Adelaide True Crime Tours

In the early hours of February 3, 1967, Ronald Joseph Ryan climbed the gallows inside Pentridge Prison in Melbourne, becoming the final person to be executed in Australia. His hanging marked the end of the death penalty on Australian soil—a solemn milestone that still resonates today. This is his story: how one man’s fate would spark national debates, shut down a practice that dated back to colonial times, and forever alter Australia’s view on capital punishment. From War Veteran to Prisoner Born in 1925, Ronald Ryan grew up in suburban Richmond, Victoria, one of ten children in a working-class family. In 1942, at just 17, he lied about his age to enlist in the Royal Australian Air Force, serving as a wireless operator during World War II. He survived combat over Burma and India, returning home in 1946 with medals for his service. But civilian life proved turbulent. After stints as a timber worker and timber mill laborer, Ryan fell into a cycle of petty crime and brushes with the law. ...

  I van Milat’s name still sends a chill through Australia’s national memory. Long before “true crime” became a genre and internet forums buzzed with sleuthing speculation, Milat carried out a series of murders that would rock the nation’s sense of safety—especially for travelers exploring our vast, open roads. Known today simply as the “Backpacker Murderer,” Ivan Milat’s crimes left an indelible mark on the Australian consciousness, shaping how we talk about hitchhiking, trust, and the darker undercurrents that can lurk beneath a friendly smile. Milat was born in 1944 in the suburb of Eatonville, New South Wales, into a large and troubled family. Over the years, whispers circulated about the dysfunction in the Milat household—tales of violence, heavy drinking, and emotional volatility. But Ivan, the fourth of six children, often slipped under the radar. To neighbours and acquaintances, he appeared polite, even courteous—a quirk that would later prove disarming. He trained as an ap...

Every 18 minutes in Australia, someone is reported missing. Some are found within hours. Others within days. But for thousands, the story ends not with closure — but with questions that linger for decades, haunting families, baffling investigators, and chilling communities. At   Adelaide True Crime Tours , we don’t just walk the streets and retell grisly tales. We ask deeper questions about justice, memory, and why some voices go silent — and stay silent. This week, we’re focusing on the thousands of   missing persons cases   that still sit cold in Australian police files. Their stories aren’t just sad — they’re unsettling reminders of how easy it can be to disappear, and how long the shadows last when someone does. The Scope of the Silence Australia sees over   38,000 missing persons reports   each year. Most are resolved quickly — but as of today, more than   2,600 people   remain missing long-term. These are not just numbers. These are sons and daug...

  On a chilly July night in 1986, Sydney’s northern suburbs were rocked by news so brutal it felt as though the city itself shuddered. Anita Cobby—a 26-year-old registered nurse known for her bright smile and tireless work ethic—had been abducted, raped, and murdered. The details that emerged over the following days were so horrific that they galvanized a nation’s outrage, forever changing how Australians talk about violence against women. Anita grew up in Turramurra, an affluent part of Sydney’s Upper North Shore. She was the eldest of three siblings and had always been determined to serve others. After completing nursing training at Hornsby Hospital, she took a job at Hornsby Hospital’s emergency department, where her calm under pressure and gentle bedside manner won her the admiration of colleagues and patients alike. Off duty, she was an avid swimmer, loved spending time with family, and often helped out at local community events. Friends describe her spirit as “sunny” and “unf...

On a warm Portuguese evening in early May 2007, Kate and Gerry McCann tucked their three children into bed at Apartment 5A of the Ocean Club resort in Praia da Luz. The twins, Sean and Amélie, were fast asleep. But when Kate checked on daughter Madeleine a short while later, the little girl had vanished without a trace. The sliding patio door hung open, but there was no sign of forced entry or struggle. Panic rippled through the resort as family and guests joined in a frantic search by torchlight—yet no clues emerged that night. From the very beginning, the Portuguese Polícia Judiciária led the inquiry. Detectives scoured the resort, interviewed staff and holidaymakers, and combed the nearby streets. In an early twist, Portuguese authorities even named Kate and Gerry as arguidos—official suspects—a few months later. By July 2008, however, the McCanns were cleared when investigators found no evidence to suggest parental involvement. Almost immediately, the disappearance became a global ...