In the rugged wilderness of Tasmania, one of the most chilling tales of survival and murder emerged during the early 19th century. The Cannibal Bushranger, a notorious outlaw, is remembered for his gruesome acts that shocked the fledgling Australian colony. After escaping from a penal settlement, he and his companions resorted to horrifying measures to stay alive, with reports of cannibalism amidst their criminal activities. His reign of terror was short but brutal, and his capture and subsequent execution only added to the eerie legend of this ruthless figure in Australia’s colonial history.

Join Holly & Matthew as they explore the haunting story of the Cannibal Bushranger, delving into the terrifying crimes and the twisted survival story that made him infamous in early Australian folklore.

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Sources cited:

• Hobart Town Gazette and Van Diemen's Land Advertiser. 1822. "Government and General Orders." May 18. Accessed August 4, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1089700.
• The Hobart Town Gazette. 1824. "The Supreme Court of Van Diemen's Land." June 25. Accessed August 4, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1090236.
• Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser. 1826. "Launceston News." January 27. Accessed August 4, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2447063.
• The Argus. 1905. "Tasmanian Bushrangers." September 27. Accessed August 4, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/9886289.
• Colonial Times and Tasmanian Advertiser. 1826. "The Late Bushrangers." May 5. Accessed August 4, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2447678.

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