Tales from Rat City

Jan 07 2024 20 ep. 429

Join us as we uncover the strange, little known and down-right bizarre history of the wild days of early Ballarat. A city that almost overnight became an international household name during the crazy days of the Australian gold rush, attracting a unique cast of fortune-seekers, charlatans, and crooks. All brought to life from first hand material by our talented voice actors.

For all episodes for free, and additional content, visit www.talesfromratcity.com

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Mining Superstitions in Colonial Victoria

Miners, and the people of the goldfields of Victoria were often a superstitious lot. Deadly lantern flames, witches cursing cows, and gold hunting with tinder (no, not like that) are just some of the stories that can be found in the history of this region. Credits Research and script: Dr. David WaldronProduction : Shannon NichollsVoices […]

Anzacs and Airships: Australian UFO panics in the first World War

This episode of Tales from Rat City discusses the numerous sightings of ‘Unidentified Flying Objects’ over Victoria in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the increased sense of “airmindedness” as aviation technology took off! Credits Research and script: Dr. David WaldronProduction Assistant: Katrina HillRecording, Editing & Sound Direction: Sha

Ballarat Avenue of Honour- Audio Tour

This tour was originally released in 2021, as a series of episodes to be listened to while walking the Ballarat Avenue of Honour. The episodes can be found individually at https://honouringouranzacs.com.au/page/lucas_girls#AudioTour This audio podcast series tells the stories of the men and women who served in ‘the war to end all wars’ and the lives […]

Africa on the Goldfields

In collaboration with the Ballarat African Association, this episode of Tales from Rat City hopes to shed light on the oft-forgotten experiences of African immigrants during Victoria’s gold rush; especially that of John Josephs, the first man to be tried (and exonerated) for treason after the Eureka rebellion of 1854. Credits Research and script: Dr. […]

Moonlight At Dawn – Part III

The final episode in our three part series on the dashing and doomed Captain Moonlight.

Folkapaloreza! Part II

On the 19th of August, Tales from Rat City was invited to participate in the online event Folk-a-pa-lore-za, where folklore pod casters around the world came together to discuss their work, their research and their favourite piece of folklore. The night took the form of a competition where each podcast was asked to present their […]

Folkapaloreza! Part I

On the 19th of August, Tales from Rat City was invited to participate in the online event Folk-a-pa-lore-za, where folklore pod casters around the world came together to discuss their work, their research and their favourite piece of folklore. The night took the form of a competition where each podcast was asked to present their […]

Moonlight In Prison – Part II

Tales from Rat City presents the second instalment in the story of notorious Australian bushranger; Captain Moonlight. Join us, as our actors bring to life the tale of his escape from the Ballarat Gaol, his second trial for the Egerton bank robbery, and the beginning of his famous relationship with James Nesbitt. Research by David […]

Moonlight in Egerton – Part I

Tales from Rat City presents a three-part dramatisation of the bizarre life of the notorious Australia bushranger Captain Moonlight. Hear our actors bring every twist of his weird story to life, and decide for youself what really happened on that stormy night in the rough mining town of Egerton.

Matilda and the Asylum

Matilda Cutler escapes Ararat Asylum with a terrible story she is desperate to share. Can one woman change the system? Join David and Tom as they explore the grim history of the Ararat Asylum. N.B. this episode contains direct examples of abuse in care occurring across the last 100 years in Victoria. Listeners may find […]