Territory Famous

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In 2008, Taylie Jade Sweeney was a young mum working as a court orderly in Darwin when she met Emily Adam.

The two women hit it off and soon became close friends. They worked together, went shopping, caught up outside of work and, according to Emily, were best mates.

But in 2009, a series of events would bring their friendship to an end and land Taylie in serious trouble with the law.

What started with some rather questionable decisions turned into...

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The Daly River is one of the Northern Territory's most iconic waterways. It's also home to some very large saltwater crocodiles.

In this episode of Territory Famous, we look at a series of stories from the Daly River, beginning with the death of 26-year-old Stuart, who entered the river while trying to get away from police in 2010.

We also remember Keith, who was just days away from his 21st birthday when he was taken by a crocodile while attempting to cross...

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In June 2018, American soil scientist Jonathan Hempel was living at Wagait Beach, across the harbour from Darwin, with his partner Cathy Lin.

On the night of June 4, the pair caught the ferry home from Cullen Bay. Not long after they arrived at their property, Jonathan was critically injured in an incident involving Cathy's Landcruiser.

At first, what had happened appeared to have a straightforward explanation.

But as police and the NT Coroner began looking more closely at the circumstances...

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During Matt Wright's 2025 Supreme Court trial, the jury heard a series of secretly recorded conversations and intercepted phone calls involving Wright, his family, friends and colleagues.

In this episode of Territory Famous, I'm taking you inside those recordings.

Some are crystal clear. Others are so difficult to understand that even the people involved in the conversations disputed what could actually be heard. They cover everything from helicopter flight hours and maintenance records to Sebastian Robinson, the crash investigation, what happened at...

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In May 2016, Matthew Rosewarne was found dead at his home in Darwin from a gunshot wound to the neck.

Police believed Matthew had taken his own life, but as more information became available, questions began to emerge about the way his death had been investigated.

There was the position of the gunshot wound, a safety catch that was still engaged, evidence that wasn't collected and parts of the scene that weren't properly examined. Despite those issues, Police remained convinced they knew...

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In November 2016, Richard Roe disappeared in the Northern Territory.

His car was found abandoned near the Stuart Highway, but Richard was nowhere to be found. Despite an extensive police investigation and searches of the surrounding area, he has never been located.

The circumstances surrounding Richard’s disappearance raised plenty of questions, and the case was eventually examined at a coronial inquest.

In this episode, we look at Richard’s disappearance, the investigation and the inquest, and the questions that stil...

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This episode is a little different from my usual Territory Famous stories.

This is the story of a very unusual man, a Ti Tree Roadhouse, a few trespass notices, some increasingly bizarre legal arguments and what happens when you decide to represent yourself in court.

Richard Woodward was told to leave the Ti Tree Roadhouse after complaints about his behavior. He refused, was eventually arrested, released on bail with conditions not to return without police, and then… well, you can probably gu...

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First, I just want to apologize for my voice, I had laryngitis last week and was still recovering from that at the time of recording. Hopefully the content makes up for it, it's a pretty crazy story and Ive been wanting to get it out for a couple of weeks,

So, this week I'm taking a deep dive into the disappearance of Peter Wayne Murphy, a case that eventually led to a coronial inquest and a murder trial.

The evidence surrounding...

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Hey its Kellie, I'm so sorry last week's croaky voice turned into a case of full-blown laryngitis and unfortunately, I couldn't record the episode I had planned for this week. Please check back in next week as it's a big one and one of the crazier types of stories I've covered which is saying something!

I also will be putting out an episode with updates on the Matt Wright saga, including the recordings that have been released which I have now and will...

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I apologise in advance for my voice in this episode! I’ve been quite sick this week and I’m still getting my voice back, so this is a shorter episode than usual. I had a much bigger episode planned for this week, but I really wanted to get something out for you guys rather than nothing at all.

And when I saw the recent footage from Cahills Crossing, I couldn’t believe what I was watching.

Cahills Crossing, on the East A...

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In this episode of Territory Famous, I explore the case of Valerie Wurramara and the investigation that followed on Groote Eylandt in the Northern Territory.

Using publicly available court documents and other official records, I take you through the timeline of events, the police investigation, the evidence presented, and the court proceedings, while separating fact from speculation.

As always, this episode is told with respect for those involved, their families and the communities affected.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander...

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In 2022, a disturbing discovery on the Stuart Highway left Northern Territory police with more questions than answers.

A human leg had been found beside the highway, but police didn’t know who it belonged to, what had happened, or whether there was a missing person somewhere out there.

What followed was an investigation that slowly pieced together the events of one night — a crash, a decision not to call police, and an attempt to conceal what had happened.

In this...

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In August 2000, a quiet morning at Alice Springs Airport turned into one of the Territory’s most unusual aviation tragedies.

Bryan Dallos had been receiving treatment for serious mental illness when he left the hospital where he was being cared for. Days later, he entered the general aviation area of Alice Springs Airport, gained access to an aircraft, and took off in a plane he was not trained to fly.

The flight ended in tragedy when the aircraft crashed shortly after ta...

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Goat Island isn't what you think it is.

Despite the name, there aren't any goats.

What you will find is a pub in the middle of the crocodile-infested Adelaide River, a Danish bloke known as King Kai, a "pet" crocodile named Casey, a tiny dog that spent years chasing a three-metre saltwater crocodile, and a frying pan that somehow became part of Territory history.

In this episode of Territory Famous, I dive into the bizarre story of Goat Island...

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This episode covers the coronial inquest findings into the death of Mitchell Thomas following a fatal house fire in the Northern Territory.

The coroner concluded the fire was caused by electrical arcing in degraded wiring located in the roof cavity of the home. The property was public housing, built in the late 1980s, and evidence presented during the inquest highlighted long-standing maintenance and electrical safety concerns consistent with broader issues in parts of the NT housing system.

Mitchell Thomas died as...

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Well... I stuffed up. 🤦‍♀️

I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they were both called Crocs Gone Wild.

I was going to delete it, but then I realised it's actually a bloody funny episode, and quite a few of you had already downloaded it. So I'm leaving it there as a little bonus.

The real Territory Famous: Crocs Gone Wild is out now, featuring some of the NT's most unforgett...

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Oops... Wrong Crocs! 🐊😂

Well... this wasn't the plan.

I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they both happened to be called Crocs Gone Wild.

I was going to delete it, but quite a few people had already downloaded it, and honestly... it's still a bloody entertaining episode. So instead of pretending it never happened, I'm leaving it here as a bonus.

So yes, you'll hear me say, "Welcom...

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The episode centers on the deaths of two men at Hidden Valley near Darwin, whose deaths led to a coronial inquest and renewed scrutiny of dog management across the Territory.

We'll explore what happened, the evidence presented to the coroner, and the recommendations that followed. We'll also take a closer look at the role of camp dogs in remote communities and the challenges surrounding dog populations, ownership, and public safety.

But the story doesn't end with the inquest. We'll examine several...

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In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the case of Dennis Rostron, one of the Northern Territory's most confronting family homicide cases.

In 1988, five members of Rostron's family were killed at an outstation near Maningrida in Arnhem Land. Drawing on Supreme Court records, contemporary newspaper reporting, parole decisions and later interviews, we follow the events leading up to the shootings, the devastating impact on the community, the decades Rostron spent in prison, and the circumstances surrounding his eventual release on parole more...

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This week on Territory Famous we're looking at two extraordinary events that unfolded in the skies above the Northern Territory.

First, we revisit the dramatic 1972 hijacking of Ansett Flight 232, a bizarre and tense ordeal that unfolded in Alice Springs and became one of the most unusual aviation incidents in Australian history.

Then we travel back to August 1989, when a routine sunrise balloon flight outside Alice Springs ended in tragedy. The disaster claimed 13 lives and remained the deadliest hot air balloon accident...

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In June 2011, 25-year-old Levi Griffiths was walking home along a dark stretch of road in Darwin’s rural area when his life was tragically cut short.

What happened afterwards would shock the Northern Territory.

In this episode of Territory Famous, we look into the case of Nicholas “Shonky” Cassidy — from the fatal collision on Girraween Road, to the elaborate cover-up that followed, the legal loophole that sparked outrage across Darwin, and the years of unanswered questions left behind for Levi’s family.

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In Part 2 of the Ben Hoffmann case, Territory Famous follows the long and chaotic court process that unfolded after the 2019 Darwin shootings.

What began as a murder trial quickly became one of the most bizarre and difficult Supreme Court proceedings the Northern Territory had seen in years.

This episode covers: • Hoffmann’s behavior inside the courtroom • His repeated clashes with lawyers and the judge • The dramatic sacking and rehiring of legal teams • Psychiatric evidence and claims of paranoia and delusions • The prosecution’...

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In 2019, Ben Hoffman was involved in a drug-fueled shooting rampage that resulted in a serious violent incident and multiple shots being fired.

This episode focuses on the events of the shooting itself, including how the situation unfolded and escalated, the actions taken during the incident, and the immediate response from those involved and emergency services.

It covers the timeline of the day and the circumstances surrounding the violent behavior that led to criminal charges.

Part Two of this series...

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In this episode, I’m covering a pretty full-on pub bashing that happened at the Airport Hotel in Darwin back in 2007.

This one stood out to me straight away because I actually used to work there as what they call a toppy (topless barmaid), and later did bookings for the pub — so I know the pub pretty well I couldn't believe I hadn't heard about this episode though, because it got pretty wild.

After one bloke made a joke about another man...

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This is the third and final episode in the Zak Grieve series.

In this episode, we focus on Christopher Malyschko — the man who carried out the killing of Ray Niceforo — and what happened after the trial.

We go through Christopher’s sentencing, including why he received a non-parole period of 18 years instead of the standard 20. The court considered his background, his lack of prior serious offending, and the ongoing abuse and threats within the home that contributed to the situation.

From...

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In Part 2 of Zak Grieve’s story, we move beyond the events of that night and into the courtroom, where the real complexities of this case begin to unfold.

This episode focuses on what happened after the murder of Ray Niceforo, and how the legal system responded to the roles each person played. While the facts of the case were laid out in court, what followed raised serious questions about justice, responsibility, and the limits of the law.

You’ll hear how...

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This episode focuses on the lead-up to the murder of Raffaele “Ray” Niceforo, and the role of Bronwyn Buttery.

For years, Bronwyn lived in a relationship marked by control, intimidation and violence. What started as a relationship that seemed promising slowly deteriorated into something much darker — leaving her isolated, financially strained, and fearful for her safety and the safety of her children.

As the situation escalated in 2011, threats, abuse, and intimidation became more frequent. Despite attempts to leave and legal intervention throug...

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Just a quick update—no episode this week.

I'm currently researching and recording a 3-part series on Zak Grieve and his legal battle. The research for this one has taken a lot more time than usual. I would rather hold off on releasing it for a week than rush the job and leave out any information.

(Also, my son’s had COVID this week, so I’ve been busy playing Florence Nightingale—poorly—with a fair bit of whinging from both of us, so...

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In early 1998, a small house in Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory became the centre of one of the most intense and well-documented paranormal cases in Australian history.

What started as a few strange incidents quickly escalated into full-blown chaos — stones falling from ceilings, knives flying across rooms, messages appearing on walls, and objects materialising out of nowhere.

Multiple witnesses, including journalists, clergy, and TV crews, all experienced the phenomena firsthand. Even attempts to bless the house seemed to make things wo...

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In this episode of Territory Famous, I’m sharing the story of how a girl from the Gold Coast ended up travelling and working across the Northern Territory as a skimpy barmaid.

Moving from the beaches and nightlife of the Gold Coast to the rugged landscapes of the Top End was a massive culture shock. The Northern Territory is a completely different world – bigger skies, wilder country, remote towns, and a lifestyle that feels a long way from the rest of Australia.

Wo...

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In August 2014, two months after the tragic death of Bill Scott, another fatal crocodile attack shook the Northern Territory.

Lanh Van Tran, a 57‑year‑old fisherman, was on the banks of the Adelaide River with his wife, fishing near the Adelaide River Bridge when his line got snagged in the murky water. Believing the snag was caught on a branch, he waded in to free it. That decision was routine — until it wasn’t. Suddenly a large saltwater crocodile launched from the water and seiz...

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In June 2014, Bill Scott was on a family fishing trip at a remote billabong in Kakadu National Park in the Northern Territory when the day turned into something no one could have imagined. While sitting in a small aluminum boat, Bill reached over the side to fill a bucket with water. In seconds, a large saltwater crocodile surged up from behind the motor, grabbed him and dragged him from the boat and under the surface.

His wife and family were right there. They...

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In 2022, a helicopter crash during a crocodile egg-collecting operation in the Northern Territory claimed the life of Chris Wilson, known to many as “Willow.” Pilot Sebastian Robinson survived but sustained serious injuries that would permanently alter his life.

The incident sent shockwaves across Australia, not only because of the tragedy itself, but because of who was involved. Matt Wright, star of Outback Wrangler, was later charged and ultimately found guilty of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

In this episode of T...

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On January 5, 1977, Alice Springs witnessed something no one expected — not an accident, not a mechanical failure, but a deliberate act of destruction.

In what became known as the Connellan Air Disaster, Colin Richard Forman stole a Beechcraft Baron aircraft and flew it directly into the Connair complex at Alice Springs Airport. It was a calculated suicide attack, driven by anger and revenge against his former employer.

In this episode of Territory Famous, we break down who Forman was, what led up to...

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Correction Notice: In the original recording of this episode, I made a couple of errors :

The crocodile attack occurred in the early morning (AM), and the size of the crocodile mentioned should be 15 feet, not 15 meters. Thank you for your understanding — I’ll be correcting this in future versions of the episode, but for now the main story and context remain accurate. *

In this episode, we explore the tragic story of Isobel von Jordan, a German tourist who lost her...

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In 2012, Edward Ned Kelly was shot and killed at his home in Broadwater, New South Wales. The man responsible was Jonathan Stenberg.

After the murder, Stenberg went on the run — but what followed was anything but ordinary. While wanted for a brutal killing, Stenberg travelled through Queensland, where he auditioned for a role in the film Mystery Road. He was offered a part, then disappeared before filming began.

His time on the run eventually ended in the Northern Territory, where he wa...

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The Australian outback is vast, isolated, and unforgiving. A place where distance, heat, and terrain can quickly turn ordinary travel into a life-threatening situation.

In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine two separate disappearances connected by the same remote stretch of the Northern Territory: the Stuart Highway.

In 2020, Claire Hockridge became stranded in extreme desert conditions south of Alice Springs. What initially appeared to be a survival story soon became more complex. As searches were carried out and her final...

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On 13 August 1983, people near Uluru went out expecting an ordinary night and instead found themselves caught up in sudden and extreme violence. In a matter of minutes, lives were lost, others were seriously injured, and many people were left trying to process something that made no sense at the time.

In this episode, I go through what led up to that night, how events unfolded, and the court process that followed. I also spend time on what came after, because for many people...

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In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the disappearance of Paddy Moriarty from the remote Northern Territory town of Larrimah. In December 2017, Paddy Moriarty vanished without a trace from a town of just eleven people, creating one of Australia’s most puzzling and unsettling true crime cases.

Larrimah later became nationally known for the so-called meat pie war — a bitter and long-running feud between locals that divided the town and drew widespread media attention. But beneath the eccentric headlines lies a far more...

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In this episode of Territory Famous, Kellie examines the Adelaide River murders, a lesser-known Northern Territory true crime case from 2004 involving the deaths of two women in the Adelaide River near Darwin.

The case unfolded during a period of intense national media coverage for the Peter Falconio disappearance, and as a result, this investigation received far less attention than it otherwise might have. Despite the circumstances, the Adelaide River murders remain one of the most disturbing true crime cases in the Northern Territory.<...