australia - Buried Secrets Podcast

Sign in Subscribe

australia

A collection of 5 posts

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 4

Note: This post contains mentions of physical attacks, vigilantism, mental asylums. In the last post, I wrote about some of the men who dressed up as ghosts in 19th century Australia in order to commit crimes. But women did it too, albeit more often for crimes that you might describe

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 3

Note: this post contains mention of sexual assault, vigilantism, poisoning, mental asylums, cancer, and injury/illness. Late nineteenth century ghost hoaxing, or "playing the ghost," became so common that it happened several times per week in Ballarat, Australia, during its height. It seemed that dressing up as a ghost became

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 2

Note: This contains mentions of colonialism and people being attacked. Dr. David Waldron, a folklorist and historian at Federation University in Ballarat, Australia, is an expert in the subject of Victorian ghost hoaxers. In his paper "Playing the Ghost," he talks about the disaster of colonialism in Australia, as well

a halftone line drawing of a ghost with the words "ghost hoaxing"

Victorian Ghost Hoaxers: Part 1

Note: This contains mentions of vigilantism and angry mobs. Did you know that in late 19th century Australia, ordinary people would dip sheets in toxic glowing paint and run around at night pretending to be ghosts? I dug up this oddball story way back in 2020, and my then-cohost and

Playing the Ghost in 19th Century Australia

Playing the Ghost in 19th Century Australia

Did you know that in late 19th century Australia, ordinary people would dip sheets in toxic glowing paint and run around at night pretending to be ghosts? Neither did we, but Chris dug up this oddball story from Jen’s home state of Victoria and was excited to tell Jen