Down the Yarra Podcast

BGM_The Wild Birrarung

Before it was tame, straightened, and controlled, the Birrarung (Yarra River)-was a wild and unpredictable force of nature. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we strip back the concrete banks as well as the flood barriers to uncover the river’s true, untamed past.
We explore how the Birrarung once flowed freely, creating vast wetlands and billabongs, sustaining the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people for tens of thousands of years. We also dive into how colonists saw the river as a problem to be solved-draining swamps, straightened its course, and ultimately changing its very nature entirely. But what have we lost in the process? And can we bring any of it back again?
Plus, in our next episode, we look at the Birrarung’s individual past-from a life-giving waterway to a toxic dumping ground.
Trigger warning: The episode contains discussion on flooding, environmental destruction, and colonial interventions that some listeners may find distressing.

BGM_St James’ Old Cathedral: A survivor of Old Melbourne

Before Naarm (Melbourne) had its grand Cathedral, there was St James-a humble yet resilient church that has stood the rest of time, witnessing nearly two centuries of history. Built in the late 1830s, this Georgian-style cathedral was Naarm (Melbourne)’s first Anglican Church and originally stood near the corner of King and Collins streets in the heart of the young settlement. But here’s the twist-it’s not actually in the same location anymore. In a remarkable feet of preservation, the entire cathedral was moved, brick by brick, stone by stone to save from destruction.
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into the story of St James’ Old Cathedral, its role in early Naarm (Melbourne), and how it survived the city’s relentless expansion. From its days as the spiritual heart of the fledgling settlement to its incredible relocation just west of Fladstaff Hill and Gardens, this Cathedral certainly has stories to tell.
Plus, stick around for a teaser on our next episode, where we take a step even further back in time to uncover the raw, and untamed history of Naarm (Melbourne) before it became what we know it as today.
Tune in now and take a walk through history with Down the Yarra.

BGM_Melbourne Uni-More than just a campus

From world-changing research to the dystopian movie sets, the University of Melbourne is far more more than a place to study. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the university’s fascinating history, its role at the heart of Parkville’s world-class medical and research precinct, and its hidden underground car park that became an iconic Mad Max filming location. Plus, with Parkville station set to shake up the city’s transport network, we look at how this area is evolving.
And stick around-because next time, we’re heading beyond the campus to explore Melbourne General Cemetery, the final resting place of some of the city’s most famous figures… and a few lingering mysteries.

BGM_Secrets of the Melbourne General Cemetery

Melbourne General Cemetery isn’t just a final resting place-it’s a city of the dead, filled with hidden stories, eerie mysteries, and unexpected secrets.
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the strange and forgotten history buried among the grand tombs and towering mausoleums. From the missing body of Australia’s 17th prime minister Harold Holt to the stolen grave of Melbourne’s co founder John Pascoe Fawkner, a secret underground vault, and ghostly encounters, this is a cemetery like no other.
And stick around until the end of the episode for a teaser about Melbourne’s most deadliest intersections-the infamous HaymarketRoundabout of Death’.
Follow now and take a walk through history with Down the Yarra.

BGM_The Queen of Markets

The Queen Victoria Market isn’t just a place to grab fresh produce-it’s a cultural icon, a battleground, and a one Melbourne’s beloved institutions. But did you know it was built over the Old Melbourne cemetery, with thousands of bodies still buried beneath the car parks and stalls? Or that in 1971, traders waged an all-out war against the Melbourne city council, hurting rotten cabbages at the police who were in full riot gear in protest of skyrocketing rent hikes?
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into the Queen Vic Market’s fascinating history, its transformation into a bustling foodie paradise, and the looming redevelopment that has traders fearing for their future. Plus, we teaser our next stop, St James’ Old Cathedral, Melbourne’s oldest surviving church-but not in its original location.
Follow now and join us as we uncover the past, present and future of Melbourne’s most famous market.

The Royal Melbourne Zoo-Past, Present and Future

Before the Royal Melbourne Zoo found its home in Royal Park, Melbourne’s wildest residents were once caged on the banks of the Birrarung (Yarra River). Lions, tigers, and exotic birds were housed in rudimentary enclosures, a far cry from the lush habitats we see today. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the fascinating history of Australia’s oldest zoo-from the early days with iron-barred cages with concrete floors to the grand vision that led to its establishment in 1862.
We’ll explore the forgotten inner circle railway line, which transported visitors directly to the zoo’s gates, and take a look at how the zoo has evolved into a world- leader in wildlife conservation and sustainably. Plus, what does the future hold? Bigger enclosures, rewilding programs, and cutting-edge technology are all on the horizon.
And stick around for the teaser of our next episode-where we head to the Melbourne University to uncover its rich history, hidden stories, and even its Mad Max connection.
Hit play and step back into the wild!

BGM_The Old Sydney Road-Melbourne’s first highway

Long before the Hume Highway, before freeways, motorways or by-passes, there was Old Sydney Road- a roug, treacherous track carved through the bush, connecting Naarm (Melbourne) with Gadigal (Sydney). This episode of Down the Yarra follows the original route from Haymarket “Roundabout of Desth” through Flemington Road, Mount Alexander Road, Pascoe Vale, Somerton, Mickleham, and the onto the historic remnants of Old Sydney Road itself.
We uncover the Indigenous pathways that predated the colonial roads, the bullock teams and stagecoaches that braved the journey, and the gold rush travelers who flooded north in the 1850’s. From the coaching inns of Pascoe Vale to the convict chain gangs of Mickleham, this is a story of movement, survival, and the relentless push northwards.
Plus, in our next episode, we’ll dive into the recent vandalism of John Batman’s maker at the Queen Vic Market-a reminder that Melbourne’s colonial past is still very much a battleground.
Hit play and take a drive through history!

BGM_Haymarket Roundabout: The Circle of Chaos

Melbourne drivers know this all too well well-the infamous Haymarket, where five major roads collide in a chaotic swirl of trams, buses, cars, cyclists, and pedestrians. But how did this intersection/roundabout become such a nightmare?
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into the past, present and future of the‘Roundabout of Death’. From its early days as a bustling marketplace and key junction on the original old Sydney Road, to its mid-20th century transformation into a blend of a roundabout/intersection, and the ongoing debate over its various redesigns-this is a story of one Of Melbourne’s most notorious intersections.
Plus, a teaser for our next episode, where we uncover the forgotten path of the Old Sydney Road, Naarm (Melbourne)’s first route to Sydney before the Hume Highway/Freeway/Motorway ever existed.
Whether you’ve braved Haymarket’s madness or just want to know why it exists, this episode is for you. Tune in now!

BGM_Defacing Batman-History Reckoning, and the Queen Victoria Market

John Batman-the so-called founder of Naarm (Melbourne) or the villain of it’s First Nations people? His name is etched into the city’s history, but it’s also a lightning rod for controversy. Recently, his marker at the Queen Victoria Market was vandalised once again, reigniting debates about his legacy and the deeper stories buried beneath the market itself.
In this episode of Down the Yarra, we dive into Batman’s complex history, the significance of the Queen Vic Market as the former old Melbourne Cemetery, and why Melbourne continues to wrestle with its colonial past. Plus, a teaser for our next episode on the market’s future-will its rich history be preserved, or paved over?
Listen now for a journey into the past, present, and reckoning of one of Naarm (Melbourne)’s most storied locations.

BGM_Yarra Bend Asylum Buried Bodies

Beneath the serene fairways of Yarra Bend Park lies a haunting history that Naarm Melbourne would much rather forget. In this episode of Down the Yarra, we uncover the darkest legacy of the Yarra Bend Asylum, Victoria’s first purpose built and yet largest mental health institution. From the inhuman conditions endured by its residents to the unmarked graves that still lie beneath the greens, this episode sheds light on a past too often buried.
Join us as we explore what it means for a city to pave over its history and the growing calls to remember those who were forgotten.