It’s August 23, 2016, in a sleepy Queensland town named Home Hill, south of Townsville. 

Shelley’s Backpackers is a modest hostel in the small regional town, where backpackers on working holiday visas stay while completing their mandatory farm work.

The days are long. And hot. They see snakes and operate heavy machinery without any training. Aren’t those brown snakes meant to be deadly, they think to themselves. At night, they sleep in dormitories, some sharing rooms with strangers. 

On the evening of August 23, a few of the British backpackers go to the pub. They have a few beers and something to eat, before heading back for an early night. Among them, is a 21-year-old woman named Mia Ayliffe-Chung. Another is Chris Porter. 

When they return to the hostel, everyone climbs into their separate beds and drifts off to sleep. 

Mia, at this point, had only been working there a week. Already, though, she was anxious. Something was troubling her. 

A few hours later, Chris awoke to screams, unlike anything he’d ever heard. 

Something was terribly wrong. 

And shockwaves were sent from this tiny Queensland town, all the way back to England. 

 

CREDITS

Guest: Rosie Ayliffe, author of Far From Home

Host: Jessie Stephens

Producer: Gia Moylan

Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri

 

CONTACT US

Tell us what you think of the show via email at truecrime@mamamia.com.au  

Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link https://bit.ly/tcc-group 

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

It&rsquo;s August 23, 2016, in a sleepy Queensland town named Home Hill, south of Townsville.&nbsp;
Shelley&rsquo;s Backpackers is a modest hostel in the small regional town, where backpackers on working holiday visas stay while completing their mandatory farm work.
The days are long. And hot. They see snakes and operate heavy machinery without any training. Aren&rsquo;t those brown snakes meant to be deadly, they think to themselves. At night, they sleep in dormitories, some sharing rooms with strangers.&nbsp;
On the evening of August 23, a few of the British backpackers go to the pub. They have a few beers and something to eat, before heading back for an early night. Among them, is a 21-year-old woman named Mia Ayliffe-Chung. Another is Chris Porter.&nbsp;
When they return to the hostel, everyone climbs into their separate beds and drifts off to sleep.&nbsp;
Mia, at this point, had only been working there a week. Already, though, she was anxious. Something was troubling her.&nbsp;
A few hours later, Chris awoke to screams, unlike anything he&rsquo;d ever heard.&nbsp;
Something was terribly wrong.&nbsp;
And shockwaves were sent from this tiny Queensland town, all the way back to England.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
CREDITS
Guest: Rosie Ayliffe, author of <a href="https://go.skimresources.com?id=53410X1291869&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.booktopia.com.au%2Ffar-from-home-rosie-ayliffe%2Fbook%2F9780143796398.html">Far From Home</a>
Host: Jessie Stephens
Producer: Gia Moylan
Audio Producer: Ian Camilleri
&nbsp;
CONTACT US
Tell us what you think of the show via email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:truecrime@mamamia.com.au">truecrime@mamamia.com.au</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Join our closed Facebook community to discuss this episode. Just search True Crime Conversations on Facebook or follow this link<a href="https://bit.ly/tcc-group">&nbsp;https://bit.ly/tcc-group</a>&nbsp;
If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via<a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">&nbsp;Lifeline</a>&nbsp;on 13 11 14 or<a href="https://www.beyondblue.org.au/">&nbsp;Beyond Blue</a>&nbsp;on 1300 22 4636
See&nbsp;<a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a>&nbsp;for privacy information.
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.

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. Hosted by Gemma Bath.

True Crime Conversations explores the world's most notorious crimes by speaking to the people who know the most about them. Hosted by Gemma Bath.