Theo Hayez is missing in Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town on Australia’s most easterly mainland point, frequently in the spotlight for its famous residents. Theo's from Brussels. He's 18 and on a backpacking holiday when he vanishes in May 2019. Behind the scenes local volunteers who've never met Theo begin searching and investigating with his family, parallel to a major police investigation.
At the request of Theo's family, The Australian newspaper's national crime correspondent David Murray joins the unofficial search party to investigate the mysterious disappearance for a new podcast series, The Lighthouse. Theo left a local bar around 11pm. As the search narrows to the area around the 118-year-old Cape Byron Lighthouse, a range of theories emerge.
From the newspaper that brought you The Teacher's Pet and Who The Hell is Hamish, The Lighthouse investigates all possible scenarios as it takes you inside an extraordinary search.
To read more about the disappearance of Theo Hayez, and access exclusive photos and video material, go to www.lighthousepodcast.com.au.
For two decades, the family of murdered 23-year-old woman Rachelle Childs have fought for answers. Though her killer is still at large, they believe her case case can be solved.
Dear Rachelle is hosted and investigated by journalist Ashlea Hansen, together with retired detective and cold case specialist Damian Loone, who appeared in The Australian’s award-winning podcast series The Teacher’s Pet and The Teacher’s Trial.
Search 'Dear Rachelle' to listen now.
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24 May 2024
From The Front: Hedley Thomas’ new cold case podcast, 'Bronwyn'
Where is Bronwyn Winfield? The devoted mum has been missing since 1993 – and the man behind The Teacher’s Pet is on the case.
Go to theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn (https://www.theaustralian.com.au/bronwyn) to listen. Plus, you can read more about this case and see exclusive stories, maps, timelines, graphics, video and more.
This episode of The Front is presented by Claire Harvey, produced by Kristen Amiet and edited by Josh Burton. The multimedia editor is Lia Tsamoglou and original music is composed by Jasper Leak.
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30 Jun 2023
It's back: The Teacher's Pet returns for Australian listeners
The Australian's global smash-hit podcast Teacher's Pet returns for Australian audiences on July 1.
You can find it wherever you got this podcast. Just search for "The Teacher's Pet".
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28 Mar 2021
Introducing: The Breakdown
Australian rugby once had $40 million in the bank. Crowds over 100,000. TV audiences of 3 million. Today the Wallabies have sunk to their lowest world ranking ever. Off the field rugby is a "war zone" with a $20 million deficit last year alone.
The Breakdown is a gripping podcast investigation from The Australian, exploring just how far "the game they play in heaven" has fallen - and why. Jessica Halloran and Claire Harvey have interviewed everyone from ex-PMs and billionaires to Wallabies legends, boardroom insiders and the volunteers battling to keep the game alive. Raw and emotional, The Breakdown is the new binge-listen everyone will be talking about.
You can listen to The Breakdown through The Australian app, or search for The Breakdown wherever you listen to podcasts.
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6 Dec 2019
6 - The way forward
Six months after Theo’s mysterious disappearance, fresh revelations are opening new possibilities on what happened that night in Byron Bay. His father Laurent returns to Australia to walk through the bush at night for the first time, and the local community organises a ceremony to maintain momentum.
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29 Nov 2019
5 - The cliffs
The mystery of an abandoned campsite next to the Tallow Beach sand dunes adds new urgency to the search for Theo. Who lived there, and did they know anything about what happened to him the night he disappeared? And some recent history around the Cosy Corner cliffs presents a possible scenario for what may have happened to Theo.
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22 Nov 2019
4 - Into the dark
Byron Bay is known as an tourist town where celebrities and influencers spend their summers. But as the locals know, there's a darker side to life here. Retracing Theo's path through the Arakwal National Park raises more questions and contradictions about what happened the night he disappeared, and reveals a hidden community that most visitors to Byron never see.
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15 Nov 2019
3 - Ransom
Once Theo's family cracked his online accounts, they had a clearer picture of his path on the night he disappeared. So, aided by the local community, they begin to retrace his steps. But after the local police abandoned their search, and psychics stepped in, things become confusing for those on the ground.
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8 Nov 2019
2 - Tracked
As word of Theo Hayez's disappearance spreads around Byron Bay, concerned locals leap into action. One local suspects drink spiking and leads a small search party through bushland near the centre of town, where there’s a maze of occupied and abandoned homeless camps. But leads are sparse, and the police are baffled. The real information is hidden in Theo's online accounts. His family sets about cracking into that digital vault, desperate for any information when every minute counts, with remarkable results.
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1 Nov 2019
1 - Lost in Byron Bay
Belgian backpacker Theo Hayez dropped into Byron Bay in late May 2019, enticed by the town's unique allure of bohemian life, beautiful surf beaches and a sprinkling of international celebrity glamour. Then he disappeared without a trace.
As it dawns on his family that he’s been silent online for six days, they mobilise a search, aided by Byron locals who never knew Theo but refuse to accept a visitor to their town could simply vanish.
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29 Oct 2019
Trailer
Theo Hayez is missing in Byron Bay, a beautiful beachside town on Australia’s most easterly mainland point, frequently in the spotlight for its famous residents. Theo’s from Brussels. He’s 18 and on a backpacking holiday when he vanishes in May 2019. Behind the scenes local volunteers who’ve never met Theo begin searching and investigating with his family, parallel to a major police investigation. At the request of Theo’s family, The Australian newspaper’s national crime correspondent David Murray joins the unofficial search party to investigate the mysterious disappearance for a new podcast series, The Lighthouse. Theo left a local bar around 11pm. As the search narrows to the area around the 118-year-old Cape Byron Lighthouse, a range of theories emerge. From the newspaper that brought you The Teacher’s Pet and Who The Hell is Hamish, The Lighthouse investigates all possible scenarios as it takes you inside an extraordinary search.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.6 / 5
326 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 36 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
46
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
67
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