Forgotten Australia

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Created by Michael Adams, author of The Murder Squad and Hanging Ned Kelly, Forgotten Australia delves deep into bloody crimes, dark histories, unsolved mysteries, eccentric personalities and bizarre happenings that are almost always stranger than fiction. Each episode brings to life people and events that were once known to everyone but are now barely remembered by anyone. Based on intensive original research, Forgotten Australia is crafted with a novelist’s eye for character and detail to create gripping narratives that sound so fresh it's like they're ripped from today's headlines. This is the history you wish you’d been taught in school.


You can get early ad-free access and bonus Forgotten Australia episodes by subscribing at Apple or supporting at Patreon.

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Recent Episodes
  • This Week in 1929: The Blind Digger – Part One
    Apr 23, 2025 – 49:38
  • This Week in 1904: Rampaging Percy Ramage – Part Two
    Apr 19, 2025 – 46:41
  • This Week in 1904: Rampaging Percy Ramage – Part One
    Apr 16, 2025 – 50:18
  • Short: Cocaine Kurtz
    Apr 11, 2025 – 14:24
  • This Week in 1978: Dead End – The Bloody Last Stand of a Brazen Bank Bandit
    Apr 7, 2025 – 45:01
  • This Week in 1953: One Murderous Cop, Two Serial Killers & Roy Cohn Runs Riot Against the 'Reds'
    Mar 31, 2025 – 56:08
  • This Week in 1928: Cocaine Raids, Razor Gangs, Racist Orgy Conspiracies and Girl Bosses vs Man Worms!
    Mar 24, 2025 – 55:34
  • Short: Murder at the Melbourne Races
    Mar 23, 2025 – 20:33
  • This Week in 1903: Gaslight in Perth – Bella Heckler, the Reverend and the Rape Scandal
    Mar 17, 2025 – 53:44
  • This Week in 1977: Just Like Jaws
    Mar 10, 2025 – 55:55
  • This Week in 1952: Miss Kangaroo & the Great Koala Heist
    Mar 3, 2025 – 43:28
  • Short: The Brutal Birth of Mardi Gras
    Feb 28, 2025 – 15:00
  • This Week In… 1927: The First Miss Australia & the Newspaper Stunt that Launched a Media Empire
    Feb 24, 2025 – 46:38
  • This Week in 1902: Bubonic Plague, the Crutchy Push, Breaker Morant, Boer War barbarities & the first choice for an Aussie capital
    Feb 17, 2025 – 50:34
  • Your Stories: ‘My Father was Count Copernicus!'
    Feb 13, 2025 – 47:25
  • This Week in… 1976: Ned Kelly lives, Apocalypse Now dies, sex sells cinema tix but Australia’s star stripper quits
    Feb 10, 2025 – 40:09
  • This Week In… 1951: Melbourne’s Retro “Teacher’s Pet” Case
    Feb 3, 2025 – 42:34
  • This Week in... 1926: Ugly Men, Tesla's Predictions, a Fascist ‘Footloose’ and a Mysterious Masked Dancer
    Jan 26, 2025 – 39:46
  • This Week in... 1901: the first election, a federal erection and the dying queen
    Jan 19, 2025 – 54:04
  • This Week in… 1975: Sex, Speed, Strippers & Skyhooks!
    Jan 13, 2025 – 36:43
  • Summer Shorts - The Murdochs and the Child Murders
    Jan 9, 2025 – 23:48
  • Forgotten Australia This Week… In 1950
    Jan 6, 2025 – 39:49
  • Summer Shorts: TAA Flight 408 – Australia’s First Skyjacking
    Jan 3, 2025 – 17:55
  • Forgotten Australia This Week … in 1925
    Dec 31, 2024 – 33:15
  • Summer Shorts: Archibald McCafferty – Australia's Charles Manson
    Dec 30, 2024 – 25:17
  • Summer Shorts: Curtains for the Magician
    Dec 23, 2024 – 16:17
  • The End of the Year Interview Episode
    Dec 23, 2024 – 41:00
  • The Model & The Murder Case – Part Two
    Dec 9, 2024 – 55:38
  • The Model & The Murder Case – Part One
    Dec 8, 2024 – 36:23
  • Vanishing Cousins – Part Two: The Suspects
    Nov 28, 2024 – 30:02
  • Vanishing Cousins – Part One: The Disappearance
    Nov 28, 2024 – 46:38
  • Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part Two
    Nov 22, 2024 – 32:39
  • Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part One
    Nov 21, 2024 – 28:36
  • They’ll Never Hold Me – The Next Few Audiobook Chapters
    Nov 14, 2024 – 38:59
  • They'll Never Hold Me – Exclusive Audiobook Excerpt
    Nov 6, 2024 – 35:28
  • Arizona Ryan and the Sydney Shootout – Part Two
    Oct 25, 2024 – 37:53
  • Arizona Ryan and the Sydney Shootout – Part One
    Oct 25, 2024 – 32:31
  • To Live & Die in D.C. – Part Five: A Forensic Furore
    Oct 17, 2024 – 52:30
  • To Live & Die in D.C. – Part Four: A Killer Named Goliath
    Oct 7, 2024 – 39:13
  • To Live & Die in D.C. – Part Three: Dead Ends and Another Dead Woman
    Sep 30, 2024 – 56:33
  • To Live & Die in D.C. – Part Two: A Race Against Time
    Sep 25, 2024 – 58:49
  • To Live & Die in D.C. – Part One: Two Aussie Girls
    Sep 23, 2024 – 51:58
  • The Rise of Roger Rogerson – Part Two: Men Died Because of What He Did
    Sep 19, 2024 – 39:27
  • The Rise of Roger Rogerson – Part One: All Hell Broke Loose
    Sep 16, 2024 – 41:09
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part Six: Lives Hanging in the Balance
    Sep 1, 2024 – 58:33
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part Five: The Defence of Consent
    Aug 26, 2024 – 32:10
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part Four: A Murderer About Town
    Aug 21, 2024 – 39:45
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part Three: The Hooded Bandit
    Aug 18, 2024 – 46:33
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part Two: The Calmest Killer
    Aug 14, 2024 – 37:46
  • The Boys of Death Row – Part One: A Body on the Line
    Aug 11, 2024 – 50:18
Recent Reviews
  • Flyguy459
    Koningdam speaker
    Michael tells his stories from his research and is very good!
  • History fan1
    Best history podcast
    I’m not from Australia nor have I been there, but this podcast is so well researched and written it has made me want to visit so I can experience locations mentioned. Michael Adams helps you understand the evolution on a nation (and in some ways other nations as well because of parallel historical changes in other countries of course) in a way that keeps you on the edge of your seat, The series on the Treasury gardens murder was heartbreaking and haunting. Thanks from a native New Yorker!
  • J16340
    Good Old Fashioned Storytelling
    The narrator goes to great lengths to get facts and details that make you truly feel in the moment, like you know the victims or perpetrators. Love this podcast!
  • GFK16
    Can’t get enough
    Not Australian but that does not make these stories any less riveting! I love the author/narrators tone and it is just a joy to hear him tell these peoples stories. Never stop making this!
  • Blossom Teal-Olsen
    Arizona Ryan
    I read your story on Arizona Ryan. I am his granddaughter (I was adopted by his daughter late in her life, Martha Elizabeth Ryan) the picture in the article au.news is wrong. It is Albert with a Ethel Maude Ryan (Geelan). It would be nice of you to correct the article, thank you.
  • TizzieNewton
    Forgotten Australian
    Fantastic series, great reader/creator.
  • Mrs. Gummybear
    What wonderful storytelling
    Obviously well researched … great storytelling cadence … interesting blend of historical tales with a bit of true crime blended … a big ole well done from Maine, USA!!!
  • bucketheadsdad
    So insightful
    I'm a Yank who became a huge footy fan in recent years, and have delved into learning what I can about the history and "other" Australia. Michael Adams is a terrific host, who provides great insight, while weaving his research into great stories. A joy to listen to as an American, and I'd imagine that if you're Australian, you're going to love it. Highly recommended.
  • Osprey1957
    Such interesting stories
    I love this storyteller. I was so happy to hear the Anzac story which, as an American, I had never heard, even though i was born in 1949. I also salute this podcast for recognizing the historic presence of native Australians when closing each cast. Good storytelling, good truthtelling.
  • NappyDresser
    Historical True Crime ❤️
    Love this podcast. Worth a binge!😷 Thank you so much!
  • ManlyCJ
    Where is part 3? Did I miss it?
    Hi, as a former Oz resident, I’m enjoying these yarns. I am waiting on pins and needles waiting for part 3 of the (can’t remember his multiple names, paradoxically) race to capture the serial killer escaping to San Francisco. Please post it soon. Thanks!
  • Stewart Cho
    My favorite podcast
    This podcast has quickly become my favorite. The different time periods in Australia’s history are really fun to listen to. I listen to these episodes all the time and can’t wait for more.
  • 🕵🏼‍♂️history detective
    Very well done.
    Very well done podcast, Michael Adams is a great story teller and digs up a lot of stuff you’d never here about otherwise.
  • duly_noted
    An exceptional peek into history
    Michael Adams does a brilliant job balancing between relevant historical details and human interest such that the stories feel fresh despite some being over a hundred years old. Look forward to seeing this pod in my queue every week. Always something new and fascinating!
  • Bristle cone
    Lovely bit of history
    Really entertaining historical stories beautifully told.
  • Scarcelynormal
    Flawless
    My new obsession!
  • keewee42
    Great show!
    Well narrated and researched. Interesting and far from the cheesy crime shows they cough up in the States.
  • Enter name please
    Great podcast
    This podcast is great, so glad I stumbled upon it. I enjoy hearing about lost or forgotten history of Australia. Keep them coming!
  • rander427
    Such a great show
    Not usually my thing but very well done! Can't wait to hear more! Highly reccomend to others.
  • weiln1280
    Amazing, truly exceptional
    This is the first podcast I’ve been able to listen to. The reader is fantastic, the history is enlightening, and the stories are very well put together. I’ve learned quite a bit with enough data points to dig in outside of the podcast for even further research. The only downside, is that this doesn’t help my desire to visit Australia, I want to go even more now! I look forward to each podcast as they come out, eager to hear a new story.
  • KissAFatBabiesAss
    Good wit htec problems
    Interesting
  • Emm1557
    Top quality podcast
    Cannot recommend enough. It’s fantastically researched and produced, the host is super engaging - all in all a top quality podcast.
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