25 Years Ago, A Revengeful Man Set Fire To A Queensland Hostel
02/05/25 • 54 min
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 [email protected] 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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Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.
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.
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.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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 [email protected] 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
GET IN TOUCH
Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review.
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.
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.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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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.
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.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Producer: Tahli Blackman
Audio Producer: Jacob Round
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Rate or review us on Apple by clicking on the three dots in the top right-hand corner, click Go To Show then scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on the stars at the bottom and write a review. You can also leave a comment for us on Spotify.
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.
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.
Become a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
True Crime Conversations - 25 Years Ago, A Revengeful Man Set Fire To A Queensland Hostel
Transcript
You're listening to a Mamma Mia podcast. Mamma Mia acknowledges the traditional owners of land and waters. This podcast was recorded on It's After Midnight on June twenty third, two thousand and twenty, four year old Mnushka Tavan awakens to a loud crashing and crackling noise, jumping off her bunk in the Childer's Palace backpacks hostel in Queensland. She's beaten to the door by her roommate. As he opens it, a thick, tar like wall of black smok
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