In this episode Gaol Director Jack Sim and Research Coordinator discuss Queensland Women’s Week 2019. How it is being celebrated with special events in Boggo Road Gaol and Sue makes a very special announcement!  

In celebrating Queensland Women’s week with this year’s theme “financial security and literacy”; we have chosen to highlight how the lives of women of Boggo Road Gaol were directly affected with financial insecurity and circumstance. In today’s episode we are sharing the tragic story of Margaret Dove Fraser a woman of her time and a direct victim of circumstance. We interview Margaret’s granddaughter Sandra for her story.

Research Co-ordinator Sue Olsen speaks with Director Kate Jorgensen about the short documentary SLIM that has been made at Boggo Road Gaol documenting the life of the notorious Arthur Ernest Halliday, otherwise known as Slim. Kate shares the process of developing the documentary and the upcoming launch date for SLIM.

In this Episode Gaol Director Jack Sim and Research Coordinator Sue Olsen are joined inside by Tiana Adair, Museum Assistant from the Queensland Police Museum - our partners in crime. Tiana is here to promote our new Crime, Law and Justice Trail and to discuss a fascinating exhibition at the museum on Arthur Ernest “Slim” Halliday and reveals how one piece of evidence was crucial in the conviction of Halliday for wilful murder - “Peter the Dog.”

In this episode of Boggo Gaol Director Jack Sim and research Co-ordinator Sue Olsen discuss the early years of Arthur Ernest Halliday otherwise known as Slim Halliday. 2019 marks 80 years since Slim came to Boggo Road Gaol for his first decent stretch of time. This sentence is a dramatic turning point in the life of Halliday.

Gaol Director Jack Sim and Research Co-ordinator Sue Olsen talk about this year’s special anniversaries and important dates. They also reveal some of the stories that will be covered in this season of BOGGO and for the first time, you the listeners get to influence what we discuss, and let us know what you want to hear more about!

The story continues in Part 2 of The Cummings Murder Mystery. On Christmas Eve 1926, the bodies of Acting Sergeant of Police Marquis Cummings and Eileen Gladys Walsh were found at the rear of the notorious Boggo Road Gaol.  The crime, infamous in its day is still one of the greatest unsolved murder mysteries in Queensland history.  In this episode, Gaol Director Jack Sim continues the conversation with the descendants of Acting Sergeant Cummings and for the first time the family share who...

On Christmas Eve 1926, the bodies of Acting Sergeant of Police Marquis Cumming and Eileen Gladys Walsh were found at the rear of the notorious Boggo Road Gaol. The crime, infamous in its day is still one of the greatest unsolved murder mysteries in Queensland history.  In this episode Gaol Director Jack Sim interviews descendants of Acting Sergeant Cummings and gets the story from the family’s perspective.

Christmas is a magical time of year. Just as it is on the outside, the prisoners in Boggo Road Gaol, received special gifts as part of the celebration of Christmas. In this episode Gaol Director Jack Sim and Research Co-ordinator Sue Olsen discuss what life was like for the Prisoners of Boggo Road at Christmas and how they were permitted rare privileges reserved for special occasions.

Frank Hills known as ‘Trooper’ was an officer and a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. A Boer War and World War One veteran twice wounded at Gallipoli and again in the Somme in France. Trooper rose through the military ranks to Regimental Sergeant Major, the highest ranked non- commissioned officer in the Australian Army. Trooper survived the war to become a prison officer and eventually would become involved in one of the greatest conspiracies to kill in Boggo Road Gaol History....

From its opening in 1883 to its official closure in 1992 more than 25 years ago, Boggo Road Gaol created drama. In the 1980s it was the scene of escapes, riots, hunger-strikes and rooftop protests. While the last years of Boggo Road resulted in nationwide notoriety, its past has been lost in time. Join gaol Director and Author Jack Sim and Research Coordinator Sue Olsen talking about the new book History of Boggo Road Gaol.

In this episode, Research Co-ordinator Sue, and Researcher and Prison Player Anique discuss a research project currently being undertaken on the female division and will share with you the tragic tale of the Juett sisters – The Victims of Vice. “Young women in this time were commonly on the streets when orphaned or unable to live at home for whatever reason. Those who exploited these women are often given little more than a fine and a slap on the wrist. The women were not so lucky and found...

Research Co-ordinator Sue, and former officer Kevin, discuss Kevin’s career in the prisons service and what life was like for an officer on the inside of Boggo Road Gaol during the infamous eighties full of riots, protests and violence. “My first impression of Boggo Road Gaol was it was an absolute nightmare! There were rats as big as cats and it was just putrid.” The trouble there all came to a head in 1988 when a series of riots took place. 

William Thompson, known in every state in Australia as Burglar Bill; has been an associate with some of the country’s most notorious criminals. Some of them cold blooded killers who have ended their days on the gallows. When first entering a life of crime he thought he could beat the law. But after twenty-seven years in and out of gaol, he finally realised that crime does not pay.

WARNING: Strong content and language. The 1st November 2018 marks the 30th Anniversary of James Finch confessing his guilt in relation to the firebombing the Whiskey Au Go Go - to A Current Affair journalist Jana Wendt – live via satellite from London. It remains the greatest true crime confession in Australian history. Or was it? In this episode, Gaol Director Jack Sim, author of “History of Boggo Road Gaol”, and former prison officer John, talk about James Finch, his character and...

WARNING: Strong content and language. 31st October 2018 marks the 30th Anniversary of James Finch confessing to firebombing the Whiskey Au Go Go nightclub in Fortitude Valley. Fifteen people died in the fire on Thursday, 8th March, 1973, at the time it was Australia's worst mass murder. John Stuart and James Finch were convicted of murder however they claimed innocence. Stuart was found dead in his prison cell on New Years Day, 1979; Finch was paroled in 1988 and deported to England. In this...

Former prison officers and prisoners believed that Boggo Road Gaol was haunted; there are ghost stories dating back to the 1930s. Many people died within the walls of the prison during its long history. In this episode, Gaol Director Jack Sim, author of “The Ghosts of Boggo Road Gaol”, and founder of Brisbane Ghost Tours, talks about the origins of the ghosts, and explores the history behind them, and whether visitors to the historic gaol today have experiences.

For more than 100 years women were locked up at Boggo Road Gaol. Their stories are often overlooked. Research Coordinator Sue and performer Karen, an actor with the Female Division, a branch of Boggo Road Gaol's live theatre troupe The Prison Players, talk about this forgotten history. 

Between 1883 and 1913, forty-two criminals comprised of thirty-nine men, one woman and two teenagers, were executed at Boggo Road Gaol. All were hanged, the last in 1913. In this episode, Gaol Director Jack Sim and Research Coordinator Sue talk about a new exhibition - "The Gallows" - which explores the history of capital punishment, behind the walls of Boggo Road Gaol.

The distinctive name of Australia's most notorious prison has a fascinating origin. In this episode Director Jack Sim and Research Coordinator Sue explain where the word "Boggo" came from and how Boggo Road Gaol was never its official name.