Alice Springs House Fire: What the Inquest Found

Alice Springs House Fire: What the Inquest Found

This episode covers the coronial inquest findings into the death of Mitchell Thomas following a fatal house fire in the Northern Territory. The coroner concluded the fire was caused by electrical arcing in degraded wiring located in the roof cavity of the home. The property was public housing, built in the late 1980s, and evidence presented during the inquest highlighted long-standing maintenance and electrical safety concerns consistent with broader issues in parts of the NT housing system. Mitchell Thomas died as a result of smoke inhalation during the rapid escalation of the fire. The inquest focused heavily on the condition of the property, inspection processes, and whether the housing environment met appropriate safety standards. Following the findings, the coroner issued recommendations aimed at improving electrical safety oversight, maintenance systems, and inspection regimes within NT Housing. The death was ruled accidental, with no evidence of suspicious circumstances or criminal involvement. Instead, the findings highlighted systemic failures in housing maintenance as a key contributing factor. This episode explores the inquest outcome, the broader safety concerns raised, and what the case reveals about housing conditions and risk in remote and public housing contexts in the Northern Territory. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

Crocs gone wild - Territory Famous version

Well... I stuffed up. 🤦‍♀️ I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they were both called Crocs Gone Wild. I was going to delete it, but then I realised it's actually a bloody funny episode, and quite a few of you had already downloaded it. So I'm leaving it there as a little bonus. The real Territory Famous: Crocs Gone Wild is out now, featuring some of the NT's most unforgettable crocs, including Sweetheart, Elvis, the croc that turned up in a lounge room, and the crocs that broke into a barramundi farm. So, thanks to my little mix-up, you're getting a bonus this week! I'll also be uploading another brand-new Territory Famous episode later today, so you'll have two fresh episodes to enjoy. Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope you enjoy them both! 🐊

Crocs Gone Wild: Top End Crocodile Chaos

Oops... Wrong Crocs! 🐊😂 Well... this wasn't the plan. I accidentally uploaded an old Kels Gone Bush episode instead of the new Territory Famous episode because they both happened to be called Crocs Gone Wild. I was going to delete it, but quite a few people had already downloaded it, and honestly... it's still a bloody entertaining episode. So instead of pretending it never happened, I'm leaving it here as a bonus. So yes, you'll hear me say, "Welcome to Kels Gone Bush," and yes, there are a few Queensland croc stories mixed in. That's because this is the original episode. The brand-new Territory Famous: Crocs Gone Wild is also available now, so thanks to my little stuff-up, you've ended up with two croc episodes instead of one this week. Hope you enjoy the extra episode... even if it wasn't exactly planned! 😂🐊 Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

The Hidden Valley Dog Attack Inquest

The episode centers on the deaths of two men at Hidden Valley near Darwin, whose deaths led to a coronial inquest and renewed scrutiny of dog management across the Territory. We'll explore what happened, the evidence presented to the coroner, and the recommendations that followed. We'll also take a closer look at the role of camp dogs in remote communities and the challenges surrounding dog populations, ownership, and public safety. But the story doesn't end with the inquest. We'll examine several later attacks from across the Northern Territory that show the issue continued long after the Hidden Valley deaths. I also share my own experience from 2011, when I was chased by four camp dogs while working in a remote Territory community—an encounter that gave me a small glimpse into how quickly these situations can escalate. This episode discusses fatal dog attacks, serious injuries, and animal welfare issues that some listeners may find distressing. Sources for this episode include coronial findings, court documents, contemporary news reports, and government records. Territory Famous is an independent Australian podcast exploring the people, places, crimes, mysteries, and extraordinary stories of the Northern Territory. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]

Arnhem Land, 1988: The Dennis Rostron Case

In this episode of Territory Famous, we examine the case of Dennis Rostron, one of the Northern Territory's most confronting family homicide cases. In 1988, five members of Rostron's family were killed at an outstation near Maningrida in Arnhem Land. Drawing on Supreme Court records, contemporary newspaper reporting, parole decisions and later interviews, we follow the events leading up to the shootings, the devastating impact on the community, the decades Rostron spent in prison, and the circumstances surrounding his eventual release on parole more than 30 years later. This episode contains discussion of murder, family violence, trauma and death that some listeners may find distressing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners are advised that this episode contains the names of deceased persons and discussion of death. Sources for this episode include Northern Territory Supreme Court judgments, historical newspaper archives, parole board material and contemporary news reporting. Researched and written by: Kellie Arrowsmith Audio editor: Bar Brawl Records https://www.facebook.com/BarBrawlRecords Cover art: http://www.joshbauer.com/ [http://www.joshbauer.com/] "Skimpy' - a Territory memoir: Kellie Arrowsmith Books - Hachette Australia [https://www.hachette.com.au/kellie-arrowsmith/] Follow Territory Famous: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561090053520] Instagram: https://www.intagram.com/territoryfamous/ [https://www.instagram.com/territoryfamous/] Tik Tok: Territory Famous (@territoryfamous) | TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@territoryfamous]