Australia. The Antipodes. The gothic dungeon at the bottom of the world. A land of reversals. Where swans are black instead of white. Where colonisers brought their own dark subconscious and had it realised huge and grotesque upon the landscape.
This series will examine colonial and post-colonial history to understand where we’ve come from and how this shapes who we are today. How did we get from there to here? And after such bloody beginnings, what spectres still haunt the Australian subconscious?
Who are the Ghosts of the Australian Psyche?
January 9th, 1868 marked the end of 80 years of continuous convict transportation to Australia. For 80 years the prisoners' free labour had built the cities and towns in the colonial outpost.
At the same time, China was in a period of overpopulation, insufficient food supply, and was suffering from the effects of multiple natural disasters occurring in quick succession. Many families chose to pool their wealth together to send an able-bodied family member overseas to seek financial security, and Chinese immigration grew quickly as convict populations in Australia decreased.
18 Aug 2025
The Govenor Brothers
The Governor brothers, Jimmy and Joe, were two First Nations Outlaws who took to the bush to escape justice from their violence and crimes. While on the run, they sought vengeance against those who had wronged them and bore grudges which had echoed down their bloodline.
11 Aug 2025
Death by Hanging
The last man to be hanged in Australia died in 1967, but the first died long before the British ever arrived. In this episode we explore the executions of the innocent and the guilty throughout Australia’s early history, as well as the life of famed executioner and social pariah, Solomon Blay.
27 Jul 2025
Coniston Massacres
The arrival of European invaders at Sydney in 1788 marked the beginning of a prolonged and multifaceted campaign against First Nations Peoples which was, by modern standards, genocidal. In the Northern Territory in the 1920’s the Coniston Massacres unfolded with tragic outcomes for the local Aboriginal people and would echo hauntingly down the family lines of all involved.
20 Jul 2025
Whitechapel to Windsor
The extent of Richard Deeming’s crimes will never truly be fully realised. With rumours of his possible crimes across many countries, and links being made to murders often attributed to Jack the Ripper, Deeming became a notorious figure in early Australia. Like many men before him, Deeming had tried to run from his past sins and make a life for himself in Australia. However, the one thing Deeming couldn’t flee was his own cruel nature.
7 Jul 2025
The Six O'clock Swill
This episode explores how rum fueled colonial Australia, driving development and offering solace in a harsh, isolated environment.
29 Jun 2025
Bawdy Houses
This episode of Australian Psyche examines the harsh realities of sex work in the colonies, highlighting the risks and cycles of poverty faced by women.
22 Jun 2025
Letters Home
This episode explores the writings of Australians during World War I, revealing their experiences and emotions through letters, journals, and poems.
15 Jun 2025
Lunatic Asylums
This episode explores the hidden lives of individuals within lunatic asylums, revealing their daily routines and hopes for freedom.
8 Jun 2025
Girt by Bloody Sea
This episode of Australian Psyche examines how Australia's complex relationship with its surrounding oceans shaped its colonial and post-colonial identity, highlighting both opportunity and danger.
1 Jun 2025
Tasmanian Murder: The Glover Family Tragedy
This episode of Australian Psyche recounts the intertwined tragedies that befell the Glover Family in Tasmania during the late 1890s, leaving a lasting impact on the townspeople.
25 May 2025
Ep.1 - The Rocks Push
This episode explores the violent history, famed members, and lasting legacy of The Rocks Push, who roamed the streets of Sydney in the late 1800s.
18 May 2025
Australian Psyche - Coming Soon
The podcast explores Australia's dark post-colonial history through newspaper articles, poems, letters, and diary entries, revealing the violence, racism, and isolation that shaped the nation.
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 29 / 100
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Quality
45
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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