Down the Yarra Podcast

BGM_The Mighty MCG: Ghosts, Goals & Gold

In this episode of Down the Yarra.
, we step into the beating heart of Melbourne’s sporting soul - the Mighty MCG. From its origins on Wurundjeri land to the thunder of the 1956 Olympic crowds and the roar of the AFL Grand Final day match, the Melbourne Cricket Ground has seen it all. We explore its rich and complex history, the Test cricket test - match between Australia vs England in 187, the early days of Aussie rules, the whispers of Marngrook and its ties to AFL, its roles in the 1956 Olympic Game, and the haunting secrets hidden beneath the stands - including a wartime morgue. We also take a look at the future of this iconic ground and see what it must confront to truly honour the past.
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses colonisation, possible cultural appropriation, and themes of death and burial. Listeners discretion is advised.
Plus: A teaser for our next episode, where we head to the top of the Paris End of Collins Street to uncover the secrets of 101 Collins Street.
Whether you’re a lifelong fan of the’G’ or just curious - this one’s for you.

BGM_Cole’s Book Arcade: Naarm - Melbourne’s Wonderland of Words

Step inside the magical world of Cole’s Book Arcade - once the most whimsical, eccentric, and most welcoming bookstore in Naarm - Melbourne had ever seen. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into the life of Edward W. Cole, the dreamer behind the arcade that offered free reading, live music, monkeys, lollies, mirror mazes, political pamphlets, and well over two million books. But not all of his legacy was without controversy.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains brief references to outdated and racial imagery once featured in Cole’s publications.
Just us as we uncover the rise and fall of this beloved literary palace - and stick around for a teaser on our next stop: the elegant and storied Block Arcade.

BGM_Naarm - Melbourne Aflame: The Great Fire of 1897

On Tuesday, February 2, 1897, fire tore through the heart of Naarm - Melbourne’s CB, leveling 17 buildings in just a few short hours. It was one of the worst disasters in the city’s history - killing a firefighter, displacing businesses, and changing the way we build for forever. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we tell the story of the Great Fire of Melbourne in 1897: how it began, how it spread, what we lost, and how the city rose from the ashes.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to fire, injury, and historical trauma. Listeners discretion is advised.
Next Time: We explore the lost buildings of Old Melbourne- - everything that vanished before we had a chance to remember.

BGM_Whispere in the Gardens: Fitzroy Gardens Through Time

Benefit the leafy shade and winding paths of Fitzroy Gardens lies a story far deeper than its picture - perfect calm. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we wander through the garden’s multi layered past - front Wurundjeri land and the long - lost creek, to colonial ambition, Cook’s Cottage, and the mysterious Fairies’ Tree. We explore how the Fitzroy Gardens became a green sanctuary for both memory and escape, what its future might hold facing climate shifts and the calls for truth - telling.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to colonisation and dispossession, that may be distressing to some listeners. So Listeners discretion is advised.
Stick around for a teaser of our next episode, where we head into the beating heart and soul of Aussie Sport, the mighty MCG.

BGM_101 Collins Street: The Tower Above the Paris End

In this episode of Down the Yarra, we head to the glittering heart of the Paris End and uncover the layered story of 101 Collins Street - a skyscraper of steel and marble with roots that stretches deep into Naarm - Melbourne’s colonial past. From the very early days as a hilltop of prestige, religion, and political power, to its transformation into Melbourne’s most obeyed business address, 101 Collins is more than just a building- it’s a bold symbol of shifting eras, buried secrets, and corporate ambition.
We uncover the hidden basements, whispered stories of sealed tunnels, and the plans for its future as a greener, smarter tower. Plus, what this iconic site reveals about Naarm - Melbourne’s constantly push - pull between heritage and progress.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to colonial displacement and urban redevelopment on stolen land.
Next Episode’s Teaser: Don’t miss our very special episode deep dive into the devastating Great Victorian Bushfires of 1851 aka Black Thursday - the day the skies turned black, and the colony faced its most terrifying inferno.
Listen now - Down the Yarra.

BGM_Beneath the Clocktower: Naarm - Melbourne Town Hall’s secrets

Beneath the grand clock tower along Swanston Street Walklies a building brimming with secrets, scandals, and stories. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we step inside Naarm - Melbourne’s iconic Town Hall- exploring its origins, historic events, hidden tunnels, as well as the mysterious art heist that shocked the whole of the CBD. From royal visits, and protest marches to the long-lost drinking fountain located at the bottom of the doomed Burke & Wills statue and the rise of the new Town Hall Station, this journey takes you on a deep dive into the past, present, and future of one of Naarm - Melbourne’s most beloved landmarks.

BGM_Mothers of Naarm: A Mother’s Day Special

This Down the Yarra Mother’s Day Special is a heartfelt tribute to all the Mothers of Naarm - past, present, and continuing. From the First Mothers of the Kulin Nation to the matriarchs of early Naarm - Melbourne, from the mothers of resilience to those navigating motherhood today, this episode honours their strength, grief, and of course their enduring love.
But it’s definitely not all flowers and photos frames. This episode also reflects on the harder truths: child loss, the stolen generation, colonial violence, poverty, and the silence surrounding motherhood’s messier realities.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to child removal, family violence, and systemic decriminalisation.
Listen as we walk down the riverbanks of memory, resilience, and fierce motherly love.
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BGM_The Heart of Bourke Street: Naarm - Melbourne’s former GPO

Once the Epicentre of communication in Victoria, Naarm - Melbourne’s former General Post Office has stood through gold rushes, Royal visits, fires, protests, reinvention- and tragedy. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we trace the story of the former GPO from its colonial post hub to the fashion retail giant that we see today, and uncover the shifting soul of Bourke Street Mall.
We explore an urban legend (yes, the lost purse), the enduring elegance of Royal Arcade, and we reflect on the 2017 Bourke Street Massacre- a moment that forever changed the CBD’s heart.
Plus, a teaser for our next episode: Naarm - Melbourne’s long-lost Eastern Market- once more iconic then what is now the Queen Victoria Market, now almost entirely forgotten.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to real-life events that maybe distressing to some listeners. Please take care.

BGM_Eastern Hill: Whete Power, Faith and Fire Colllide

In this episode, we climb to the top of Eastern Hill - one of Naarm (Melbourne)’s oldest and most powerful precincts, where churches, sirens, and stones collide . From the quiet defiance of St Peter’s Eastern Hill to the towering might of St Patrick’s Cathedral, the legacy of Archbishop Daniel Mannix, even a cheeky gargoyle flipping the bird to Victoria’s former premiere Jeff Kennett - this is a place where faith mets fire and medicine rose beside politics.
We’ll explore the Fire Services and Ambulance Museums, peek inside the Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and ask: what does the future hold for this sacred , chaotic hill?
Plus, a teaser for our next episode, where we head downhill to the steps - and secrets - of the Victorian State Parliament.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to fire, injury, colonial violence, and medical trauma.
Down the Yarra - whether you’re a local or just curious, this podcast is for you.

BGM_Spring Street Secrets: The Wild Ride of Victoria’s State Parliament

Perched above Parliament Station and steeped in power, scandal, and unfinished dreams - Victoria’s State Parliament is anything but boring. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we journey from its colonial foundations to the main who famously rode a horse named Cicero into the chamber, through decades of political deal, dodgy behaviour, and dramatic reforms.
We uncover the past, present, and future of one of Naarm - Melbourne’s most iconic institutions- and ask the question what it means to govern on stolen land, under an unfinished dome.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to political misconduct, corruption, and colonial violence. Listeners discretion is advised.
Plus: A teaser for next episode’s grand destination - just across the road at the legendary Hotel Windsor.