Lee was sentenced to die by 12 good men and true for the gruesome torture and murder of an SP bookie in Carlton in 1949.But was the last woman executed in Australia just covering for her outlaw lover? Pentridge Prison Tours guide Damien Beard joins the show with more. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During World War I, Letitia Leake may have looked like a proper and patriotic English lady. But her childhood - half a world away - was a saga of alleged murder, infidelity, bigamy and corruption. Professor Carol Grbich, co-author of The Accidental Heiress, joins the show with more. To order the book, visit www.adelaidebooksellers.com.au Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more.   More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Ned Kelly, the bushranger that most struck fear into the hearts of lawmen was Dan Morgan. And while he started out as a champion of the downtrodden, Morgan became increasingly unhinged and dangerous, and was once named the most bloodthirsty ruffian that ever took to the bush. Historian Aidan Phelan joins the show with more.   More on Phelan's research and books: https://aguidetoaustralianbushranging.com/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale.More about Corinne's book at:https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/Like the show? Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running away to join the circus has been the quixotic goal of many the bored teenager. But by the time Mabel Worley took that path, her life was anything but ordinary. Corinne Ball, senior curator at the History Trust of South Australia, joins the show to tell the tale.More about Corinne's book at:https://scholarly.info/book/three-ring-circus/Like the show? Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Redmond Barry is best known for sending Ned Kelly to the gallows. But he never would have sat in judgement if it wasn't for some poor judgement of his own. State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the tale of Barry's torrid love affair at sea, and how it changed the young lawyer's life.Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. When George Augustus Robinson was employed as the Chief Protector of Tasmania's Aboriginal people, he proclaimed he was there to 'do good' for the indigenous population. Instead, he took from the very people who had already had everything taken from them. Cassandra Pybus joins the show with more. Note: This episode contains graphic descriptions relating to the deaths of indigenous people. Learn more about Pybus's book, A Very Secret Trade: The dark story of gentlemen collectors in Tasmania, at https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/9781761066344See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was dubbed the most unpopular AIF commander of World War I, thanks to a series of bungles and mismanagement. But was James McCay mad, bad, or just another hapless officer caught in the slaughter of the trenches? Military historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to discuss.More on Mat's work at: https://battlefields.com.au/Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before TV, social media and the internet, Australians turned to magazines to help define their style.And for 43 years William Shum was one of the titans of print who showed modern Australians how to dress themselves - and the places they lived.Now his granddaughter, author Sue Walker, joins the show to recount his colourful life.More about the book here. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Len Fuller was just a trainee pilot when his RAAF aircraft collided mid-flight with another plane. But instead of a fiery tragedy, what happened next was front page news. Author and podcaster Michael Adams joins a special  Anzac Day edition to tell the tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Len Fuller was just a trainee pilot when his RAAF aircraft collided mid-flight with another plane. But instead of a fiery tragedy, what happened next was front page news. Author and podcaster Michael Adams joins a special  Anzac Day edition to tell the tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It seemed like science fiction at the time, but in the late 1800s one scientist and his team ventured forth into the deep Outback to connect Australia to the world. Author Adam Courtenay rejoins the show to tell the extraordinary tale of Charles Todd.    Learn more about the tale in Courtenay's book, Mr Todd's Marvel, at: https://www.woodslanepress.com.au/collections/author-adam-courtenaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT The prisons of old Victoria were no strangers to the tragic, the macabre and the downright bizarre. But in Geelong, the Hassett clan saw all three. Historian Deb Robinson joins the show to outline the multiple generations who found themselves behind bars.   Warning: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The prisons of old Victoria were no strangers to the tragic, the macabre and the downright bizarre. But in Geelong, the Hassett clan saw all three. Historian Deb Robinson joins the show to outline the multiple generations who found themselves behind bars.   WARNING: This series contains discussions of self harm. If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Throughout the decades of AFL and VFL history, there have been many coaching greats. But only one could boast a perfect record. AFL historian Col Hutchinson joins the show to introduce us to Charlie Clymo, the man who coached the Cats to the 1931 flag, and then disappeared.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On a special Good Friday edition of the show, we conclude our three-part deep dive into the history of the Royal Children's Hospital and the long-running Good Friday Appeal. Today we talk to Penny Fowler, the granddaughter of Sir Keith and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch and the chairman of the Good Friday Appeal, about her family's deep connection with the event, and what's in its future. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for features and more. Learn more about the Good Friday Appeal and how to donate:https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, in the lead-up to the 93rd Good Friday Appeal, we do a three-part deep dive into the history of Melbourne's beloved Royal Children's Hospital and the long-running Good Friday Appeal. Today, we speak again with Melbourne historian Peter Yule, author of an amazing book called The Royal Children's Hospital: A history of faith, science and love, about the origins of one of Victoria's most important institutions.Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for features and more. Learn more about the Good Friday Appeal and how to donate:https://www.goodfridayappeal.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, in the lead-up to the 93rd Good Friday Appeal, we do a three-part deep dive into the history of Melbourne's beloved Royal Children's Hospital and the long-running Good Friday Appeal. Today we speak with Melbourne historian Peter Yule, author of an amazing book called The Royal Children's Hospital: A history of faith, science and love, about the origins of one of Victoria's most important institutions.Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for features and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elijah Upjohn was a sewage worker turned quack doctor who found himself behind bars for chicken thievery. But his life took a sharp turn when a notorious bushranger was convicted - and the state was in need of a hangman. Author and podcaster Michael Adams tells the story. More about Michael's book: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/hanging-ned-kelly/More about the Forgotten Australia podcast: https://forgottenaustralia.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Austin owned a great estate and built a grand mansion fit to host royalty. But he will be forever remembered for one of colonial Australia’s biggest bungles: rabbits. Author and comedian Mikey Robins joins the show with more. Learn more about Mikey at:https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Idiots-Follies-and-Misadventures/Mikey-Robins/9781761107115 Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. This week we tell the story of an Australian PoW in World War 2, who was damned for helping his Japanese captors but hailed for helping send war criminals to the gallows. Author Tom Gilling tells the story. More about Tom’s book at:https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Tom-Gilling-Witness-9781760879273 If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To coincide with the launch of Qtopia Sydney, the world’s largest museum and cultural centre dedicated to queer history and the LGBTQIA+ community, historian Garry Wotherspoon joins us for a fascinating exploration of Australia’s queer history from colonial days to the present. Find out more: https://qtopiasydney.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1930s, Australians witnessed some of the country’s most infamous - and most luridly nicknamed - murder cases. But the “Vampire Murder”, a horrific sex crime in Newcastle in 1937, has been largely forgotten.Crime historian and Forgotten Australia host Michael Adams joins the show for the first episode of a three-part miniseries.More on Michael's new book The Murder Squad at: https://affirmpress.com.au/author/61917Like the show? Get background, features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1930s, Australians witnessed some of the country’s most infamous - and most luridly nicknamed - murder cases. But the “Vampire Murder”, a horrific sex crime in Newcastle in 1937, has been largely forgotten.Crime historian and Forgotten Australia host Michael Adams joins the show for the first episode of a three-part miniseries.More on Michael's new book The Murder Squad at: https://affirmpress.com.au/author/61917Like the show? Get background, features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1930s, Australians witnessed some of the country’s most infamous - and most luridly nicknamed - murder cases. But the “Vampire Murder”, a horrific sex crime in Newcastle in 1937, has been largely forgotten.Crime historian and Forgotten Australia host Michael Adams joins the show for the first episode of a three-part miniseries.More on Michael's new book The Murder Squad at: https://affirmpress.com.au/author/61917Like the show? Get background, features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Nazi war machine marched toward the Baltic, diplomat Chiune Sugihara disobeyed orders and risked his life to save 6000 Jews. Australian author Linda Margolin Royal tells the tale - and her own connection to that remarkable Japanese hero.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While he's largely forgotten now, Daniel Mannix was a titanic name of the first half of the last century. The Catholic bishop of Melbourne wielded power at the pulpit and the ballot box. And he was never shy of expressing an opinion on controversial issues, from conscription to communism, to independence for the land of his birth. Andrew McConville from the State Library joins the show with more.Like this episode? Get features, backgrounders, and more at http://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we tell three tales of people who made Australia just that little bit more colourful.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we bring together the ripping yarns of some of the nation's greatest liars and frauds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we tell stories of the people who, by choice or circumstance, found themselves lurking through Australia's underbelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the Pacific War to the Titanic disaster, here are three tales of Aussies who found themselves in the thick of the action.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a young Norwegian adventurer found himself shipwrecked in the Southern Ocean, he couldn't know that it would only be the start of his ordeal. His granddaughter Cathrine Harboe-Ree joins the show with more.More about Cathrine's book at:https://scholarly.info/article/book_author/cathrine-harboe-ree/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a young Norwegian adventurer found himself shipwrecked in the Southern Ocean, he couldn't know that it would only be the start of his ordeal. His granddaughter Cathrine Harboe-Ree joins the show with more.More about Cathrine's book at:https://scholarly.info/article/book_author/cathrine-harboe-ree/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goldfields diggers knew Edward Thonen as the lemonade man, but his path to Ballarat took him from high-stakes robbery to high-seas adventure.Amateur historian Daniel Bamberger joins the show from his home in Germany with more. To find out more about Thonen, read Bamberger's free book, Edward Thonen: A forgotten Eureka rebel.Clarification: Peter Lalor made Edward Thonen captain of one of his divisions, rather than one of the rifle brigades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Goldfields diggers knew Edward Thonen as the lemonade man, but his path to Ballarat took him from high-stakes robbery to high-seas adventure.Amateur historian Daniel Bamberger joins the show from his home in Germany with more. To find out more about Thonen, read Bamberger's free book, Edward Thonen: A forgotten Eureka rebel.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Far from being a passive governor's wife, Jane Franklin spent her time coming up with innovative ideas to help the people of colonial Tasmania. Sadly, her notion to eradicate all snakes from the island was not one of them. Author Jim Haynes joins the show to tell more tales from his book Heroes, Rebels, and Radicals of Convict Australia. https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jim-Haynes-Heroes,-Rebels-&-Radicals-of-Convict-Australia-9781761470370See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Far from being a passive governor's wife, Jane Franklin spent her time coming up with innovative ideas to help the people of colonial Tasmania. Sadly, her notion to eradicate all snakes from the island was not one of them. Author Jim Haynes joins the show to tell more tales from his book Heroes, Rebels and Radicals of Convict Australia. https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jim-Haynes-Heroes,-Rebels-&-Radicals-of-Convict-Australia-9781761470370See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When nearly 800 malnourished convicts set off for Botany Bay on the First Fleet, no-one expected them all to survive. But thanks to the heroic efforts of head physician John White, the prisoners had a better hope of survival than they would have if they stayed at home. Jim Haynes returns to the show to tell the tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He may have inspired one of our country's most famous ballads, but far from the romantic image of a wild and dashing bushranger, John Donohoe was a criminal hell-bent on violence. Author and entertainer Jim Haynes joins the show with more. Information about Jim's book at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jim-Haynes-Heroes,-Rebels-&-Radicals-of-Convict-Australia-9781761470370See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adelaide Ironside's life was as improbable as her name. She held court with princes, poets, and the Pope. She became a celebrated painter in Europe, where she was known as 'the Australian flower'. But it was an act of creativity in the midst of the Crimean War when Sydneysiders feared a Russian invasion that first made her famous. Historian Kiera Lindsey joins the show with more. More about Lindsey's book 'Wild Love' at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Kiera-Lindsey-Wild-Love-9781760296759/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adelaide Ironside's life was as improbable as her name. She held court with princes, poets, and the Pope. She became a celebrated painter in Europe, where she was known as 'the Australian flower'. But it was an act of creativity in the midst of the Crimean War when Sydneysiders feared a Russian invasion that first made her famous. Historian Kiera Lindsey joins the show with more. More about Lindsey's book 'Wild Love' at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Kiera-Lindsey-Wild-Love-9781760296759/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When young World War II POW Allan Chick survived the sinking of his Japanese transport ship, he probably thought himself lucky. But it was as a forced labourer in the doomed city of Nagasaki that his luck would truly be tested. Australian War Memorial historian Meghan Adams shares his story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite being Victoria Racing Club boss for more than 40 years, Henry Byron Moore was so indifferent to horse racing he used to take a four-minute break while the race that stops a nation was run. But as an entrepreneur, inventor, and showman, he knew how to capture the public’s imagination.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite being Victoria Racing Club boss for more than 40 years, Henry Byron Moore was so indifferent to horse racing he used to take a four-minute break while the race that stops a nation was run. But as an entrepreneur, inventor, and showman, he knew how to capture the public’s imagination.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a criminal world dominated by men, Cecilia Curtain earned a fearsome reputation as a champion street fighter. But Geelong Gaol historian Deb Robinson has probed her painful past and discovered a strange murder case and a string of tragedies that led to her life of crime. Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1800s, Napoléon Bonaparte’s wife set her heart on acquiring a vast collection of wombats, kangaroos, black swans and dwarf emus to roam the magnificent gardens at her home, Chateau de Malmaison. And while scientists had other plans for the prized Australian animals, the French emperor stepped in to ensure his beloved Josephine got her way. State Library Victoria reference librarian Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1800s, Napoléon Bonaparte’s wife set her heart on acquiring a vast collection of wombats, kangaroos, black swans and dwarf emus to roam the magnificent gardens at her home, Chateau de Malmaison. And while scientists had other plans for the prized Australian animals, the French emperor stepped in to ensure his beloved Josephine got her way. State Library Victoria reference librarian Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once one of Australia’s most feared gangsters, Snowy Cutmore is most famous for a shoot-out with Squizzy Taylor in 1927 in which both died. Until now, it’s been widely believed they shot each other. But historian Roy Maloy has pieced together the evidence from the night, and concludes a third man killed them both. Learn more about Roy Maloy’s book: Squizzy - The Forensics, The Man, The Vendetta: https://www.lulu.com/shop/roy-maloy/squizzy-the-biography/paperback/product-qw5p95.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once one of Australia’s most feared gangsters, Snowy Cutmore is most famous for a shoot-out with Squizzy Taylor in 1927 in which both died. Until now, it’s been widely believed they shot each other. But historian Roy Maloy has pieced together the evidence from the night, and concludes a third man killed them both. Learn more about Roy Maloy’s book: Squizzy - The Forensics, The Man, The Vendetta: https://www.lulu.com/shop/roy-maloy/squizzy-the-biography/paperback/product-qw5p95.html?q=&page=1&pageSize=4See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karl Kast arrived in Australia claiming to be a refugee from the Nazis and was interned as an enemy alien. But it was after his release when his doctors refused to back his claims that he was too injured to work that he went on a killing spree. Forensic psychiatrist Robert M Kaplan returns to the show to tell this story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold Lasseter claimed he had stumbled across a vast and lucrative gold reef in the central Australian desert when he was just 17. So successful was he in convincing authorities - and himself - that his story was true, the legend of the lost reef still excites fortune seekers to this day. Forensic psychiatrist Robert M Kaplan joins the show to delve into the mind of one of Australia’s greatest liars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harold Lasseter claimed he had stumbled across a vast and lucrative gold reef in the central Australian desert when he was just 17. So successful was he in convincing authorities - and himself - that his story was true, the legend of the lost reef still excites fortune seekers to this day. Forensic psychiatrist Robert M Kaplan joins the show to delve into the mind of one of Australia’s greatest liars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bee Miles was famous for her outrageous public acts of defiance, whether stopping a country train in its tracks to hitch a ride or emerging from the surf with knives strapped to her thighs. But a new book reveals the troubled mind of the woman once voted more famous than the prime minister.  Author Rose Ellis tells the story in her new book Bee Miles: Australia’s famous bohemian rebel, and the untold story behind the legend. Learn more about the book:  https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Rose-Ellis-Bee-Miles-9781761069130/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bee Miles was famous for her outrageous public acts of defiance, whether stopping a country train in its tracks to hitch a ride or emerging from the surf with knives strapped to her thighs. But a new book reveals the troubled mind of the woman once voted more famous than the prime minister.  Author Rose Ellis tells the story in her new book Bee Miles: Australia’s famous bohemian rebel, and the untold story behind the legend. Learn more about the book:  https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Rose-Ellis-Bee-Miles-9781761069130/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Nazis closed in on the Anzacs on Crete during WWII, Maori captain Rangi Royal glimpsed what he believed was a sign from the Maori god of war. He saw what he thought was a tuatara - a rare lizard-like reptile found only in NZ - pointing its head over a cliff. And so he led his men over the steep drop. Author Craig Collie tells the story in his new book Where The Flaming Hell Are We?  Learn more about the book here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Nazis closed in on the Anzacs on Crete during WWII, Maori captain Rangi Royal led a crazed bayonet charge at the enemy, which began with a terrifying haka. In Part 2, we will hear how Royal later saw what he believed was a sign from the Maori god of war while retreating - and led his men straight over a cliff as a result. Author Craig Collie tells the story in his new book Where The Flaming Hell Are We?  Learn more about the book here.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Reg Saunders and his comrades were left behind on Crete in WWII, he survived on the run for almost a year, living off his own wits and the extraordinary kindness of locals.  Author Craig Collie tells the story in his new book Where The Flaming Hell Are We?  Learn more about the book here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After Reg Saunders and his comrades were left behind on Crete in WWII, he survived on the run for almost a year, living off his own wits and the extraordinary kindness of locals.  Author Craig Collie tells the story in his new book Where The Flaming Hell Are We?  Learn more about the book here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Japan lay defeated in 1946, Australian troops joined the Allies in occupation and rebuilding. And it was here a young Digger named Gordon Parker met a Hiroshima survivor named Cherry - and fell head over heels.Their story is told by their granddaughter - author and screenwriter Alli Parker.More about Alli Parker's book: At the Foot of the Cherry TreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Japan lay defeated in 1946, Australian troops joined the Allies in occupation and rebuilding. And it was here a young Digger named Gordon Parker met a Hiroshima survivor named Cherry - and fell head over heels. Their story is told by their granddaughter - author and screenwriter Alli Parker.More about Alli Parker's book: At the Foot Of The Cherry TreeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Among many bizarre practices in Melbourne's medical history, one job stood out as being particularly slimy: leech exporters. The director of the Old Treasury Building Museum, Margaret Anderson, explains the weird history behind the weird profession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all the pseudo-sciences to grip early Melbourne, phrenology, or the mapping of skulls to predict character traits, was one of the most bizarre - and macabre. Margaret Anderson, the director of the Old Treasury Building Museum, joins the show with more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The stereotype for old-time newsboys might be young lads in flat caps shouting headlines and selling papers, but in reality, it was a cutthroat world of gangs and turf wars. Margaret Anderson, the director of the Old Treasury Building museum joins the show with more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime historian Michael Adams joins the show again to talk about a macabre discovery that helped police crack a murder mystery. Get more information about Michael's book The Murder Squad at: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/the-murder-squad/   If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A family feud, a forbidden romance, a financial scandal. These were the theories behind a brutal attack on one of Sydney's most wealthy couples.Crime historian Michael Adams tells the story in his new book, The Murder Squad. Learn more about the book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/the-murder-squad/Like the show? Get features and more at: heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reeling from the Great War, a veteran turned addict committed a shocking crime on the streets of Carlton. And as Geelong Gaol historian Deb Robinson tells the podcast, after he sobered up, he had absolutely no recollection of his crime.Get features and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All eyes will be on Australia's elite team at this year's FIFA Women's World Cup. But it’s in stark contrast to Australia’s first national women's soccer team who ran car washes and appeared on a TV dating show to fulfill their dreams of competing on the world stage. Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas Austin owned a great estate and built a grand mansion fit to host royalty. But he will be forever remembered for one of colonial Australia’s biggest bungles: rabbits. Author and comedian Mikey Robins joins the show with more. Learn more about Mikey at:https://www.simonandschuster.com.au/books/Idiots-Follies-and-Misadventures/Mikey-Robins/9781761107115 Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Marcus Clarke is best known for his powerful novel For the Term of His Natural Life, his own life was as colourful as any of the stories he wrote.State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville joins the show with more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Artist Nel Law became the first Australian woman to set foot on Antarctica in 1961 after she was smuggled on board the supply ship Magga Dan. The story is told in today’s new episode of the free In Black and White podcast on Australia’s forgotten characters, with author Rachael Mead.More about Rachel at: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/the-art-of-breaking-ice/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omny.fm/listener for privacy information.

Barney “Wild Eye” Hines was a WWI digger who never let his light fingers go idle - looting everything he could from captured enemy soldiers. And rumours even grew that his antics had drawn the ire of the monarch of Germany himself. Historian and podcast host Mat McLachlan drops by to tell the tale. More about the Living History podcast: https://livinghistorytv.com/podcasts/Like the show? Get features, backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Singapore fell in World War II, a group of nurses found themselves facing the horrors of capture and imprisonment as POWs.But instead of letting the camps drag them down, they joined together to lift morale in a most surprising way.  Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the previous episode of In Black and White, writer Roy Maloy told how Melbourne was gripped by fears that a copycat was trying to imitate Victorian England's most notorious criminal. In this episode, Maloy joins the show again to outline more claims that Jack the Ripper came to our shores. Learn more about Roy at Roy Maloy - Author | Facebook Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only a year after London's famous Ripper disappeared into legend, several Melbourne women met a most horrid fate. And it wasn’t long before fears were raised that a copycat was on the loose - or perhaps even the monster himself. Crime writer Roy Maloy joins the show to tell the tale. Learn more about Roy at: Roy Maloy - Author | FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a dark decade for the gay and lesbian community in Melbourne, one young woman decided to build a haven. And her extravagantly decorated coffee lounge quickly became the place to be seen by the city's arts community.Author Danielle Scrimshaw joins the show with more. More about the book at: https://ultimopress.com.au/collections/danielle-scrimshaw Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the enduring images of the Rum Rebellion is of Governor William Bligh cowering under his bed as the mob draws near.But it was his daughter Mary who owned the hour - keeping armed rebels at bay using nothing but her parasol. Author and Journalist Sue Williams joins the show with more. Learn more about That Bligh Girl at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Sue-Williams-That-Bligh-Girl-9781761065880/Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elizabeth Lowe met a tragic end in her goldfields shack - at the hands of a wild-eyed man. But several months later, another grisly find had people asking: what other horrors did this wild-eyed man commit? Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Norman Callaway holds a unique place in international cricket. No one else has scored a double century in his only first-class innings, and no one has come close to his career average of 207.  And yet these achievements are wreathed with sadness and the horrors of war. Historian and author Ross McMullin joins the show with more. Find out more about Ross at: https://rossmcmullin.com.au/   Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Murdoch Mackay was the scion of Bendigo's finest - and his path to wealth and influence looked set when he was admitted to study law at only 16.But when war and leadership called, the young boy answered. And his story, and fate, would be told in the trenches of the Western front.Historian and author Ross McMullin joins the show with more. Find out more about Ross at: https://rossmcmullin.com.au/  Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As war raged around the world, a young Sydney doctor found himself facing the enemy in the New Guinea wilderness. And one act would both make him a hero and seal his fate. Historian and author Ross McMullin joins the show with more. Find out more about Ross at: https://rossmcmullin.com.au/Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the ship lay foundering in the cold Atlantic, a brave Aussie sailor gave up the chance to save himself in order to rescue countless passengers and crew. But before that extraordinary night, Albert Nichols had lived a remarkable life, filled with sly grog, family drama and an island escape. Historian Michael Adams, host of the Forgotten Australia podcast, joins the show with more. Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When does a TV show become a historical document? As a portrait of Melbourne in the 1960s and 70s the police procedural Homicide makes a case. David Nichols from the University of Melbourne joins the podcast to explore the show’s contribution to our history. Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He may have been one of the ringleaders of the fabled Eureka Stockade, but Italian gold prospector Raffaello Carboni also had an unlikely career as a pantomime playwright. Robert Pascoe, Professor of History at Victoria University, joins the show with more.Like In Black and White? Get more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As abortionists operated in the shadows of early Melbourne society, little is known about their illegal and often-deadly practices - with one notable exception. Nurse-turned-abortionist Elizabeth Downey’ faced an astonishing 14 murder trials in 14 years, beating the charges time after time. And it was her patients themselves that helped keep her one step ahead of the law. Margaret Anderson, director of the Old Treasury Building, joins the show to tell the harrowing tale. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As World War II raged, a daring  Aussie in Europe confounded his captors with a series of prison breaks.  And when he wasn't rescuing himself, he was helping his comrades to freedom too. Professor and author Peter Monteath, from Flinders University, joins the show with more.More information at: https://www.petermonteath.com.au/book/escape-artist-the-incredible-second-world-war-of-johnny-peck/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a single day, a young farmer boy found his mother dead, his father maimed and himself whisked away to a life of servitude. Author Lucy Frost joins the show to tell the heartbreaking tale.More on Lucy Frost's book: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Lucy-Frost-Convict-Orphans-9781761067686/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Kerr Thomson was a hardware clerk turned mogul, right at the moment that Melbourne most needed picks and shovels.And as the cash rolled in, he set his sights on creating his own personal utopia.  Historian Andrew Lemon joins the show to tell this rags to riches to rags story. Read Dr Lemon's book: https://www.historyvictoria.org.au/product/the-pebbled-beach-at-pentecost-a-novel-by-andrew-lemon/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was one of Australia's greatest war heroes, but a little-known incident in the Western Front trenches may have been his greatest act of bravery. Battlefield historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to tell the remarkable tale. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Henrik Bull was a spectacularly unsuccessful Southern Ocean whaler. But during his travels, he stepped foot on an unexplored continent. And on his return, his exploits inspired the great Age of Antarctic Exploration. The State Library's Andrew McConville joins the show to tell the remarkable tale. More on Andrew McConville's book: https://scholarly.info/book/australia-and-early-antarctic-exploration/ Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frederick Deeming was a globe-trotting serial killer who descended on Melbourne with his poor young wife in tow. And when his many sins caught up with him, he became a prime suspect in one of history's greatest murder mysteries. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the last of our summer series we re-tell the story of Henry Bernard, a holocaust survivor who wrapped trauma in secrets. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In our ongoing holiday specials, we relive the story of three extraordinary characters, whose lives verged from the kooky to the spooky. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We reach into the back catalogue to tell true tales of luck and skill from the sport of kings. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the jungles of the Pacific to the fields of France, this week we retell three stories of unsung Australian heroes. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the first of In Black and White's summer series, we open the vault to retell three stories of amazing animals who went to war. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kevin Simmonds was a petty crook whose greatest ability was to lay low as the police closed in. But a fatal error would paint a spotlight on him  - a spotlight that even he couldn't escape. Like the show? Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Crimestoppers: https://crimestoppers.com.au/ If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Irish girl Maria Gilbert escaped an arranged marriage to dance her way through Europe, the US and Australia. And through the journey she picked up a string of famous lovers, a series of scandals and an imposing riding whip. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Melbourne-born Louise Mackay was a dedicated Communist Party member who taught at the Marxist School, toured the Communist Bloc and promoted communism to her fellow Australians. But when she was expelled from the party, she turned the tables on her old comrades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angus Murray was sentenced to death for murdering a bank manager, even though authorities knew another crook fired the fatal shot. Historian Deb Robinson from Geelong Gaol Museum shares the story. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allied commanders were prepared to lose up to 50% of their soldiers during the evacuation after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign in WWI. Instead, not a single life was lost, thanks to the “silent stunts” masterminded by Lieutenant Colonel Cyril Brudenell White. Battlefield historian Mat McLachlan shares the story from a new book called The Gallipoli Evacuation, by Peter Hart. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Read the book: https://livinghistorytv.com/book/the-gallipoli-evacuation/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom Skeyhill found fame and fortune as the “blind soldier poet” on the US speaking circuit - a World War I hero from country Victoria rendered sightless by an exploding Turkish shell. But a century on, he’s been exposed as a conman who faked blindness to escape the trenches. Author Jim Haynes shares the story. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Read Jim's book: http://www.jimhaynes.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As razor gangs prowled the city's back streets, Kate Leigh grew to be a matriarch of vice. Author and historian Jim Haynes tells her remarkable story. Like the show? Get features, backgrounds and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Read Jim's book: http://www.jimhaynes.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 150 years before fraudsters invented text message schemes targeting unsuspecting parents, a dodgy butcher had the same idea. Historian Jim Haynes tells of his rise and fall. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for features, backgrounders and more Get more info on the book at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Jim-Haynes-9781761067907/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harry Musgrove was an obscure Melbourne theatrical manager spruiking his plays - when destiny, and the Australian cricket team came knocking Cricket writer Ken Piesse tells the tale. More about Ken: https://www.cricketbooks.com.au/ken-piesse/ If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before true crime became a staple of podcasts and streaming services, the public was transfixed with the story of Frank Butler.Tales of murderous journeys had the public enthralled as his crimes brought him ever closer to the noose. Author and podcaster Michael Adams joins the show with more.Get Michael's latest book at: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/hanging-ned-kelly/ Like the show? Go to:heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more. If you or anyone you know needs help:Lifeline: 13 11 14Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT: As Squizzy Taylor started his ascent through the Melbourne underworld, it was his first wife Dolly Gray who mentored his rise. Crime author Roy Maloy joins the show  to outline Dolly's colourful career. Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Advertising enquiries: [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a grand plan was hatched for a breakaway Australian state centred around Mildura, the town jumped at the chance to sever ties with Melbourne. But the ambitious bid collapsed when the ostentatious “American” spruiking the idea had his dark past exposed. Author David Nichols tells the story. More about David’s book: https://uwap.uwa.edu.au/products/the-alert-grey-twinkling-eyes-of-c-j-degaris Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Advertising enquiries: [email protected]  If you or anyone you know needs help: Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a childhood of poverty and inequality, Vince Copley rose to becoming a tireless fighter for Indigenous rights. And his journey took him to the halls of power and even an audience with royalty. Lea McInerney, co-author of Vince's autobiography, and his daughter Kara join the show to outline his amazing life. Learn more about the book at: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780733342448/the-wonder-of-little-things/ Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Advertising enquiries: [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Elijah Upjohn was a sewage worker turned quack doctor who found himself behind bars for chicken thievery. But his life took a sharp turn when a notorious bushranger was convicted - and the state was in need of a hangman. Author and podcaster Michael Adams tells the story. More about Michael's book: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/hanging-ned-kelly/More about the Forgotten Australia podcast: https://forgottenaustralia.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT: When a doctor was put in charge of Melbourne’s first lunatic asylum, it should have heralded an era of better treatment for inmates. Instead, the gruesome reign of Robert Bowie was plagued by allegations of bodies hanging from trees, patients restrained in body bags, and brains left in a cup.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before he would become an iconic US President, John F Kennedy was a US Navy officer in the WW2 Pacific.And when his PT boat is sunk by the Japanese, it was an Australian coastwatcher and his Solomon Islander allies who came to his rescue. Author  Michael Veitch joins the show again to tell the story. Read more about Michael's book at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The coastwatchers of World War 2 were civilians who weren’t paid and received no military training. But when Japan invaded Papua New Guinea, they were called into service to spy on the enemy. And one of their number, in partnership with a wealthy widow, managed to pull off one of the biggest and most daring rescues in Australian military history. Author  Michael Veitch  tells their extraordinary story.Read more about Michael's book at: https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/Like the show? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was designed to be an unsinkable ship. But just like the Titanic, disaster struck the Dunbar just as it neared home, and it was the passengers who paid the price. Author Larry Writer joins the show to outline one of Australia's worst maritime tragedies, and the remarkable story of its sole survivor. More information about Larry's book: https://www.qbd.com.au/the-shipwreck/larry-writer/9781760879105/Clarification: early versions of this episode state the death toll as 122, the correct figure is 121See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT. This week we tell the story of an Australian PoW in World War 2, who was damned for helping his Japanese captors but hailed for helping send war criminals to the gallows. Author Tom Gilling tells the story. More about Tom’s book at:https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Tom-Gilling-Witness-9781760879273 If you or anyone you know needs help Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The outback Queensland town of Cunnamulla feared famine when floodwaters cut it off from the world.But a young Afghan entrepreneur named Abdul Wade and his unusual herd stepped in to save the day.Author Ryan Butta tells the story.More information about the book: https://affirmpress.com.au/publishing/the-ballad-of-abdul-wade/Like the show? Get features, background and more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Historian Mat McLachlan joins the show again to tell the rest of the tale of Hajime Toyoshima, the Japanese fighter ace, who found himself a prisoner of war and the main instigator of the only battle of the second world war to take place on Australian soil.Get Mat's book: https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/the-cowra-breakoutLike the show, get features, backgrounds and more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hajime Toyoshima was a crack fighter pilot who flew his Zero in the attack on Pearl Harbor. But it was an Australian machinegun that saw him tumbling out of the sky and into the history books. Historian Mat McLachlan joins the show to start the story.Get Mat's book: https://www.hachette.com.au/mat-mclachlan/the-cowra-breakoutLike the show, get features, backgrounds and more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

19-year-old Gary McKay was determined to avoid being sent to Vietnam, so he enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces for six years instead. But as fate would have it, Gary wound up in Vietnam anyway and earned a Military Cross for extraordinary bravery under fire. He tells his amazing story. Learn more about Gary's book at:https://livinghistorytv.com and http://garymckay.com.au/Like the show? Go to https://heraldsun.ccom.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1943, as war raged in Europe, the larger-than-life British PM had one thing on his mind: how to import a marsupial to keep as a pet. Journalist and author Alistair Paton joins the show to tell that tale - and many more. Get the book at: https://www.blackincbooks.com.au/books/marsupials-and-menLike the show? Read more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After serving his country in the trenches of World War One, Father John Joseph Kennedy wrote a play to expose the futility of war. But the priest's statement drew ire all the way up to the PM. State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville tells the story of one man's stand. Like the show? Get more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the noose tightened around the necks of John Gunn and George Roberts, the great and the good of Geelong were right there to see the spectacle.And they dressed in their Sunday best to review the macabre event. Historian Deb Robinson recounts the tale. Like the show? Go to: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How cynical electioneering backfired and gave women a voice. When the suffrage movement was close to victory at the ballot box, a male politician tried to wedge the vote with a contentious clause.But when the vote went through, the clause backfired, and gave women their first voice in the halls of parliament. Melbourne author Mark Wilson tells the story Like the show? Go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1796, Scottish cargo master William Clark led his twice-shipwrecked crew on an epic 1000km walk to save 7000 gallons of rum, discovering Bass Strait and finding Australia’s first coal along the way. Find out more in Adam Courtenay's book: https://www.harpercollins.com.au/9780733341861/three-sheets-to-the-wind/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She was  a bush nurse, school founder, bushrangers’ ally and accomplished horsewoman. But Rachel Kennedy’s colourful life was almost lost to history, until newspaper editor and author Jeff McGill uncovered her tale. He joins the show with more.Like the show? go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Victorian-era Melbourne, it was considered unladylike to talk about sex and using birth control was a sIn. But one pioneering activist set about teaching women how their bodies worked and secretly sold them contraceptives in brown paper bags. Historian Margaret Anderson, director of the Old Treasury Building, returns to the show to tell the story.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After she was abandoned while pregnant by the father of her baby, Maggie Heffernan did the unthinkable. But the murder ignited a wave of public sympathy and sparked moral outrage. Margaret Anderson, director of the Old Treasury Building, joins the show to tell the story. Learn more at https://www.oldtreasurybuilding.org.au/maggie-heffernan/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WARNING: DISTURBING CONTENT In a shameful moment from Melbourne's past, two girls found themselves victim of an unspeakable crime. But their treatment at the hands of the justice system was just as callous. Margaret Anderson, director of the Old Treasury Building, joins the show to tell the story Like the show? Go to: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sidney Jeffryes was the brilliant wireless operator that made sure Australia got word of the famous Mawson expedition to Antarctica. But the hardships of the journey wrecked his mind and almost put one of the nation's greatest explorers in jeopardy. Ron Roberts, a tour guide at J Ward, Ararat’s Old Gaol and Lunatic Asylum joins Jen to tell the tale. Like the show? Make sure you catch Jen's features at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When daredevil Charles Blondin came to Australia, the crowd was wowed by his death defying antics.But when Blondin returned to Europe, homegrown heroes tried their hand at emulating his stunts. And the results were mixed, and sometimes almost deadly. Andrew McConville, from State Library Victoria joins the show with more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the corpse of a teenage girl was found bobbing in a trunk on the Yarra, police didn't know what to think. They went to unusual lengths to get the remains identified - and soon their investigations would lead them to a mysterious fortune telling abortionist named Madame Olga. Old Melbourne Gaol tour guide Aurora Llywelyn joins the show to tell the horrible tale.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the Count de Castelnau sailed into Melbourne, elite society welcomed their new French consul. But the aristocrat was hiding the salacious secret of a young mistress, illegitimate children and falsified birth certificates.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a babbling ragged wanderer was found in Melbourne's east, authorities couldn't place him, so stuck him behind bars. It took a piece of extraordinary luck, along with a touch of kindness, to set him right. Historian Val Noone joins the show to tell an amazing story that was almost lost in translation. Like the show? Go to http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1944, a young soldier named Warwick Meale was brutally bashed to death beside a creek in Townsville with a blacksmith’s hammer after returning from New Guinea. Almost 80 years on, his descendant, Jonathan Butler, has uncovered surprising secrets about the murder and life in the Allied armed forces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When two prisoners aged in their 60s decided they'd had enough, they plotted one of the most notorious jailbreaks in Australia's history. Geelong Gaol Museum manager Deb Robinson describes the ingenious plan, as well as their lives on the lam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mary Ann Piper was a grand Sydney lady in a grand sydney house. But her society lifestyle hid a colourful past that started with the First Fleet. Author Jessica North joins the show with more. Read her book about Piper at: https://bit.ly/3r8xa47 Like the show? Get more at: https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Policeman Michael Ward was an unsung hero who helped bring down the Kelly gang. But in a strange quirk of fate, he may also inadvertently help it form. Author  David Dufty joins the show to explain. More information about the book: https://bit.ly/3JAQpue Like the show? Get more podcasts and features at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thomas McIntyre had a brush with death when his police posse came up against Australia's most famous bushranger. And years later, it was his words in court that sealed Ned's fate. Author Grantlee Kieza joins the show to tell his storySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Tony Bernard joins the show again to tell more of the story of his father, who saw unspeakable Nazi attrocities as a member of the Jewish ghetto police, and then gave evidence against them after the war. Information about the book here. Like In Black and White? Get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Tony Bernard joins the show to tell a story of his father's survival in Nazi Europe, the torture he endured at concentration camps, and the secrets he brought to Australia. Read more about Tony's book at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/other-books/The-Ghost-Tattoo-Tony-Bernard-9781761065415 Like In Black and White? Go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more amazing stories of Australia's past.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Australia's age of expeditions, William Blandowski catalogued the lands around the Murray. But his adventures in the bush paled in comparison with the war he had with the scientific establishment - a war he fought with fish.State Library Victoria librarian Andrew McConville tells the tale.Like the show? Read more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When the future king and his wife visited Australia in 1927 to open Parliament House, the trip was marred by a bizarre string of RAAF air tragedies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the start of the Cold War, a young Australian scientist found himself caught up in the geopolitics of who could be trusted with nuclear secrets.Find out more about Phillip Deery's book at: https://www.mup.com.au/books/spies-and-sparrows-paperback-softbackSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Macabre entrepreneur Maximilian Kreitmayer found himself a special niche in the Melbourne of the late 1800s: using the faces of dead bushrangers to fill his waxworks' Chamber of Horrors. Old Melbourne Gaol tour guide Aurora Llywelyn joins to tell more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a patrol of diggers were pinned down by enemy fire in Papua New Guinea, it was up to a pigeon named Q to send for help. Its tale is told by author Mark Wilson, whose book Flapper VC, aims to introduce the courageous creature to kids who may never have heard of Australia's history at war. Find out more about the book at: https://marklwilson.com.au/product/flapper-vc/Get more great tales of Australian history at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our most engaging episodes so far, and the final episode looks at amazing women in history. You will hear about Eliza Batman, the wireless pioneer Violet McKenzie, and a revolutionary all female garage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our most engaging episodes so far, and the third episode looks at war heroes. You will hear the story of Sister Vivian Bullwinkel who was caught in one of the worst massacres of World War II, Horrie the War Dog, and the Aussie pilot who saved stricken kids after a U-Boat attack.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This summer, we have put together a four part series of some of our favourite episodes so far, and the second episode looks at serial killers. You will hear about The Brownout Strangler, the Schoolgirl Strangler who terrorised Melbourne and Frederick Deeming who many say could have been Jack the Ripper.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have put together a four part series of some of our favourite episodes so far, and the first episode looks at spies. You will first hear about Nancy Weir, a piano prodigy who wowed the crowd in the early years of Melbourne radio. Then, the story of the dramatic defection of two Soviet spies in Australia made worldwide headlines in 1954. And finally, the incredible story of ASIO spies Dudley and Joan Doherty, who enlisted their three young kids in Australia’s battle against Soviet infiltration during the Cold War.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Between burning a seance client to death and shooting a clergyman while drunk, no-one thought Thomas Walker would make much of himself. But they were wrong. Author David Hunt joins the show with more. More information about David at: https://davidhuntwriter.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spiritualism - a belief system centred on seances - took the world by storm in the mid 1800s, thanks in part to Abraham Lincoln’s wife, Mary.But in Melbourne, a spiritualist leader named William Terry was captivating the crowds and influencing his own political protege.Author  David Hunt joins the show with more. Find more about David at: https://davidhuntwriter.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Victorian era Sydney, it wouldn't do to be seen to be bathing on the beaches. Until one cop swept away the wowsers' worries. Historian and author Jim Haynes joins the show with more. Get more features and more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw Get more information about Jim Haynes at: http://www.jimhaynes.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He's often lauded as the man who first found gold in Australia, but according to historian Jim Haynes, pioneer Edward Hargraves was instead a villain who conned the colony.   Find out more about Jim at: http://www.jimhaynes.com.au/   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Waltzing Matilda is one of Australia's most beloved songs. But the origin of the term can be traced back to the battlefields of Germany. Author Jim Haynes joins the show to tell the story.  More at: http://www.jimhaynes.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Barry McArthur joins the show to recount the time he met prisoner William O'Meally, a police killer, repeat escapee, and the last man flogged in Victoria.   Like the show? Go to http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a young jockey named Joan Richmond was banned from racing horses in Melbourne, she swapped out her silks for a steering wheel. Writer John Smailes tells her story. Like the show? Go to http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more. Get more information about the book  at: http://johnsmailes.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Laurie Nash just might have been up among the Bradmans and Borders in the pantheon of Australian cricket. But a baffling selection call kept him out of the infamous bodyline series - and a chance at sporting immortality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In honor of the race that stops the nation, we went into the vault and picked the tale of the youngest jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup -  a “little freckled lad” from a township near Geelong who was only 11 years old.   Like the show? Go to http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of all of the losers in the race that stops the nation, young  John Kavanagh could have been the hardest done by. Because it wasn't another jockey who likely robbed him of a Melbourne cup - it was bad spelling. Get more great tales at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Graham Addison returns to the show to continue the history of the Aussie rich kids who went on a quest to find one of the world's most famous treasures. More at: https://grahamaddison.com/ Like the show? Get backgrounders and more at http://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Graham Addison recounts a swashbuckling tale of Aussie thrillseekers, secret codes hidden in the Bible, aristocrats, psychics, bribery, gun-running, riots, and a deadly curse. This is the first in a two part series on the real life raiders of the lost ark.  More at: https://grahamaddison.com/ Like the show? Get backgrounders and more at http://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When two bush bandits cornered and killed two men including a police officer in the wilds of central Queensland, the murders were just the start of the grisly tale. More info at: https://www.gravetales.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As young Aussie men fought in the trenches of WW1, a rural Queensland pastor found his war was closer to home.Christian Seybold was accused of preaching pro-German sentiment and found himself a virtual prisoner of war in his own country.Like the show? Read more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a plane full of men went missing in the early days of Australian aviation, it was one wily bushman who saved the day. Like In Black and White? Go to: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-white Learn more about Grave Tales: https://www.gravetales.com.au/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WWII squadron leader John Jackson was needlessly killed in what author Michael Veitch calls one of the most tragic stories of the RAAF’s 100-year history. Read more tales of adventure at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More about Michael Veitch at:  https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Michael Veitch joins the show to tell Jen the remarkable story of John Jackson, a WW2 flyboy who survived being shot down, only to find himself stuck behind enemy lines in New Guinea.  Read more tales of adventure at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More about Michael Veitch at:  https://www.hachette.com.au/michael-veitch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 40 years ago, in the golden age of racing, a punter named Kev Cain reached in his pocket and placed a $6 bet. By the end of the day he was sitting on $86000. This is the story of one of Australia's luckiest streaks. Like the show? Go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more Get more info about Andrew Rule's book at: https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760987718/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RAAF gunner turned winemaker Colin Gramp wasn't the inventor of the famous bag in a box wine, but his brand Orlando was instrumental in bringing it to the homes, parks and beaches of everyday Australians. Like In Black and White? get more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Satisfaction was demanded when two of Melbourne's finest lined up to settle their differences. But the result was a comic mess. Like the show? get features, backgrounders and more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Melbourne boomed with gold rush cash, one medic found an ingenious way to spruik his venereal disease cures. Get background to this story and much more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his short life George Coulthard kicked goald for Carlton, started a riots Sydney and crossed paths with a future PM. Get background to this story and much more at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a German sub sank a ship carrying British civilians fleeing the horrors of World War 2, Aussie flyer  Bill Garing spearheaded a daring rescue. Like the show? got to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for moreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Beaney was a  colourful surgeon and  shameless self promoter who would operate when no others would dare. And not even a pair of gory deaths could curtail his career. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As her hospital was bombed during World War I, Rachel Pratt kept on doing what she’d always done – treating her wounded patients. The nurse from Melbourne kept on working until she collapsed after shrapnel from a bomb pierced her lung.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The bestselling Australian-born author known as “Elizabeth” had good reason to hide her true identity, but the world’s press was determined to unmask her.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When convict banter baffled judges in early colonial Australia, they turned to James Hardy Vaux, who  published a dictionary of slang - that included many words still in use today. Like In Black and White? Read more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billy Caffyn was an all-rounder star of English cricket, who found himself teaching Australia to play the  game. But after wowing Melbourne, his next move left everyone stunnedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Augusta the “giantess” was a superstar of the travelling show circuit at the turn of last century. And the super-sized and super-strong solo performer wowed the country with her feats of strength.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In one 24-hour 1000km ride, Hubert Opperman set 100 distance records, including many that remained unbroken for decades.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a pioneer in the early days of aviation, 21-year-old Nancy Bird Walton became the first Australian woman to run a commercial air service. Like the show? Read more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When his ship was wrecked off the Australian coast in violent seas, Matthew Flinders channelled his fictional hero and helped 94 people survive three months on a desert island.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In England he was a convicted theif from an oppressed minority, but when James Squire was transported to Australia, it gave him the opportunity to build an empire. Read great tales of Australian history at https://heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Percy Grainger was renowned as a musical prodigy, but it was his bizarre pastimes from self-flagellation to making his own towelling clothes that set him apart from other brilliant composers. Get history features and much more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Jim Haynes joins the show again to tell the story of Annette Kellerman, and her extraordinary rise from crippled child to international swimming star.  Get history features and much more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new book explains why adventurer, journalist, secret agent and political dynamo George Morrison was “the most influential Australian who ever strode the planet”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Douglas Grant survived a massacre as a child to go on to serve as one of the few indigenous soldiers in the First World War. The Australian War Memorial's Michael Bell joins the show to tell the story of a proud Australian man who never felt like he fit in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Australian adventurer Keith Jack was stranded  after his ship vanished, it would have been easy to quit. Instead, he achieved the unimaginable.  Like the show? Get backgrounders and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AB 'Banjo' Paterson is well known as the lyricist behind the classic song 'Waltzing Matilda', but the music was contributed by Christina MacPherson, a woman with her own remarkable tale. Chris Adams, author of the Grave Tales series of books joins Jen to tell Christina's story. Like the show? Get background articles and more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw More on Grave tales at https://www.gravetales.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Sam Knott explained he 'allus has wan at eleven' when a photgrapher asked why he drank before noon, it became the start of one of Australia's biggest advertising campaigns. Jen Kelly talks with author Chris Adams about the tale. Like the show? go to https://heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more. Read more from Chris' Grave Tales series - go to: https://www.gravetales.com.au/ for more info.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After escaping a POW camp and across the sea, Australian officer Jock McLaren fought the Japanese behind enemy lines alongside Filipino guerillas for two years. Like the podcast? Get backgrounders, photos and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A young man with a self-confessed lazy streak found himself on the end of the hangman’s noose in 1857 for his cruel act while bailing up a family man on Flemington Rd. Like In Black and White? Get backgrounders and more at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-whiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new book reveals the central role 14-year-old Kate Kelly played in the story of the notorious Kelly Gang’s misdeeds.   Lke In Black and White? Go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for features, photos and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a wave of young girls were abducted and murdered in broad daylight in the 1930s, no-one suspected doting family man Arnold Sodeman was to blame. Like the show? Get stories, backgrounders, images and more, go to: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ASIO spies Dudley and Joan Doherty enlisted their three young kids in Australia’s battle against Soviet infiltration during the Cold War.  Like the show? Get background articles, photos and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pocketbook of mugshots was Detective “Eagle Eye” Reginald Henderson’s secret to nabbing hundreds of wanted criminals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In one of the most brutal murders in Melbourne’s history, a brazen killer strolled into a busy CBD office building in broad daylight and fled with a £3000 haul of diamonds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a boy started a rumour about a hoard of cash in an elderly farming couple’s bush shack, it set the wheels in motion for a horrific murder.. Read the background, see photos and more at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William 'Gunny' Hughes ran one one of the worst larrikin gangs in old Melbourne. But an encounter with the law saw him run a double life in service to the public.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History writer Michael Shelford joins the show again to talk about Thomas Treloar, who embarked on a murderous rampage on the streets of Albert Park. See photos and read the full story at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When a chocolate salesman was gunned down in 1913, forensic police used the newfangled technology of fingerprinting to crack the case. But the scallywag they had in their sights wouldn't go down without a fight. Go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more on this story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antonio Soro first gained fame for claiming to invent a perpetual motion machine. But it was for the killing of a Melbourne schoolteacher that he became truly infamous. Get photos of Soro, his invention and  more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We normally talk about the hidden characters in Australian history. Dame Nellie Melba was far from that.  But while the opera singer's achievements are recognised in our cuisine and our currency, what's less known is her secret life as a prankster. Ben Oliver from Drinking History Tours tells the story. Like the show? Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moments before 23-year-old Elizabeth Scott was hanged for murdering her abusive husband, she turned to her lover and asked, “Will you not clear me now?”. Get more stories of Australian history at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghost sightings and strange occurrences at the Queen Vic Market have been reported for many years. So could it be Melbourne’s founding father? Get more tales of Australia's history at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever found yourself in a situation, you swear you never could have predicted? A situation so far from the ordinary that even remembering it feels surreal? Season 2 of I Swear I Never is publishing now, you'll hear from Peter, an ex homicide detective haunted by his past, Tina, a mum who hit rock bottom after a prescription drug addiction and Amber, a pregnant woman who went out to dinner during a pandemic and got more than what she ordered. Search I Swear I Never wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scorned mistress Connie Waugh is said to have hanged herself at an historic inner city pub, where her ghost remains to this day. But how much of the story is true?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legend has it the famed opera singer was seen giving his final bows on stage minutes after he died, giving rise to Melbourne’s most famous ghost story. Get stories on this and more tales of haunted Melbourne at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He killed his family in England, then did the same to his new wife in Australia. Many people believe Frederick Deeming could have been Jack the Ripper - and may still haunt Melbourne to this day. Like the show? Get background articles, photos and more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sidney Myer arrived in Melbourne as a 21-year-old with no money and little English. Soon he was selling towels and sheets door to door, the first step in his rise to greatness. Read more stories stories of Australia's forgotten characters at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Normally on this podcast we talk about history's forgotten characters. And although Ned Kelly is far from that, what's lesser known is what happened in the hours before he met the hangman.The Herald Sun's sister publication The Weekly Times was there to document the execution, 140 years ago today. Now their country living editor Hannah Driscoll has uncovered their archives to piece together the notorious outlaw's last moments. Read the full story on The Weekly Times. Read more extraordinary stories of forgotten figures at heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On his Melbourne tour, Prince Alfred was bored by pomp and ceremony, preferring gambling, partying and brothels. Yet he was so wildly popular many wanted him to become King of Australia. Get more of this story, plus backgrounders and other tales of Australian history at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibawSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

His story has been largely lost to history, but the youngest jockey ever to win the Melbourne Cup was a “little freckled lad” from a township near Geelong who was only 11 years old.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before Marine Stupid made headlines for escaping Melbourne Zoo and hurling roof tiles at her pursuers, she made her name by serving with distinction on three British naval ships in WWII.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Horrie the Wog Dog saved countless Aussie lives in World War II, acting as an early-warning system when enemy aircraft approached. So when Australian authorities ordered the dog’s surrender in 1945, Private Jim Moody knew he had only one option.  Read more at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It is 50 years since one of Australia's biggest bridges crashed down during construction. Herald Sun reporter Alex White speaks to survivors and family who lost their lives in one of Australia's worst industrial disasters.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was notoriously cantankerous, virtually unrideable and often violent, but Bill the Bastard became Australia’s greatest war horse after carrying five troopers to safety in the middle of a fierce gun battle during WWI. Get more on this story and other tales of Australia's hidden characters at https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When HMAS Perth was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in 1942, fewer than half of the 681 men – and one cat – made it to shore. Her extraordinary survival with the help of a group of Aussie POWs is detailed in a new book. Read more fascinating stories of Australia's hidden characters at: heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From our TV screens to the hit parade, singer Yvonne Barrett was a popular personality in Melbourne’s entertainment scene in the 1960s, but she died tragically and violently. Get more great history stories at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While other spy rings worldwide are far better known, a trio of respected businessmen dubbed the “Melbourne cell” mounted one of the most successful Soviet espionage operations in history.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances Bernie was a Catholic schoolgirl raised in Sydney by a couple from Oxford, England. So how did she end up a Soviet spy inside the office of foreign minister HV “Doc” Evatt leaking Australia’s and Britain’s secrets to the Russians? Author John Fahey joins the show with more. Go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw for more great Australian history stories More information on John Fahey's book at: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/general-books/history/Traitors-and-Spies-John-Fahey-9781760877705  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While she was born and raised in Sydney, “Sally” was so devoted to Stalinist Russia that she became a Soviet spy and infiltrated a US government agency. Like the show? consider becoming a Herald Sun subscriber for Jen Kelly's columns and much more. Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1918, Melbourne was celebrating the end of WWI, unaware an insidious new war on home turf had just begun. That’s when a new drug – cocaine – first came under the nose of Melbourne police, introduced by a prostitute from Sydney. And the mastermind of the cocaine trade was Charles le Marchant, a longtime opium addict who had honed his criminal skills as a teen gang member in Chinatown. Read more about Melbourne's dark past at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the early 1900s, Chinatown's Heffernan Lane was one of the worst streets in Melbourne thanks to brothels, opium dens, gambling rooms and a tendency to attract murderous thieves. And its most notorious resident was Chinese-born gangster Harry Quong, whose upstanding parents migrated to Melbourne to give their son "a good English education". Instead, he repaid his parents’ sacrifice by becoming a bank robber, thief and all-round scoundrel - then scored himself 15 years in jail for shooting a policeman. Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1919 as a gang war called the Fitzroy Vendetta raged, Squizzy Taylor and a cast of misfits were tearing apart the inner Melbourne suburb. And living amid the sly grog shops, opium dens, brothels and slums was one man, World War I veteran Arthur Skerritt, whose life of crime culminated in a shocking murder. Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Collis family caused mayhem for decades with their sly grog shops and gang violence until authorities were forced to declare their homes condemned to run them out of town. Read more at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Her name is barely known today, but the formidable Ann Shiell was a powerful crime boss, slum landlord, brothel madam and controller of gangs of thieves in Melbourne in the late 1800s. For more on this story, go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian-born beauty Enid Lindeman disguised escaped Allied servicemen as maids to trick police when they raided the riviera mansion she used as a safe house for the French Resistance. Read more Australian tales at www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As well as driving a cheetah with a diamond collar around London in her Bentley, scandal-plagued socialite Enid Lindeman outlived four husbands, earned the nickname “Lady Killmore”, and walked around with a pet hyrax on her shoulder.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After building an empire of brothels in the notorious Little Lon red light district, Madame Brussels was dubbed the “worst and wickedest woman in Melbourne”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Convict James Porter and his crewmates were viewed as mutineer scum when they escaped Australia in a leaky stolen boat, but hailed as heroes in their new home 10,000km away.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1833, cockney sailor James Porter pulled off an audacious escape – stealing a leaky boat with nine other convicts and sailing all the way to South America and a life of freedom.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a hefty reward was offered to solve Melbourne’s Gun Alley murder, a parade of shonky witnesses with outlandish claims sent an innocent man to his death.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When Sister Vivian Bullwinkel was shot with a machinegun in one of the worst massacres of World War II, a split-second decision to feign death saved her life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our grand, tree-lined boulevards are a spectacular showpiece, but our city would be a very different place if they served the suburbs beyond the city fringe. What went wrong?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When wireless pioneer Violet McKenzie realised Australia was short of Morse code operators as WWII approached, she opened a free school and trained thousands of young women. Become a Herald Sun subscriber. Go to www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After fleeing Nazi Germany as a child, Albert Ullin set up Australia's first bookshop specifically for children - and inspired a generation of authors and illustrators. Become a Herald Sun subscriber. Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From bogus doctor to counterfeit clergyman to US consul-general, Australian con artist Anthony Duerdin adopted at least 26 fake identities. But it was more about chasing thrills than the cash.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Armed with a trained monkey, a barrel of marbles and a swag of tricks, gang leader “Paddy the Pig” swindled the crowds at Melbourne racecourses with his crafty cons and sleight of hand. Subscribe to the Herald Sun. Go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From street beggar to child prisoner to Australia’s best-known celebrity showman, “Flash Jack” Donovan packed a lot into his remarkable 57-year life, including making a fortune off Ned Kelly’s hanging. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ex-convict Smith Brown used a heart-shaped wooden matchbox and one simple trick to fool 1800s Melburnians into handing over their savings, making him one of old Melbourne’s craftiest conmen.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Child of a famous politician turned inveterate fraudster, Charles Jones decided to create his own religion to save on business expenses. Like the show? Become a Herald Sun subscriber. go to heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eliza Batman was the wife of controversial Melbourne pioneer John Batman, but in many ways, her eventful and ultimately tragic life was even more interesting than her husband's. Jen is joined by Melbourne journalist and history buff, Jamie Duncan to discuss. Become a Herald Sun subscriber. Go to www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Journalist and history buff Jamie Duncan joins the show to talk about how a pandemic hit our shores over 100 years ago, and how Australia overcame it. Become a Herald Sun subscriber: go to https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How escaped convict who lived with Aboriginal tribe became “double agent”.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why escaped convict William Buckley was welcomed as family into Aboriginal clan and stayed 32 years. Subscribe to the Herald Sun. Go to www.heraldsun.com.au/IBAW and click on any article to begin  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How Tasmanian Aboriginal woman Truganini became an outlaw on the run in Victoria after her companion shot and killed two men  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1944 a man was jailed for the horrific murder of the “Pyjama Girl”. But startling evidence suggests police got it wildly wrong, and now the woman’s identity – and her killer – may never be known. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arthur Stace was a down-and-outer who was lucky to survive a horrendous, brutal childhood. But one remarkable event set him on a quest to spend the rest of his life writing one word.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was always believed bushranger Ned Kelly’s brother, Dan, died in the notorious 1880 police shoot-out at Glenrowan. So who was the mystery man who turned up in Brisbane 53 years later claiming he was Dan Kelly?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a grim sign that conjured up images of a sinister mob wielding sledgehammers and wrecking balls. But there was a surprise twist to Whelan the Wrecker’s methods that helped create Melbourne’s beauty as it is today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even before journalist Colin Bednall helped introduce TV to Australia and discovered “The King” Graham Kennedy, it was apparent he was a kid destined for great things.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

His party boy lifestyle and taste for gambling, grog and brothels didn’t stop Charles Standish becoming one of the most powerful men in Victoria as chief of police and head of the Freemasons.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From its beginnings in the gold rush, Calisthenics grew to be a uniquely Australian pastime. Joining Jen this week is the State Library of Victoria's Carolyn Fraser to talk about the sport's earliest trailblazer, Vera Hopton. Subscribe to the Herald Sun. Go to www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and click on any article to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With its talking birds, live monkeys, hall of mirrors and live bands, the famous Cole’s Book Arcade in Bourke St was more than a bookshop – it was an event. And EW Cole was the eccentric man behind it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Long Harry Slater was a gang leader, standover man, cop-shooter, house bomber, suspected murderer and gang war adversary to Squizzy Taylor, making him Australia’s most feared criminal until the early 1920s. Subscribe to the Herald Sun.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Claude Taylor lived in the shadow of his famous little brother Leslie. But between stalking the streets of Little Lon, and being at the edge of the Sydney razor wars, he led a colourful life of his own. See photos of Big Squizzy, his friends and foes at heraldsun.com.au/ibaw, where you can also become a Herald Sun subscriber.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malvern ‘Gunner’ Cameron was a standover man with one eye, one arm, and one hell of a temper. He was a cocaine dealer, a drug addict, a hard drinker, a heavy hitter. and one of the most feared gangsters in Melbourne. Read his story, along with the tales of other notorious Melbourne gangsters at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lofty Prentice was a veteran of two wars. He was also a thief, a pimp, a street fighter and an international conman. Jen is once again joined by historian Michael Shelford to talk about the soldier-turned-criminal. Subscribe to the Herald Sun. Go to: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/ibaw and cliarticle to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While William Buck may have been the most violent man on Melbourne's streets, Percy Ramage terrorised its prisons. Jen Kelly is joined again by Historian Michael Shelford for another episode on one of Old Melbourne's forgotten gangsters.  Become a Herald Sun subscriber. Go to heraldsun.com.au/IBAW, and click on any article to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

William Buck was perhaps the most violent criminal to ever roam the streets of Melbourne. Jen Kelly talks with historian Michael Shelford about the mad bad man of old Melbourne. Become a Herald Sun subscriber. Go to heraldsun.com.au/IBAW, and click on any article to begin.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Brownout Strangler killed three Melbourne women in 16 days. If not for a split-second quirk of fate, chances are he would have evaded detection and escaped the noose. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was an unconventional love story – the local farmer’s daughter and the Italian prisoner of war detained in an internment camp. But it was one that would end in tragedy. Get the podcast companion and more at:https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/in-black-and-white  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nina Paranyuk came to Australia working as a stewardess on the Soviet Olympic team’s ship and escaped during a sightseeing trip to Melbourne Zoo. Jen Kelly talks to Nick Richardson, author of 1956 The Year Australia Welcomed The World. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Janet Clarke was a Melbourne socialite who played an integral role in the creation of cricket's most prestigious trophy, The Ashes. But over her colourful life, she was involved in causes as diverse as women's health and the location of Ned Kelly's armour. Read more In Black and White at: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/IBAW  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We uncover the little known story of the man who fired the first shot of World War I, not on the battlefields of Europe but in Victoria. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From injecting crushed animal testicles to electro-shock therapy, quack doctor and master criminal Carl von Ledebur had a long record of dodgy dealings and horrific crimes. So how did he end up as an early football trainer for Essendon? Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From a rescue that co-opted part of the town of Albury to pilots being taken prisoner by Mussolini's forces, the 1934 London to Melbourne air race was far from a walk in the park. And the entire adventure was sponsored by Melbourne's chocolate king, Sir Macpherson Robertson. Join host Jen Kelly, Melbourne journalist and history buff Jamie Duncan, and lead curator at the State Library of Victoria, Carolyn Fraser, for the final instalment in our miniseries on Sir Macpherson Robertson. Read more here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If a Melbourne teenager hadn’t stood up to his boss, the man known as Australia’s Willy Wonka, the Freddo Frog never would have existed. It’s one of many stories about the eccentric chocolate king brought to life in a new exhibition - and this week host Jen Kelly is joined by Carolyn Fraser, lead curator at the State Library of Victoria, to talk more about it.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Freddo Frog, Cherry Ripe, even Old Gold chocolate, fairy floss and chewing gum - if you love these sweet treats, you can thank Melbourne's eccentric chocolate entrepreneur, Sir Macpherson Robertson. This week host Jen Kelly is joined by Ben Oliver, from Melbourne's Drinking History Tours, to discuss Robertson's incredible life. To see pictures and read more, click here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This dramatic defection of two Soviet spies in Australia made worldwide headlines in 1954. The husband and wife duo exposed roughly 600 Soviet agents around the world, and ended up hiding out in Melbourne’s suburbs – but they were Bentleigh East’s worst-kept secret This week, host Jen Kelly is joined again by Melbourne journalist and history buff Jamie Duncan, who recently went back to the house to see how the story ended. To read Jamie's story and see the pictures, head here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Collingwood to Carlton, Melbourne’s ritzy inner suburbs was once home to incredible poverty and crime. But one fearless crusader exposed the depression-era squalor and helped transform people’s lives. Join host Jen Kelly and Melbourne journalist and history buff Jamie Duncan as they delve into the story of Frederick Oswald Barnett. And to see Barnett's incredible slum pictures, head here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Brownlow is known throughout Victoria thanks to the medal that bears his name. But there once was a time that the young footballer had to hide his identity every time he stepped onto the ground.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By day he policed the depression-era streets of Collingwood, but on the weekends he was a powerful player who led the Pies to VFL premierships. So why did he have to play under an assumed name? See pictures and read more  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The uniforms looked like Where’s Wally and the matches lasted for days — welcome to Aussie rules, circa 1850. So why did one of footy’s founding fathers almost start a rifle club instead? Jen Kelly is joined by Col Hutchinson, historian for both the AFL and the Geelong football club. To read more about this and see some great pictures, including original footy uniforms, head to heraldsun.com.au  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frances Knorr, like many other women in depression-hit 1800s Melbourne, ran an early form of childcare. But instead of visiting a loving home, the infants she was trusted with met a much darker fate. Read more about the life and death of the baby farmer.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thousands of child convicts, some as young as eight, were sent to a children’s version of the notorious Port Arthur for minor offences. But were two boys really guilty of a more shocking crime? Read an extract from The Lost Boys of Mr Dickens here.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

She married a police officer and her son was a career criminal, who did time for bank robbery and safe cracking. But Melbourne’s Mary Fortune turned from sly grog-slinger into one of the first women to write detective stories. Read more about Mary Fortune at heraldsun.com.au today.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was the scourge of Melbourne’s villains and scoundrels, but unlike the fictional London sleuth, this Victorian detective's crazy undercover exploits and bizarre disguises were real. Join host Jen Kelly and guest Ben Oliver, founder of Melbourne’s Drinking History Tours, as they dive into this fascinating character. And you can read more about it today at heraldsun.com.au  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was a cold-blooded murderer who turned on his mates - and was hanged in Victoria for his crimes. But how many lives did Robert Francis Burns really take?Read an extract from Grave Tales: True Crime Vol. 1or get more information about the book.,  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They were feared on the streets of North Melbourne, turning to violence in pubs and outside footy matches. But they weren’t any ordinary gang — here’s how they turned their missing limbs into an advantage. Read Jamie Duncan's full story here: www.heraldsun.com.au/truecrimeaustralia/ourcriminalhistory/when-a-gang-of-amputee-thugs-terrorised-melbourne/news-story/cc6d224d64dbf4deb9b60a751439f668  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martha Needle used arsenic to kill her husband and at least two of her three young children. Then after finding new love, Martha Needle murdered her fiance’s brother. Read more about Martha Needle at heraldsun.com.au  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we go back to the early 1900s to the story of the charismatic Madame Reprah, a so-called mind reader who made a living looking deep into the souls of her customers to solve the mysteries of their lives from career troubles to relationship dilemmas.Read more about Madame Reprah.Learn more about Melbourne Historical Crime Tours.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy Weir was a piano prodigy who wowed the crowd in the early years of Melbourne radio. When war threatened though, she found a new role: listening in on German pilots and stealing their secrets. Read more of Nancy's story and see video of her playing.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1910's Melbourne's streets were revolutionised by the automobile. And on one street corner sat a revolution all its own; an all female garage. Read the podcast companion  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Edward Oxford faced a sentence of being hung, drawn and quartered after taking aim at the Queen. Instead, he would spend years in an asylum — and then a remarkable new life in the heart of Melbourne society. Read the podcast companion.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ventura Tenario was a tank of a man with a Navajo headdress who swept into Melbourne from the Colorado desert to wow the crowds in the wrestling ring.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the Docklands gleamed with stadiums and skyscrapers, the area was a shanty town named Dudley Flats. And its most dangerous resident was Elsie Williams. But before her descent into alcohol and violence, Elsie had another life - as a star of the stage.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coming soon: In Black and White with Jen Kelly. A podcast miniseries about Melbourne's forgotten characters  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.