In 1971, Adelaide woke to a bizarre sight: an FJ Holden hanging from a pedestrian footbridge above North Terrace outside the University of Adelaide. The stunt became an instant legend, baffling authorities and sparking a mystery that lingered for decades.

Part prank, part engineering feat, and entirely Australian, the hanging Holden captured the larrikin spirit of university Prosh Week culture at its peak. But who actually pulled it off? And how did they manage to suspend an entire car over one of Adelaide’s busiest streets without anyone stopping them?

Join Holly & Matthew as they look through the history of pranks in Australian university life - and why they went away.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

This episode also examines the allegations, convictions, and testimonies that emerged later in Harris’s life, including the broader context of Britain’s entertainment industry, Operation Yewtree, and the culture that allowed powerful figures to avoid scrutiny for decades.

This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, grooming, and exploitation.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

This episode also examines the allegations, convictions, and testimonies that emerged later in Harris’s life, including the broader context of Britain’s entertainment industry, Operation Yewtree, and the culture that allowed powerful figures to avoid scrutiny for decades.

This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, grooming, and exploitation.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Welcome to the start of Year 9!!!!!

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of Rolf Harris — from his beginnings in Perth during the Great Depression to becoming one of the most recognisable entertainers in Britain and across the Commonwealth.

Join Holly and Matthew as they follow Harris through the early days of television, novelty music, children’s entertainment, painting, the wobble board, and the strange cultural landscape of post-war Britain, examining how an Australian performer became a trusted household figure for generations of audiences.But alongside that public image ran a much darker story.

This episode also examines the allegations, convictions, and testimonies that emerged later in Harris’s life, including the broader context of Britain’s entertainment industry, Operation Yewtree, and the culture that allowed powerful figures to avoid scrutiny for decades.

This episode contains discussion of child sexual abuse, grooming, and exploitation.

Music Clips Used:

• The Purple People Eater — performed by Sheb Wooley
• Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini — performed by Brian Hyland
• Octopus's Garden — performed by The Beatles
• Yellow Submarine — performed by The Beatles
• Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport — performed by Rolf Harris

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

On the morning of October 14, 1968, the small Western Australian town of Meckering was torn apart by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded in Australia.

Roads split open, railway lines twisted, buildings collapsed, and a fault line ripped visibly through the landscape — leaving behind destruction that stunned the nation. In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore the events of the Meckering earthquake, the science behind it, and the aftermath for the people who lived through it. 

From the first violent tremors to the massive recovery effort, this is the story of the day Australia was reminded that even this ancient continent can move with terrifying force.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

Hidden in the hills near Gympie, Queensland, sits a structure that has sparked decades of debate: the Gympie Pyramid. To some, it’s evidence of an ancient civilisation or Egyptian contact with Australia. To others, it’s nothing more than a terraced hillside built by early European settlers.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew dig into the claims, the history, and the investigations surrounding the site. Where did the pyramid theory come from? What evidence has been presented — and what holds up under scrutiny? It’s a story where archaeology, speculation, and local legend collide.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In September 2000, on a warm night in Sydney, Cathy Freeman stepped onto the track carrying the weight of expectation — and delivered one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. But her story didn’t begin there.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew trace Freeman’s journey from a young athlete in Queensland to a global symbol of achievement, resilience, and reconciliation. From her early rise in athletics to the cultural significance of her Olympic victory, this is a story about more than sport — it’s about identity, pressure, and a moment that brought a nation to a standstill.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In September 2000, on a warm night in Sydney, Cathy Freeman stepped onto the track carrying the weight of expectation — and delivered one of the most iconic moments in Australian sporting history. But her story didn’t begin there.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew trace Freeman’s journey from a young athlete in Queensland to a global symbol of achievement, resilience, and reconciliation. From her early rise in athletics to the cultural significance of her Olympic victory, this is a story about more than sport — it’s about identity, pressure, and a moment that brought a nation to a standstill.


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

They’re loud, they’re messy, and they’ve become one of Australia’s most controversial native animals — the grey-headed flying fox.

Found along the east coast, these large fruit bats play a vital role in pollination and seed dispersal, yet their presence in urban areas has made them the centre of ongoing conflict between conservation and community concerns.

From mass colonies in suburban parks to debates over relocation and protection, it’s a story that sits at the intersection of environment, policy, and everyday life.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore the history, behaviour, and ecological importance of grey-headed flying foxes, along with the challenges they present in towns and cities.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.

In 1973, a global oil shock reached Australian shores and changed everyday life almost overnight. Fuel shortages, price spikes, and uncertainty rippled through the country, forcing governments and communities to rethink how they used energy.

In this episode, Holly and Matthew explore how the oil crisis played out in Australia — from petrol rationing and changing driving habits to the political decisions that shaped the nation’s response. What began as an overseas conflict quickly became a local disruption, exposing just how dependent Australia had become on global supply.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-crap-in-australia--2968350/support.