Planet Perth

The Great Mint Swindle of 1982 is the story of one of the most extraordinary gold heists in Australia’s history and it all happened at the Perth Mint.

Today, Dani and Jeff answer the age old question, “If your friends told you to go live in a cave for 90 days, would you?”.

The answer? Absolutely! If you’re local beautician, Dorothy Willaims.

Today, Jeff Bullen unpacks one of his favourite subjects; the greatest political scandal in Australian History known as WA Inc.

Ahoy, me hearties!

We’re sailing the high seas and running aground off the coast of Western Australia to tell you to rollicking tale of the Batavia shipwreck disaster; the most bizzare and violent mutiny in maritime history.

The Kalgoorlie Boulder ethnic riots are considered the worst ethnic conflict in Australian history.

Was it the working conditions in the mining town, the heat, or simply prejudice that saw a week of unprecedented violence unleashed in the small mining community?

The case of Martha Rendell is one of the most harrowing crimes in Western Australia you’ve probably never heard of.

Officially charged for the murder of her stepson (and widely suspected of killing two other stepchildren), her trial was a media spectacle, resulting in her execution in the gallows of Fremantle Prison.

Jeff and Dani debunk the case and debate whether she really was a murderous mother or just a women wrongly accused.

Is it a bird? Is it a plane?

No, it’s a big hunk of space junk that crash landed in Esperance in 1979 and resulted in the Shire of Esperance suing NASA!

Jeff Bullen returns for season five of Planet Perth and he’s bringing producer Danielle Raffaele along for the ride!

Brendan James Abbot is considered one of the most notorious criminals in Australian history. His escapades saw him rob banks throughout Perth and across the country with cheeky snaps taken of him while on the run branding him The Postcard Bandit.

Jeff and his newly minted co-host Danielle unpack his life of crime and how he was able to evade the cops for so long.

Drew Kraplijanov tells us of a mystery of the Australian outback – The Min Min lights.

Described as eerie and unsettling, these floating orbs of light might lead you in the opposite direction of your journey…without you even realising.

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTRFM presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of weird and wacky radio plays.

Atikah Hurley has a story of one of the largest surviving convict prisons in the world and its dark history.

The Fremantle Prison was a place of floggings, riots, dramatic escapes and hangings; with deaths still known to haunt the grounds.

One of those is the death of the ‘wicked stepmother’ of Perth.

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTRFM presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of weird and wacky radio plays.

Em Lucia has a story of a former US Liberty ship which sunk off the coast of Western Australia.

The SS Alkimos is now a recreational and educational diving location, but beware of the curse…it’s said anyone who touches or dives near the wreck risks bad luck!

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTRFM presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of wacky radio plays.

Margaret River is more than just wine, it has a rich Nyoongar history dating back more than 60,000 years.

From a curse to a mythical serpent, Sharlene Baloch gathers some of your favourite RTRFM presenters around the campfire for some ancient stories (as well as some newer ones) about this popular Great Southern town.

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTRFM presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of weird and wacky radio plays.

Bobby Fletcher has a story of a now derelict building not too far from here…

The Old South Fremantle Power Station was once an industrial powerhouse, now it’s reached iconic status for it’s graffiti and mysterious deaths.

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTRFM presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of weird and wacky radio plays.

Are you ready for a ghost story?

Gather ’round the campfire for the new season of Planet Perth where some of your favourite RTR presenters share Perth urban myths and legends in a series of weird and wacky radio plays.

In episode one, Axel Carrington stirs up our thirst for the occult with a story about The Satanists of Kings Park.

We wrap up Planet Perth in style, with a fun-filled live recording of the season three finale!

Join Jeff Bullen at Lawson Flats for a wild night of weird, wacky and unexpected stories from our eccentric city.

With special guests Famous Sharron, State Archives senior archivist Damien Hassan, Aleesha O’Donnell and Pam Boland from All Over It podcast, plus some of your favourite local musicians.

You can stream season three in full now on RTRFM or wherever you get your podcasts.

In 1975, when homosexuality was still criminalised in Perth, Connections opened its doors as a gay nightclub. 

Since then, it’s played a central role in the growth of Perth’s queer community.

Tim Brown has seen most of this history unfold, first as a punter in the 80s then as owner and caretaker. As the venue approaches its 50th anniversary, Jeff Bullen sits down with Tim for a very special interview about the history of a little club with a big soul. 

Join Jeff Bullen for a deep dive into the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city on Planet Perth.

From cults, to abandoned theme parks and tank rampages across the CBD, Planet Perth is your guide to the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Crispian Chan was just eight years old when his family’s Chinese restaurant, The Man Lin, was firebombed in a series of coordinated attacks targeting the Asian community.

The damage decimated the business but Crispian’s parents didn’t have time to think about who could have been behind it. 

Today, Jeff unpacks the dark political history behind this incident; a spree of terrorism, thuggery and racist propaganda by the Australian Nationalist Movement led by Jack Van Tongeren.

Join Jeff Bullen for a deep dive into the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city on Planet Perth.

From cults, to abandoned theme parks and tank rampages across the CBD, Planet Perth is your guide to the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

The Brisbane Hotel opened its doors in 1898 and have remained open for more than 120 years. Since then there have been some interesting nights…

Like on March 7 1928 when Edward Kelly shot Sergeant Alexander Marks in a struggle to restrain him after a night of heavy drinking.

The fatal shooting and subsequent court case would cause a media frenzy and a sensational trial.

Jeff Bullen walks through the night with historian and aficionado of dodgy pubs Eddie Marcus.

Join Jeff Bullen for a deep dive into the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city on Planet Perth.

From cults, to abandoned theme parks and tank rampages across the CBD, Planet Perth is your guide to the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Off the coast of Rhode Island on the 26th of September 1983 Australia II crossed the finish line to win the America’s Cup.

It was a win that captivated the nation, breaking the United State’s 132 year winning streak and galvanising the nation. 

Jeff Bullen celebrates this iconic moment in Perth’s history, sitting down with 1983 team manager and port grinder John Longley to chat about the long road to the 1983 America’s Cup victory and what it was like to make history…

Join Jeff Bullen for a deep dive into the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city on Planet Perth.

From cults, to abandoned theme parks and tank rampages across the CBD, Planet Perth is your guide to the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Image sourced from the collections of the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Australia.

Welcome to Uglieland!

…where snake charmers, boxing matches and flying greyhounds were some of the main attractions.

But not all is as it seems.

Join Jeff Bullen for a deep dive into the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city on Planet Perth.

From cults, to abandoned theme parks and tank rampages across the CBD, Planet Perth is your guide to the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Image sourced from the collections of the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Australia.

In the early hours of August 27 1925, Cyril Gidley was shot dead by his ex-fiance Audrey Jacob in front of hundreds of guests at a charity event in Perth’s Government House.

It seemed like an open and shut case of wilful murder…until Audrey was assigned charismatic and well connected prosecutor Arthur Haynes to her defence.

Today, in the season return of Planet Perth Jeff Bullen sits down with local historian Dr Leigh Straw and State Records Office senior archivist Damien Hassan to unpack the sensational case of The Ballroom Murder.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each week for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Image sourced from the collections of the State Library of Western Australia and reproduced with the permission of the Library Board of Australia.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get any weirder, Planet Perth has made it’s way to Lawson Flats for a special live podcast event!

Planet Perth Live celebrates the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city, bringing you a lucky dip of guests sharing their experiences of living, working and coming of age in one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Join host Jeff Bullen for night of local scandals, laughs, caricature drawing, news headlines and music!

Guests

Famous Sharron and Monique from Hidden deTours

Joni Boyd

Sharlene Baloch and IJ McKenna

James Hall

Marion LeCrayon

Andrew Meredith

Once upon a time in a land far away, there lived a King and Queen who ruled over a vast sunburnt land, rich with wheat crops.

Except the land was just up near Kalbarri and the family were not royal, but the self proclaimed sovereigns of the so-called Hutt River Province.

Located 500km from Perth, Hutt River Province was a small micronation created by Prince Leonard who seceded from Australia in 1970 after conflicting with the state government over wheat production quotas.

For 50 years, Hutt River was a popular tourist destination, welcoming hundreds of national and international tourists each year…under it all came crashing down.

How did it all come to be and why is Australia dubbed the micronation capital of the world? Jeff Bullen find outs when he speaks with University of Technology Sydney constituational law and human rights expert Dr Harry Hobbs.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

What would you do if your town was infiltrated by a controversial movement that would garner cult status?

Author and former Sannyasin Bruce Menzies was a young, educated, family man when he decided to join in.

The Sannyasins, colloquially known as The Orange People for their bright orange clothing, were a group dedicated to Indian guru Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (1931-1990).

It’s controversial practices provoked the local communities they occupied, including Fremantle, which became a hub for the guru’s followers.

So how did a global movement make it’s way to Perth? Jeff Bullen finds out in this episode of Planet Perth. He speaks with Bruce, documentary film make Joseph London and journalist Sarah Steele.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

The Great Perth Hailstorm of 2010 lives in the memories and perhaps on the bonnets of cars across Boorloo.

By the time locals started their commute from work, gusts reached 120 kilometres per hour, with eerie grey clouds rolling in from the north, unleashing the fiercest storm in living memory.

In fact, it was one of the costliest weather events in the state’s history.

Today on Planet Perth, host Jeff Bullen recounts the events of that fateful day with former Bureau of Meteorology manager for severe weather Andrew Burton and assesses the damage at one of Perth’s most iconic landmarks – UWA’s Winthrop Hall.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

The 1932 Great Emu War might just be the weirdest, most futile military exercise in Australian history, so much so that it’s captured the minds of folk across the globe.

Professor Andrea Gaynor shares her extensive knowledge and little-known facts about the Great Emu War with Jeff Bullen in the latest episode of Planet Perth. 

He also catches up with State Library of Western Australia librarian Peter Edwards to unpack the incredible media coverage surrounding the event.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Why are there over 400 tiger snakes on Carnac Island?

One of the most popular theories is a man by the name of Rocky Vane – a snake charmer who started performing across Fremantle in 1926.

Rocky Vane was a man with a checkered past, known for letting his reptiles bite him or other people to promote his snake bite remedy as well as showcasing his scaly friends in sideshow alley performances.

Legend has it, he released many of these snakes onto the island after an ultimatum from the WA government. 

In episode two, Jeff Bullen sits down with Dr Mitch Ladyman, a Perth based environmental consultant and the co-author of a study into the origin of Tiger Snakes on Carnac Island.

Jeff also pays a visit to Perth Reptile Company, to get up close and personal with the snakes Rocky Vane would have been dealing with.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

When Australia joined the global internet in 1989, it was far from what we know and love today. Digital music, video and images were not widely distributed online – that is, until James Pinakis entered the chat.

James was studying his PhD in computer science and software engineering at UWA when he decided to write a computer program to distribute pornography. People from all around the world logged into his server to download images, which eventually grinded Australia’s internet connection to a halt.

What was it like to send porn to the entire world in the early days of the internet?

Jeff Bullen returns for season two of Planet Perth with James, otherwise known as the Porn King of UWA.

We also hear from Justin Zobel, Professor in Computer Science at the University of Melbourne.

Planet Perth Episode One The Porn King of UWA

David Bowie famously pondered if there was life on mars, and though it may sound absurd, knowledge of extraterrestrial life has been pursued seriously for decades; from academics to historians and increasingly Governments. 

Many even claim to have witnessed these interactions right here in WA, with some sightings making their way into local police reports. These have never seen the light of day…until now. 

In today’s season finale of Planet Perth, Jeff is taking a peak into the State UFO files – a series of documents tucked away in the State Records Office which outline reports of UFO sighting – with senior archivist Damien Hassan. 

Curtin radio astronomer Professor Steven Tingay also stops by to discuss the likelihood of alien existence.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

7. The State UFO Files 

With over 23 years of practice in Perth, the late Bulgarian born Iwan Iwanoff slowly but surely cemented himself as one of the most iconic architects the State has seen. 

From the modernist Madashi House in Dianella to Northam Town Council House, Iwanoff’s idiosyncratic, Besser block homes took European sensibilities and adapted them to the harsh climate of Western Australia. 

On today’s episode of Planet Perth, Jeff sits down with architectural photographer Jack Lovel, who grew up in Iwanoff’s 1954 Jordanoff House in Claremont, to learn more about the man behind the brick facade and his nuanced creations which stand to this day. 

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

6. Episode Six Iwan Iwanoff

If you walk along Barrack Street between the Murray and Hay Street malls, you’re likely to stumble upon a series of old abandoned buildings, including the bygone Liberty Theatre.

First opening its doors in 1954, The Liberty Theatre was home to Perth’s first arthouse cinema, playing host to exclusive film society nights, before closing its doors in 1997.

Now, after sitting empty for almost 26 years, the area is set to be redeveloped, reigniting what was once a grassroots cultural hub. 

In today’s episode Jeff Bullen chats with arts researcher and cinefile Barry Strickland to discuss how the Liberty Theatre redefined Perth’s cultural scene following World War Two and the unique arts and cultural scene in Perth.  

Developer Randal Humich also stops by to talk us through how the theatre will be revived for the 21st Century.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

5. Episode Five The Liberty Theatre Mastered

The continental roll, the hoagie, the submarine…

The Re Store in Northbridge is often associated with the birth of the humble Italian sandwich.

But did you know that at the height of The Great Depression a poor Sicilian migrant pawed his wife’s wedding ring to start what would become the home of Perth’s unique culinary hallmark?

In episode four of our series Jeff sits down with The Re-Store manager Moreno Berti to learn more about how the continental roll came to live in the hearts and stomachs of locals.

He also chats with University of Sydney Associate Professor in Business Teresa Davis about the link between food and migration and how it was possible for a continental roll to simultaneously emerge amongst Italian-American communities in Portland, the largest city in the US state of Oregon.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

On Monday June 23, 1975, mother-of-three Shirley Finn lay slumped over the wheel of her white Dodge Phoenix in a glittering ball gown at the Royal Perth Golf Course.

The well know socialite, brothel madam and nightclub operator was shot four times in an execution style killing just days before she was set to blow the whistle at a hearing on illicit dealings by a number of high profile Perth politicians, businessmen and police officers.

Award winning journalist Juliet Wills spent 25 years gathering evidence, including interviews and witness reports to try and find out what really happened that night.

In episode three of Planet Perth, Jeff Bullen sits down with Juliet Wills, investigative journalist and author of Dirty Girl: The State Sanctioned Murder of Shirley Finn, a book which sparked an inquest into the cold case.

So what happened to Shirley and who was behind the grisly, high profile crime?

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

3. Episode Three Shirley Finn FINAL

If you drive 70km north to Two Rocks on the fringes of Perth’s metropolitan area, you’ll be greeted by a ten-meter high statue of a grinning, trident wielding King Neptune.

Though staring out to see the mythical roman god once overlooked the now abandoned Atlantis Marine Park.

Opening to much fanfare in 1981, the park was part of WA billionaire Alan Bond’s plans to develop Yanchep into a flourishing suburb before it closed prematurely in the early 90s.

What you may not know is that the abandoned park gave birth to a first of its kind experiment…

This fortnight, Jeff Bullen sits down with Atlantis’ lead veterinarian, Dr Nick Gales, to chat about the opening of the park, why it closed and what happened to its main attraction; the dolphins. We also hear from thespian Alice Dale who lead a troupe of actors and actresses in performances alongside the animals.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

2. Episode Two Atlantis Marine Park

In the early hours of April 27 1993, a young man named Gary Hayes stole an M113 armoured personnel carrier from Irwin Barracks and decided to take it on a joy ride through the Perth CBD.

What followed was a story for the local history books, involving machine guns, ‘ninja police’ and a lot of tear gas. The event even inspired local punks Semtex 87 to release the C.I.B Demo CSEP, a raucous and thrashy ode to the man behind the rampage. 

So who was Gary Hayes and what sparked his wild escapades?

In our first episode Liam Ramsay and Sarah Diggins talk us through the legend of the 1993 Perth Tank Rampage.

Planet Perth is an RTRFM podcast series about the weird, wacky and unexplained history of our eccentric city.

Join Jeff Bullen each fortnight for a deep dive into the events, personalities and bygone icons that have shaped one of the most isolated cities in the world.

1. Episode One 1993 Perth Tank Rampage