Forgotten Australia

In March 1912, Australia was stunned to learn that Koombana was missing in nearly identical circumstances to Yongala. In this final episode, we look at how good and bad luck again decided who lived and who died, how the Koombana story crossed over with the loss of Titanic, and how the Adelaide Steamship Company put greed over need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alongside Yongala, the Adelaide Steamship Company prided itself on its luxury vessel Koombana, designed especially to work the Western Australian coast. But this was a seemingly cursed vessel, where anything that could go wrong did, from disappearing and dead passengers, to collisions, fires and a broken loaf of bread that not only triggered a national crisis but sent a handful of men to their fates.

Part Three – Beyond Human Knowledge
is available now ad-free for Apple and Patreon supporters.

Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia
Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 1911, with the loss of the ship Waratah still fresh in memory, a big passenger liner went missing in a cyclone off northern Queensland. As a massive search began, Australia tried to believe that ‘no news is good news’. Incredibly, a year later almost to the day, the same scenario played out again – involving a ship from the same company, in the same conditions, in the same latitude. In this three-part miniseries, we look at the entangled tales of the Adelaide Steamship Company’s coastal vessels Yongala and Koombana – and how these tragedies were bookended by Waratah and Titanic.

Part Two – Dead Unlucky
and
Part Three – Beyond Human Knowledge
are available now ad-free for Apple and Patreon supporters.
Use a free trial to hear them now!

Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia
Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I’m re-releasing this short as background for the new miniseries, Mysteries of the Sea.

In July 1909, the world wondered what had become of the SS Waratah, last seen off coast of South Africa with more than 200 souls aboard.

This grim mystery was even more sensational for featuring a double murderer, a passenger plagued by prophetic visions and a veteran sea captain with a charmed reputation. But once all hope was lost, a likely explanation for the disaster was to come from a former Waratah passenger: Australian professor William Bragg, who a few years later would win the Nobel Prize.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week marks the 70th anniversary of regular television broadcasting in Australia. Channel Nine recently 'recreated' the 'Good Evening and Welcome to Television' moment in a fakes-over-facts promo generated by artificial intelligence. In this short, we look at the strange evolution of Australian TV, which started in colonial times. It’s a rich history, and one that deserves better than cheap slop that flattens understanding.

Support Forgotten Australia for a few bucks per month for ad-free early and exclusive bonus episodes and the chance to win prizes.

Patreon: patreon.com/forgottenaustralia
Apple: apple.co/forgottenaustralia

Email: forgottenaustraliapodcast@gmail.com

Check out my books!
They’ll Never Hold Me:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/they-ll-never-hold-me-michael-adams/book/9781923046474.html
The Murder Squad:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-murder-squad-michael-adams/book/9781923046504.html
Hanging Ned Kelly:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/hanging-ned-kelly-michael-adams/book/9781922992185.html
Australia’s Sweetheart:
https://www.booktopia.com.au/australia-s-sweetheart-michael-adams/book/9780733640292.html
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.