On June 23rd, 2000, just after midnight, Robert Paul Long set fire to the Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel in Queensland. He had recently been evicted for not paying his rent and in his anger, he sparked a tragedy.
There were 84 travellers in the hostel that night. They woke up gasping for air and choking on smoke in the pitch-black darkness.
15 people lost their lives, making this one of the deadliest fires in Australian history. Our guest, journalist Paul Cochrane, interviewed the survivors. In many instances, he was the only interview they gave.
Listen to Paul’s podcast Childers here.
Email us at truecrime@mamamia.com.au or send us a voice note to give us feedback or suggest a case for the podcast.
THE END BITS
CREDITS
Guests: Paul Cochrane
Host: Gemma Bath
Producer: Tahli Blackman
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
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Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
