The Mysteries of Mystery Island — Part One

The Mysteries of Mystery Island — Part One

In 2018 I found and reunited with my biological family, discovering that my people go back to 1842 on Lord Howe Island. On my first visit that Christmas, I became fascinated by the mystery surrounding the early talkie Mystery Island, which was shot on Lord Howe in 1936. Why did its leading man Brian Abbot — who had everything to live for — try to sail to Sydney across the treacherous Tasman Sea in a tiny motor launch? Was he mad, like they said, or was there something else at play?


In the past few months, my investigations have unearthed dozens of startling stranger-than-fiction stories that each shine a different light on this question. So, strap in for an eight-part epic series. You're going to meet Hollywood hopefuls, surf rescuers, plucky canoeists, turf tricksters, war heroes, daredevil aviators, shipwreck survivors and a handful of accused killers. Then there’s one chap who wrestled an octopus, rode sharks, hunted a humpback whale in Sydney Harbour, tried to reel in an Olympic swimming champion and led an expedition to catch a mysterious sea serpent — twice. Underlying all of these dramatic, tragic and comic tales is a haunting question: what role does “the element of luck” play in who lives and who dies?


In Part One, we meet young George Rikard-Bell, who rejected his privileged upbringing to become an adventurer and a conman in the Great Depression — before reinventing himself as the actor Brian Abbot. Part Two will be released on Thursday. Instalments will be out on Mondays after that. But you can binge all eight parts now by becoming a Forgotten Australia supporter for just a few bucks per month — go to: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episoder(324)

Summer Shorts: Curtains for the Magician

Summer Shorts: Curtains for the Magician

In the first of the Summer Shorts series, we step back to the day in 1974 that underworld serial killer Stewart John Regan, known as ‘The Magician’ for his trick of making people disappear, met his ow...

23 Des 202416min

The End of the Year Interview Episode

The End of the Year Interview Episode

Recently, Nine radio network host Simon Owens interviewed me for his Saturday night show, which is broadcast on Australian east coast stations, including 2GB, 3AW and 4BC. With Simon’s kind permission...

23 Des 202441min

The Model & The Murder Case – Part Two

The Model & The Murder Case – Part Two

In 1954 popular Sydney model Shirley Beiger went on trial for the shooting murder of her boyfriend, with the already sensational proceedings made wilder by her outbursts, a media frenzy, the appearanc...

9 Des 202455min

The Model & The Murder Case – Part One

The Model & The Murder Case – Part One

Seventy years ago – in 1954 – glamorous Sydney model Shirley Beiger shot her lover dead outside a city nightclub. But why did she kill him — and what punishment would she face?Next month, the Sydney F...

8 Des 202436min

Vanishing Cousins – Part Two: The Suspects

Vanishing Cousins – Part Two: The Suspects

In April 1974, teenage cousins Yvonne Waters and Raelene Eaton went to a surfside pub in Perth to enjoy a Sunday session. They were never seen again, victims of an unknown killer or killers. In recent...

28 Nov 202430min

Vanishing Cousins – Part One: The Disappearance

Vanishing Cousins – Part One: The Disappearance

In April 1974, teenage cousins Yvonne Waters and Raelene Eaton went to a surfside pub in Perth to enjoy a Sunday session. They were never seen again, victims of an unknown killer or killers. In recent...

28 Nov 202446min

Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part Two

Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part Two

They’ll Never Hold Me is in bookstores now. Michael sat down with Meshel Laurie of the Australian True Crime podcast to talk all things Kevin John Simmonds. Part Two covers Simmo’s 1959 crime spree an...

22 Nov 202432min

Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part One

Michael Adams talks They’ll Never Hold Me with Australian True Crime – Part One

They’ll Never Hold Me is in bookstores now. Michael sat down with Meshel Laurie of the Australian True Crime podcast to talk all things Kevin John Simmonds. Part One covers Simmo from his birth during...

21 Nov 202428min

Populært innen Historie

rss-dette-ma-aldri-skje-igjen
henrettelsespodden
rss-katastrofe
historier-som-endret-verden
historier-som-endret-norge
rss-benadet
sektledere
aftenposten-historie
rss-nadelose-nordmenn-gestapo
rss-frontkjemperne
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
med-egne-oyne
rss-gamle-greier
historiepodden
vare-historier
liberal-halvtime
rss-historiepodden-ww2
rss-politisk-preik
rss-historiske-romanser-svik-drap-og-kjarlighet
sannhet-eller-konspirasjon