A group of spooky homes in Sydney’s inner west are an unmissable landmark.

• How did these gothic mansions get here?
• What school song are they in?
• Why might they be Australia’s ‘first real estate display homes’?
• How did they become the setting for a best-selling YA novel?

Bernie Hobbs is a long-time inner westie, and an award winning science writer and presenter on TV and radio.

• Jane Fox: Assistant Principal at Annandale North Primary School
• Vanessa Berry: Writer and artist who works with history, memory and archives. One of her books is Mirror Sydney: An atlas of reflections.
• Belinda Murrell: Award-winning, internationally published author who’s written over 35 books for kids and teenagers.
• Dr Stephen Gapps:  Historian, author and museum curator with a particular interest in the Frontier Wars. One of his books is The Sydney Wars: Conflict in the early colony 1788-1817.
• Norma Perry: Former Witches House resident and co-author of the AURA Journals on the history of the Witches Houses and the history of Annandale.

Read the Show Notes for extra information and photos.

Produced by Jane Curtis. Sound engineering by John Jacobs.

Artwork by Dylan Tonkin. Editorial Brains Trust for this episode was Rosa Ellen and Kate Lawrence.