Murders Most Foul

16/10/2024

Here is a recent story I wrote for Neighbourhood Media about the Silk Stocking Strangler (1931).

In the shadowy streets of 1930s Surry Hills, a chilling murder mystery unfolded that would captivate Sydney's attention.

09/10/2024

This Halloween come join us at The Long Goodbye cocktail bar on Stanley Street, Darlinghurst for an interactive paranormal investigation with cocktails.
The night will start with a talk on the macabre history of the streets surrounding the bar, including the history of the 170-year-old terrace and the people who lived and died there. I will tell you stories about a horrifying murder at 82 Stanley Street and when Jack The Ripper lived in Darlinghurst.

Then the team from Capture Australias Capture Paranormal will show you the process of paranormal investigation and you get to do it yourself. You will get hands-on experience using ghost-busting tools and performing experiments while trying to communicate with the spirits that still reside in the old building.

You will be able to use:
Spirit Dowsing Rods
Table Tipping
Ouija Board
Pendulums
Spirit Box
Red Lighting Spirit Communication
Estes Method - Voice Phenomenon

Everyone gets a complimentary spooky hand-crafted cocktail designed by the team at The Long Goodbye on arrival. There will be a special Halloween cocktail list on the night.

7pm, 25th of October
The Long Goodbye
83 Stanley Street Darlinghurst.

Book here: https://fareharbor.com/.../murdersmostfoul/items/568501/...
or send me a message to ask questions.

18/08/2024

The Balmain True Crime History Tour with the on Saturday. It was a great day of ferry riding and laneway exploring. We finished the tour at the in Balmain with a fantastic lunch.

09/08/2024

A recent article I wrote on the history of pubs in Surry Hills.

Surry Hills, a unique inner-city suburb of Sydney, is renowned for its vibrant cafe scene, boutique shops, picturesque terraced streets, and

27/07/2024

Palmer Street in Darlinghurst was the centre of the redlight district for over 100 years. It essentially died about 15 years ago. However, this video shows there are still some ladies that frequent the old haunt.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C90ZnYlhZ45/?igsh=MWVqb3lmdGsxdGJtYg==

18/07/2024

Those of you who have done some of my tours will know that we touch on the histories and origins of some of Sydney's earliest ethnic minority communities. For example, Surry Hills has had Chinese, Lebanese, Jewish, Greek, Maltese and Italian communities dating back to the 1850s and 60s. Of course, the Gadigal people have lived here for countless generations before that.

Here are three new books I today acquired for my Devonshire Street Library of Australian History.

Red Tape Golden Scissors by Shirley Fitzgerald is about the Chinese in Sydney as far back as the 1820s.

Chosen: The Jews in Australia by Hilary Rubinstein is about Australian Jewry dating back to the First Fleet.

The Lebanese in Australia by Andrew & Trevor Batrouney documents the Lebanese in Sydney from 1876.

No history of Sydney is complete without a thorough understanding of the contrbution of these communities to the development of our great city.

23/05/2024

We have launched a new line of historical true crime-themed clothing and apparel.

Check out our T-shirts and bags depicting Kate Leigh, Tilly Devine, Dulcie Markham and many other crime queens of Sydney.

Historical true crime themed clothing and apparel. T-shirts, bags, water bottles, posters books and more. Stand out from the crowd in killer style.

15/04/2024

To celebrate the launch of Amanda Hampson's second novel in her Tea Ladies series, The Cryptic Clue, we are giving you a chance to Win a signed copy of the book and a limited-edition Tea Ladies tea towel.

To enter the competition, book a tour before 15/05/2024 for any date in the future using the promo code Tea_Ladies (the promo code will also get you 20% off the total price).

On 15/05/2024, at 7 p.m., we will randomly draw a booking number from the list of entrants. The winner will be contacted by email, and the signed book and tea towel will be mailed to the winner.

The Cryptic Clue: A Tea Ladies Mystery is available now in your favourite bookstore.

https://murdersmostfoul.com/sydney-walking-tours/

Amanda Hampson

07/04/2024

Another great article in Sydney Weekend magazine (Daily Telegraph 6 April 2024) by Mercedes Maguire. This one is about the days when the north shore suburb of Killara was a wild frontier famous for horse racing, bare-knuckle boxing and bush rangers.

06/04/2024

History talk this Friday 12 April at 7pm!

Discover the long-forgotten true crime history of Sydney's upper North Shore from 1805 to the 1920s.

Bushranger gangs who occupied the caves and valleys.
The old forgotten inn, hotels and taverns of the 1830s and 1840s.
Horse Racing on the Pacific Highway
Bare-knuckle boxing in Killara Park.
Violent blood feuds between prominent families.
A brutal cold case murder at the Killara Green Gate in 1862.
The murder of a Pymble Police officer in 1913.
A cold case murder in 1920s Gordon.
And much more!

The talk will be held in the historical Killara Golf Club which is opening to the public for this special event.

Every ticket holder gets a drink on arrival and finger food will also be served.

Click the link below to book tickets.

A true crime history event about the grim history of Killara, Gordon, Pymble and St Ives.

06/04/2024

Sydney ranked 3rd best coffee in the world and Surry Hills was ranked no.1 in Sydney.

We pass several of the worlds best cafes on the Sunday Surry Hills tour and stop at one for morning tea.

We even beat Melbourne – and we'll celebrate that with a flat white.

18/03/2024

Each week, journalist Mercedes Maguire writes an article on local Sydney history, books and other cool topics in the Daily Telegraph. I recommend you read her article each week in the Sydney Weekend liftout.

This week she wrote about the old Golden Fleece Hotel and the Crown Street riot in 1890. Those of you who have been on the Surry Hills tour will be familiar with this story.

Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia

14/02/2024

Taking the gang to the old 'Touch of Class' on Riley Street.
The girls are always so confused when they see 30 people standing out front... I'm sure the Johns get a bit worried as well 🤣🤣

10/02/2024

With the recent passing of Detective Roger Rogerson there has been increased interest in the 1970s and 1980s Sydney underworld from my tour guests. I have been recommending everyone watch the 1995 two-part series Blue Murder. Here is a link to watch it free on Youtube.

Here is part 2: https://youtu.be/9y2RGt1iDVs?si=AyNDJwqQbgMRdOz6

This is one of my favourite true crime dramas ever. Enjoy.

We're trying a new format! How do you feel about Crime Drama shows? Part 2 will be released on the 23rd of September!This is based on a true story; involving...

04/01/2024

A New Talk Series!

Discover the INCREDIBLE history of the Blue Ribbon suburbs Killara, Gordon, Pymble and St Ives, found on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Before beautiful houses, pretty gardens, flowering jacaranda trees, tennis courts and European cars there were horse races, bare-knuckle boxing, bushrangers, blood feuds and MURDER. A talk series with a complimentary drink and food in the historical Killara Golf Club.

This is a completely forgotten history that will blow your mind!

Blood & Sawdust: A Forgotten History of Killara, Gordon, Pymble and St Ives (1820 to 1960). History Talk.

April 12

A true crime history event about the grim history of Killara, Gordon, Pymble and St Ives.

29/10/2023

Hey folks, here is an article in today's Sun Herald about a potential serial killer murder in Hyde Park from 1929. If you have done the Darlinghurst tour you may recall it (Vera Sterling). I will be talking about it at the Bad Sydney Crime Writers Festival next Saturday on the Hyde Park: A Story of Lawless Beauty walking tour.

The nine murders of women in similar circumstances in Sydney’s past are worthy of a Sherlock Holmes page-turner. Historian Elliot Lindsay thinks they may have been the work of one man.

20/10/2023

In the dimly lit engineering workshop in Crows Nest, the lifeless body of Charles Louis le Gallien lay sprawled on the floor, a grim testimony to a brutal murder that would shake the North Shore of Sydney to its core. The sheer savagery of the attack was evident: the walls and desk splattered with b...

13/10/2023

Hey gang! The BAD Crime Writers Festival is next month!!
November 1-5 at the State Library of NSW.
I am pleased to be involved again and am hosting two historical true crime themed tours in Sydney.

1. Hyde Park: A Story or Lawless Beauty. On this tour, I will have the pleasure of being joined by the legendary academic and pioneer gay rights activist Dennis Altman. We will explore the history of Hyde Park after dark. Hyde Park was a major red-light district between 1860 and 1930. It was also a place where gay men would associate from at least the 1870s right up to the 1990s, including members of the 19th century drag scene. Professor Altman will shed light of the experience of the early LGBT communities.

2. The Tea Ladies Walking Tour of Surry Hills: On this tour, the best-selling author, Amanda Hampson, will join me as we walk around the old Surry Hills garment district where her novel 'The Tea Ladies' was set. We will discuss the history of the garment district and the stories of the underworld entities that lurked the same streets between 1940 and 1980. Crime scenes are guaranteed!

I invite you all to come along or share this with friend. We will have a great time.

Book your ticket at badsydney.com or contact me directly for more info.