Melbourne Marvels
Melbourne Marvels
Melbourne Marvels
A podcast where we discuss fascinating things that have happened in the Melbourne area.
Mr Cruel 4 - The abduction of Sharon Wills
In the early hours of 27 December 1988 an intruder broke into the home of the Wills family in Ringwood. After tying up the parents he took a 10 year old girl from the home and took her to an unknown lair where she was held for 18 hours. This episode is an an analysis of this crime.
Dec 8, 2021
1 hr 23 min
Mr Cruel 3 - Other attacks attributed to Mr Cruel
At different times since 1985, the police or the media have also linked this same perpetrator to another 12 sexual assaults at least. At present, it is unknown if any of these attacks have been definitively ruled out by investigators as being the work of Mr Cruel.
Apr 17, 2021
35 min
Mr Cruel 2 The Lower Plenty Attack
An in-depth discussion of the first of the canonical attacks in the Mr Cruel series - the Lower Plenty Attack. This episode analyses the majority of what has been written or said about this case in the media and highlights many of the contradictions of these representations.
Mar 23, 2021
1 hr 18 min
Mr Cruel 1 - Serial Abductor and Probable Child Murderer - Overview of Case
Mr Cruel is the moniker for a serial child abductor, and most probably murderer, who terrorised Melbourne in the late 80s and early 90s and has never been caught for his crimes. In this first post, I start with an overview of the case and try to clear up some confusion about which crimes were actually attributed to Mr Cruel. Music by Yellowtree.
Jan 30, 2021
11 min
The Unresolved Disappearance of Frederick Valentich
On 21st of October, 1978, 20 year old Frederick Valentich is flying a Cessna 182L light aeroplane from Moorabbin Airport to King Island. Not long after commencing the over water section of the flight, between Cape Otway and King Island, Valentich reports to the air traffic controller seeing a craft with 4 bright lights passing over his plane. The unusual craft returns and Valentich reports it behaving strangely by playing some sort of game with him, and travelling at such high speeds he could not identify how fast. Valentich reports that the craft is a long shape and has green lights. The conversation lasts 6 minutes before he declares that the object is not an aircraft. Suddenly all radio contact with Valentich's aircraft is lost and he and his cessna disappear never to be heard from again. Despite a massive rescue operation, no evidence is found that would suggest what happened to Valentich or his plane.
Aug 4, 2020
1 hr
The Cranbourne Meteorite
In the late 1700s an iron meteor the size of a truck broke up and fell over Bunurong country, about 40km south east of the modern city of Melbourne. The event would have been spectacular visually and accompanied by sonic booms and a shock wave. It resulted in a number of large iron meteorites falling in what is now the Cranbourne area.
Feb 21, 2020
25 min
Historical Fatal Shark Attacks in Port Phillip Bay (Melbourne)
When Norman Clark and his fiance decided to go swimming at Middle Brighton Pier in February 1930, he had little inkling that he would have a terrifying encounter with a Great White Shark. This is just one of a collection of 7 stories about fatal shark attacks that have occurred in Port Phillip Bay.
Jan 17, 2020
25 min
The Incredible Story of William Buckley part 4 of 4 (final)
After living with the Wathaurong aboriginal people for 32 years, Buckley is surprised one day to see a group of white men encamped on a beach.
Aug 28, 2019
31 min
The Inredible Story of William Buckley Part 3 of 4.  Buckley's long stay with the Wathaurong people.
William Buckley and the Wathaurong people live in the wild of South Western Victoria. Buckley witnesses a lot of internecine violence during this period of many years.
Jul 27, 2019
19 min
The Incredible Story of William Buckley Part 2 of 4
William Buckley conitinues his solitary wanderings in Wathaurong country before making contact with the aboriginal people and being warmly accepted into their midst.
Jan 2, 2019
16 min
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