BGM_Bottlom Feeders: A Victorian Controversy

In the late 19th century, Naarm - Melbourne was rocked by a scandal that combined politics,, satire, and censorship. It all started with an anonymous book-Bottom Feeders-that took a brutal aim at the city’s politicans, branding one particular Victorian figure as nothing but a political scavenger. What followed was a fierce legal battle, a government crackdown, and a wettest of free speech in Australia. In this episode, we dive into the fallout from the Bottom Feeders controversy, the political muddling, and the outrage that ensued, and how censorship only fuelled the book underground popularity. We also explore how this episode shaped the future of political satire in Australia. Trigger Warning: This episode discusses defamation, political scandals, and government censorship in 19th century Victoria Plus, stay tuned for a teaser on our next episode, where we step inside the grand Royal Exhibition Building and Carlton Garden, home to world fairs, influenza outbreaks, and also a rather smelly controversy from Melbourne’s past. Follow Down the Yarra now for more untold stories from Naarm - Melbourne and South Central Victoria.