Backpackers travelling through Australia began to vanish without a trace. Their remains were later discovered in the Belanglo State Forest, revealing a chilling pattern of violence that would shock the nation. The case exposed the dangers lurking in the Australian wilderness and led to one of the country’s most infamous criminal investigations. Though justice was eventually served, the crimes left a lasting mark on the backpacking community and changed the way Australians viewed solo travel.

Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the chilling case of the Backpacker Killer and its impact on Australia.


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Sources cited: 

• R v Milat. 1998. Cca 60438/96 [1998] NSWSC 795 (Supreme Court of New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal, February 26). Accessed February 19, 2020. http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/nsw/NSWSC/1998/795.html.
• Whittaker, M., 1998. Sins of the brother: the definitive story of Ivan Milat and the backpacker murders. Sydney: Pan Macmillan.
• Murray, D., 2019. Ivan Milat: intuition that led to uncovering a serial killer. The Australian, 27 October. Accessed December 18 2022. https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/backpacker-serial-killer-ivan-milat-dies-aged-74/news-story/abef165fe89ad3267249da9d21d17eca
• Small, C., 2014. On the trail of a ... serial killer. The Sydney Morning Herald, 19 April.
• Stephens, J., 2019. "A story of unfathomable cruelty." The incriminating photograph found in Ivan Milat's home.. MSN News, 29 May. Accessed December 18, 2022. https://www.mamamia.com.au/ivan-milat-evidence/
• Sutton, Candace, 2019. Belanglo backpacker murders: Ivan Milat confessed to his mother before her death, News.com.au, August 7. Accessed December 18, 2022. https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/belanglo-backpacker-murders-ivan-milat-confessed-to-his-mother-before-her-death/news-story/c56d825d8cde4acd3ce05e7bbeffcfbe
• Anon., 2019. Serial killer Ivan Milat secretly confessed to backpacker murders to his mother before her death. The New Zealand Herald, 7 August. Accessed December 18, 2022. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/serial-killer-ivan-milat-secretly-confessed-to-backpacker-murders-to-his-mother-before-her-death/2DUDEL2PJTPDEEQKLO4NAWYEZM/

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