Down the Yarra Podcast

BGM_The Paris End of Collins Street

Welcome to the Paris End of Collins Street- where elegance meets mystery, fashion meets graffiti, and gold-painted trams once rolled past the grand facades and whispered scandals, in this episode of Down the Yarra, we unravel the past, presen, and future of one of Naarm - Melbourne’s most iconic stretches - from the colonial beginnings and haute couture heyday to it’s hidden laneways, late nights secrets, and its ever growing calls for change.
We explore the street art, rooftop bars, mini galleries and the underground tales - alongside the uncomfortable truths and elitism that still continue to echo through its heritage walls.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to colonial elitism and exclusionary institutions as well as its practices. Listeners discretion is advised.
Plus, don’t forget to hang around for our teaser on the mysterious, exclusive, and still very much still - standing Melbourne Club - our next stop on Down the Yarra.

BGM_Stream, Smoke and a shot in the Dark: The Eastern Market & the Russell Street Bathhouse

Long before it was just another CBD intersection, the corner of Bourke and Exhibition Streets was actually home to one of Naarm - Melbourne’s most colourful as well as chaotic spaces - the long-lost Eastern Market. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into the history, its hidden secrets, dodgy dealings, and greasepaint-smeared ghosts of the Eastern Market and the near-by old Russell Street Bathhouse.
We also revisit the shocking 1899 shooting by Emery Gordon Medor who opened fire in the middle of the market-killing his neighbour and injuring several others-yet somehow wasn’t charged with murder. For the full deep dive into this jaw-dropping case, we highly recommend the Melbourne podcast Dead & Buried’s brilliant episode “Fortune Killer”.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes themes of violence, murder and mental illness. Listeners discretion is advised.
And stick around ‘til the end-we’re teasing our next stop into the heart of Naarm - Melbourne’s East End Theatre District, where the curtains never really close.

BGM_The Diva from Down Under: Dame Nellie Melba’s Life, Voice, & Legacy

She was the voice that silenced rooms and shook empires - Dame Nellie Melba, Australia’s first global superstar. In this special episode of Down the Yarra, we trace the life, times, and towering legacy of the diva from Richmond. From her early years as Helen Porter Mitchell to her troubled marriage, groundbreaking operatic debut and career as well as her iconic performance at the opening of Canberra’s Old Parliament House in 1927, Melba’s story is one of talent, grit, and triumph.
We explore her role to fame, her enduring cultural imprint, and the way she not only helped yet inspired to shape not just the arts in Australia - but Australia’s place on the world stage.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to domestic abuse and mental health struggles.
Plus, stay tuned for our next episode on the Long-Lost Jobs of Old Melbourne.

BGM_The Windsor: Ghosts, Grandeur & a Burning Liquor Licence

Step inside the grand old dame of Naarm - Melbourne-The Hotel Windsor. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we explore the Windsor’s glittering past, scandalous moments, and its uncertain future. From its birth during Marvellous Melbourne boom period to Victoria’s premiere James Munro’s fiery temperance protec, ghost stories in the hallways, and its brush with demolition in the early 2000’s, this iconic cultural landmark has seen it all.
We peel back the layers of history, scandal, and luxury - and we reveal what’s next for this archeological treasure.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to alcohol, temperance movements, and the near lost of a major cultural site.
Plus, stay tuned for a teaser on our next episode - when we head just across the road to the chic and storied Paris End of Collins Street.

BGM_The Curtains Up: Secrets of Naarm - Melbourne’s East End Theatre District

In this episode of Down the Yarra, we lift the curtain on Melbourne’s legendary East End Theatre District- exploring its glittering origins, hidden secrets, ghosts stories, and the tragedies woven into its velvet-draped past. From the haunting tale of Frederici at the Princess Theatre to the rebirth of the district in post-COVID, we walk the line between spotlight and shadow in one of the CBD’s most iconic cultural quarters.
We also spotlight two brilliant podcast recommendations:
*Dead & Buried’s myth-busting episode on Naarm - Melbourne’s urban legends
*Things That Go Bump In The Night’s eerie deep-dive on the ghost of Frederici at the Princess Theatre,
Plus, stay tuned for a special teaser on our next episode where we dive into the life, times, legacy and the operatic stardom of Dame Nellie Melba.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to death and ghost stories. Listeners discretion is advised.

BGM_The Grid Beneath Our Feet: Robert Hoodle’s Game-Changing Vision

Before the skyscrapers and laneways, there was a plan- a man named Robert Hoodle. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the grid beneath our feet: how it came to be, why it doesn’t quite run north to south, and what secrets lie beneath its neat, straight lines. From colonial ambition to modern transportation, we trace the past, present, and future of Melbourne’s iconic Hoodle Grid in the CBD - and ask why it still continues to shape the CBD today.
Trigger Warning: This episode contains references to colonial expansion and the dispossession of Aboriginal land.
Plus, stay tuned for a teaser on Melbourne’s most confusing road rule - the infamous hook turn.

BGM_The Infamous Hook Turn: Naarm - Melbourne’s Beautifully Bizarre Traffic Dance

Naarm - Melbourne’s hook turn - iconic, confusing, and uniquely ours. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we take a deep dive into the past, present, and future of this beautifully bizarre traffic move. From its surprising origins in Sydney to the hidden secrets behind its intersections and fines, we explore how the hook turn became a symbol of Naarm - Melbourne’s tram-filled streets and its urban character. Plus, why it might not be around forever.
Trigger Warning: This episode has a brief reference to historical road accidents and urban planning decisions that maybe be upsetting to some listeners.
Also, stay tuned for our teaser in Naarm - Melbourne’s former General Post Office - once the beating heart of the city’s CBD.

BGM_The Melbourne Club: Power, Privilege, and the Men who ruled the City

Behind the Wrought-iron gates of 36 Collins Street lies a private world of cigars, brandy, and the quiet influence. For more than 180 years, the Melbourne Club has been one of the city’s most exclusive institutions- off limits to women, shrouded in secrecy, and packed with power.
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the origins of the Club, the men who built their empire’s within its walls, the rules that still continue to govern today, and the hidden tunnels, scandals, and whispered deals that helped shape Naarm - Melbourne today. We’ll also ask: what does the future hold for the Club that refuses to change with the times?
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions on colonialism, racism, exclusion, and institutional privilege, that may distressing to some. Listeners discretion is advised.
Plus, stay tuned for a sneak peek at our next stop: the Old Treasury Building, Museum and Gardens - home to Naarm - Melbourne’s gold rush secrets and some of the city’s most scandalous vaults.

BGM_The Long-Lost Jobs of Old Melbourne

In this episode of Down the Yarra, we roll up your sleeves and dig into some of the long-lost jobs of Old Melbourne- some dirty, others dangerous and yet all have been forgotten. From the dreaded nights oil man to the brave bellman, match girls, street sweepers, child pie sellers and the phrenologist, just to mention a few, we uncover the gritty realities of the people who built this city from the ground up. These were the workers who kept Naarm - Melbourne moving, even when on one was watching.
Trigger Warning: This episode references poverty, child labour, hazardous working conditions, and historical exploitation. Listeners discretion is advised.
Plus, stay tuned for a teaser on our next episode -on Eastern Hill - where fire, faith and medicine have shaped the city that we all know, love and live in today.

BGM_ANZAC Day: The Lest We Forget

In this special episode ANZAC Day of Down the Yarra, we reflect on the legacy of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps- from shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula in Türkiye to the soldiers, sailors, aircrew, medics, engineers, and peacekeepers still serving today.
We honour the more than 8700 Australian and 2700 New Zealanders who lost their lives in the Gallipoli campaign and explore how ANZAC Day has become a solemn national tradition. From the game of two-up to the dawn services across both countries, we pay tribute to their courage, mateship, and sacrifice that defines the unique ANZAC spirit.
This episode also includes a podcast recommendation ABC Rewinds - The ANZAC Massarce, a powerful three-part series confronting a lesser-known as well as a rather confronting chapter in the ANZAC story.
Trigger Warning: This episode includes references to war, violence, and loss. Listeners discretion is advised.
PLUS, Down the Yarra returns for Season 3on Tuesday, April 29, with all new audio episodes dropping fortnightly on Podbea, now joined by our new YouTube channel, where Season 1 video podcast episodes launch every Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Lest see Forget.