Weird Crap in Australia

In June 1997, the disappearance of 13-month-old Jaidyn Leskie from the small Victorian town of Moe captured the attention of the nation. What began as a frantic search for a missing toddler soon became one of Australia’s most heartbreaking and controversial criminal investigations.

As police worked to piece together Jaidyn’s final hours, conflicting stories, unanswered questions, and a lack of clear evidence complicated the search for justice. Decades later, the case continues to provoke debate, with many believing key questions remain unresolved.

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In June 1997, the disappearance of 13-month-old Jaidyn Leskie from the small Victorian town of Moe captured the attention of the nation. What began as a frantic search for a missing toddler soon became one of Australia’s most heartbreaking and controversial criminal investigations.

As police worked to piece together Jaidyn’s final hours, conflicting stories, unanswered questions, and a lack of clear evidence complicated the search for justice. Decades later, the case continues to provoke debate, with many believing key questions remain unresolved.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1921, the quiet New South Wales town of Guyra became the centre of one of Australia’s strangest paranormal cases. Rocks rained from empty rooms, objects moved on their own, furniture overturned, and terrified witnesses claimed unseen forces were haunting a local farmhouse.

What began as a family disturbance quickly drew neighbours, police, reporters, and sceptics from across the country. Some believed it was a genuine haunting. Others suspected a hoax. But even after investigations, the mystery of the Guyra Poltergeist refused to disappear.

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In 1971, Adelaide woke to a bizarre sight: an FJ Holden hanging from a pedestrian footbridge above North Terrace outside the University of Adelaide. The stunt became an instant legend, baffling authorities and sparking a mystery that lingered for decades.

Part prank, part engineering feat, and entirely Australian, the hanging Holden captured the larrikin spirit of university Prosh Week culture at its peak. But who actually pulled it off? And how did they manage to suspend an entire car over one of Adelaide’s busiest streets without anyone stopping them?

Join Holly & Matthew as they look through th...

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

This episode also examines the allegations, conv...

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

This episode also examines the allegations, conv...

Welcome to the start of Year 9!!!!!

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

On the morning of October 14, 1968, the small Western Australian town of Meckering was torn apart by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Australia.

Roads split open, railway lines twisted, buildings collapsed, and a fault line ripped visibly through the landscape — leaving behind destruction that stunned the nation. In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore the events of the Meckering earthquake, the science behind it, and the aftermath for the people who lived through it. 

From the first violent tremors to the massive recovery effort, this is the story of the day Australia was rem...

Hidden in the hills near Gympie, Queensland, sits a structure that has sparked decades of debate: the Gympie Pyramid. To some, it’s evidence of an ancient civilisation or Egyptian contact with Australia. To others, it’s nothing more than a terraced hillside built by early European settlers.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew dig into the claims, the history, and the investigations surrounding the site. Where did the pyramid theory come from? What evidence has been presented — and what holds up under scrutiny? It’s a story where archaeology, speculation, and local legend collide.

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In September 2000, on a warm night in Sydney, Cathy Freeman stepped onto the track carrying the weight of expectation — and delivered one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. But her story didn’t begin there.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew trace Freeman’s journey from a young athlete in Queensland to a global symbol of achievement, resilience, and reconciliation. From her early rise in athletics to the cultural significance of her Olympic victory, this is a story about more than sport — it’s about identity, pressure, and a moment that brought a nation to a standsti...

In September 2000, on a warm night in Sydney, Cathy Freeman stepped onto the track carrying the weight of expectation — and delivered one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. But her story didn’t begin there.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew trace Freeman’s journey from a young athlete in Queensland to a global symbol of achievement, resilience, and reconciliation. From her early rise in athletics to the cultural significance of her Olympic victory, this is a story about more than sport — it’s about identity, pressure, and a moment that brought a nation to a standsti...

They’re loud, they’re messy, and they’ve become one of Australia’s most controversial native animals — the grey-headed flying fox.

Found along the east coast, these large fruit bats play a vital role in pollination and seed dispersal, yet their presence in urban areas has made them the centre of ongoing conflict between conservation and community concerns.

From mass colonies in suburban parks to debates over relocation and protection, it’s a story that sits at the intersection of environment, policy, and everyday life.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore the history, beh...

In 1973, a global oil shock reached Australian shores and changed everyday life almost overnight. Fuel shortages, price spikes, and uncertainty rippled through the country, forcing governments and communities to rethink how they used energy.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore how the oil crisis played out in Australia — from petrol rationing and changing driving habits to the political decisions that shaped the nation’s response. What began as an overseas conflict quickly became a local disruption, exposing just how dependent Australia had become on global supply.

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In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear.

This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: th...

In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear.

This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: th...

In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear.

This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: th...

In December 2022, a routine missing persons check in rural Queensland turned into one of the deadliest attacks on police in recent Australian history. Two officers and a neighbouring resident were killed in a violent ambush at a remote property near the small community of Wieambilla.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew walk through the events as they unfolded — from the initial police attendance to the hours-long emergency response that followed. As investigators pieced together what had happened, the scale and planning of the attack became increasingly clear.

This is a careful reconstruction of the incident itself: th...

Between Morwell and Traralgon in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley lies a stretch of road with a reputation that refuses to fade. Known locally as Haunted Hills, this unassuming patch of bushland has generated decades of whispered stories — strange lights drifting through the trees, shadowy figures on the roadside, unexplained cold spots, and the unnerving sense that something is watching from the dark.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore the origins of the legend, the reported sightings, and the possible explanations behind them. Are the stories tied to tragic accidents, natural phenomena, or something more sinister?

**

For decades, Australia treated video games differently.

Titles were banned. Content was refused classification. Games were edited, delayed, or never released at all. For years, we didn’t even have an R18+ category for games — meaning adult players were restricted by a system built for something else entirely.

In this episode, we trace the history of video game censorship in Australia — from early classification battles to moral panics, high-profile bans, and the eventual fight for an R rating. What was actually being censored? Who decided? And why were games singled out?

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For decades, Australian audiences were told what they could and couldn’t watch — often with scissors, black ink, and outright bans. From silent films and imported reels to grindhouse classics and modern cinema, Australia developed a reputation as one of the most restrictive film-censoring countries in the Western world.

Join Holly & Matthew as they trace the history of Australian film censorship, from early morality laws and customs seizures to the creation of classification boards and the long fight over violence, sex, and “community standards”. Along the way, we'll examine infamous bans, bizarre edits, and the cultural anxieties that shaped w...

For decades, Australian audiences were told what they could and couldn’t watch — often with scissors, black ink, and outright bans. From silent films and imported reels to grindhouse classics and modern cinema, Australia developed a reputation as one of the most restrictive film-censoring countries in the Western world.

Join Holly & Matthew as they trace the history of Australian film censorship, from early morality laws and customs seizures to the creation of classification boards and the long fight over violence, sex, and “community standards”. Along the way, we'll examine infamous bans, bizarre edits, and the cultural anxieties that shaped w...

For decades, Australian audiences were told what they could and couldn’t watch — often with scissors, black ink, and outright bans. From silent films and imported reels to grindhouse classics and modern cinema, Australia developed a reputation as one of the most restrictive film-censoring countries in the Western world.

Join Holly & Matthew as they trace the history of Australian film censorship, from early morality laws and customs seizures to the creation of classification boards and the long fight over violence, sex, and “community standards”. Along the way, we'll examine infamous bans, bizarre edits, and the cultural anxieties that shaped w...

Yes… we’re doing it again.

Holly & Matthew return to Wolf Creek for a full watch-along commentary, folding in everything they learned while researching Episode 272 — the trivia, the controversies, the odd little production quirks, and the lingering weirdness that’s cropped up since.

If you’ve ever wanted to watch the film armed with far too much context (and a healthy sense of unease), this one’s for you. Hit play, sync up, and come suffer joyfully alongside us.

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In the late 1970s, a string of disappearances around Adelaide quietly escalated into one of South Australia’s most disturbing serial crime cases. Young women vanished after accepting lifts, their movements barely noticed until the pattern became impossible to ignore. What followed would expose a trail of violence, manipulation, and institutional blind spots that still haunt the case today.

Join Holly & Matthew as they unravel the timeline of the Truro Murders — the victims, the offenders, the police investigation, and the failures that allowed the crimes to continue for so long. They examine how early warning signs were missed, how...

In the late 1970s, a string of disappearances around Adelaide quietly escalated into one of South Australia’s most disturbing serial crime cases. Young women vanished after accepting lifts, their movements barely noticed until the pattern became impossible to ignore. What followed would expose a trail of violence, manipulation, and institutional blind spots that still haunt the case today.

Join Holly & Matthew as they unravel the timeline of the Truro Murders — the victims, the offenders, the police investigation, and the failures that allowed the crimes to continue for so long. They examine how early warning signs were missed, how...

Long before the animated adaptation unsettled generations of children, Dot and the Kangaroo began life as an 1898 children’s book by Ethel C. Pedley — a purely Australian story that reflects how we once taught our youngest readers about nature, danger, and survival Down Under.

Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the beginnings of Australian identity, the birth of a franchise, and one of the only surviving examples of an extinct animation style — all while riding through the bush on the back of a kangaroo.

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In the mid-1860s, the goldfields and bush tracks of New South Wales were ruled by one of Australia’s most notorious outlaw groups: the Ben Hall Gang. Led by the charismatic and deeply divisive Ben Hall, the gang carried out a daring string of robberies that humiliated police, terrified settlers, and turned bushranging into front-page news. But this was no romantic Robin Hood tale. As pressure mounted and the government introduced brutal new laws to crush the outlaws, the violence escalated. Betrayals followed, loyalties fractured, and the line between legend and reality blurred beyond recognition.

In this ep...

This week, we sit down with Around the World with Dot — the animated adventure that whisked an Australian bush child across continents in a strange blend of live-action backdrops, talking animals, and Cold War-era messaging.

From the peculiar pacing to the international diplomacy-through-cartoon logic, we explore how this film tried to reimagine Dot’s bushland origins on a global stage — and how the hybrid animation style both charmed and bewildered audiences. Was it a heartfelt plea for unity, an ambitious creative experiment, or a fever dream that only Australian children’s cinema could produce? Well, that’s what we’re here...

In the mid-1860s, the goldfields and bush tracks of New South Wales were ruled by one of Australia’s most notorious outlaw groups: the Ben Hall Gang. Led by the charismatic and deeply divisive Ben Hall, the gang carried out a daring string of robberies that humiliated police, terrified settlers, and turned bushranging into front-page news. But this was no romantic Robin Hood tale. As pressure mounted and the government introduced brutal new laws to crush the outlaws, the violence escalated. Betrayals followed, loyalties fractured, and the line between legend and reality blurred beyond recognition.

In this ep...

Australia has produced many formidable creatures: sharks, snakes, drop bears… but none strike fear into the national heart quite like the humble magpie. We’re diving beak-first into the legend of Australia’s Flying Terror — from swooping season strategies and infamous attack hotspots to the science behind why these monochrome missiles pick their targets.

Join Matthew & Holly as they explore the birds' surprising intelligence, their role in folklore, and the heroic lengths Australians go to simply check the letterbox in spring. Lace up your shoes, keep your eyes front, and join us as we unravel how a beloved national...

In January 2000, a car was found at the bottom of an embankment in Heathcote National Park. Inside were Bill and Pam Weightman — a respectable south-west Sydney couple, seemingly the victims of a tragic late-night accident. Police found no skid marks. No witnesses. No sign of another vehicle. Within hours, the case was closed.

But nothing about the scene truly added up. 

Why were two cautious, routine-driven people out so late? Why did their injuries raise quiet questions no one followed up? And how did a forensic report — later revealed to contain a startling error — help bury the tru...

What happens when you blend mateship, mud, and the gut-punch of history with a film that refuses to let you stay emotionally upright? You get Gallipoli (1981) — a classic that still knocks the wind out of us every single time we watch it

Join Holly and Matthew as they revisit one of Australia’s most enduring war dramas. From the larrikin charm of its opening act to the stark, sobering descent into the trenches, we’ll explore what makes Gallipoli such a powerful piece of Australian storytelling — and why its final moments still feel like a kick from a horse yo...

In 1941, amid the blistering sands of North Africa, a band of Australian soldiers earned one of the most enduring nicknames in military history — The Rats of Tobruk. Besieged by German and Italian forces, these men held the Libyan port town of Tobruk for eight gruelling months, defying the odds, the desert, and the propaganda of the Axis powers.

What began as an insult from Nazi radio became a badge of honour. The Australians dug in — literally — carving homes and defenses from the desert rock while withstanding relentless shelling and attacks. Their courage, defiance, and larrikin spirit turned Tobruk into a...

In 1941, amid the blistering sands of North Africa, a band of Australian soldiers earned one of the most enduring nicknames in military history — The Rats of Tobruk. Besieged by German and Italian forces, these men held the Libyan port town of Tobruk for eight gruelling months, defying the odds, the desert, and the propaganda of the Axis powers.

What began as an insult from Nazi radio became a badge of honour. The Australians dug in — literally — carving homes and defenses from the desert rock while withstanding relentless shelling and attacks. Their courage, defiance, and larrikin spirit turned Tobruk into a...

In 1941, amid the blistering sands of North Africa, a band of Australian soldiers earned one of the most enduring nicknames in military history — The Rats of Tobruk. Besieged by German and Italian forces, these men held the Libyan port town of Tobruk for eight gruelling months, defying the odds, the desert, and the propaganda of the Axis powers.

What began as an insult from Nazi radio became a badge of honour. The Australians dug in — literally — carving homes and defenses from the desert rock while withstanding relentless shelling and attacks. Their courage, defiance, and larrikin spirit turned Tobruk into a...

He was the upside-down man who brought imagination to life — with nothing more than a pencil for a nose and a blackboard for a stage. Mr Squiggle, the beloved children’s television icon, captured the hearts of generations with his wobbly lines, friendly charm, and boundless creativity.

Travel back to the earliest age of Australian TV to explore how Norman Hetherington’s quirky puppet became a national treasure. From his humble beginnings on ABC in 1959 to the stories the hosts' own mothers told them about the show, Mr. Jolly Squiggles (Simplified to Mr. Squiggle in later years) wasn’t just a...

What happens when you mix grief, ghosts, and grainy home video with a dose of uncanny realism? You get Lake Mungo (2008) — a haunting mockumentary that feels a little too real for comfort - especially for Holly.

In this Spooktober commentary track, join Holly and Matthew as they revisit one of Australia’s most chilling modern horror films. From the eerie performances to the quiet dread that creeps under your skin, we’ll unpack what makes Lake Mungo a masterclass in slow-burn terror — and why it still gets under our skin even 4 viewings later.

Grab the movie (queue it...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice.

By living a double life, she jeopardised the very foundation of the courts. Convictions were thrown into doubt, appeals were launched, and the credibility of the entire legal system was called into question. The scandal not...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice.

By living a double life, she jeopardised the very foundation of the courts. Convictions were thrown into doubt, appeals were launched, and the credibility of the entire legal system was called into question. The scandal not...

Few scandals have shaken Australia’s justice system like the Lawyer X affair. At the center was a prominent barrister who secretly worked as a police informant, all while representing some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Her name was tied to dozens of figures on both sides of the law, leaving behind a trail of questions about loyalty, ethics, and justice.

By living a double life, she jeopardised the very foundation of the courts. Convictions were thrown into doubt, appeals were launched, and the credibility of the entire legal system was called into question. The scandal not...