The Greatest Menace cover art

The Greatest Menace

By: Patrick Abboud,Simon Cunich
Narrated by: Patrick Abboud
  • Summary

  • Best True Crime Podcast, Australian Podcast Awards 2022

    Walkley Award for Best Audio Feature 2022

    The Walkley Foundation’s Media Diversity Australia Award 2022

    Gold, Social Justice category, New York Festivals Radio Award 2022

    Gold, Documentary category, Signal Awards 2023

    Please note: Contains strong language and adult content. 

    Tucked away amongst snow-covered mountains is a tiny Australian town with a dark secret. Journalist Patrick Abboud hears whispers that it was once home to the world’s only 'gay prison'. A prison that specifically incarcerated gay men. His investigation into what happened inside reveals the full story for the first time. This queer true-crime journey takes you from underground nightclubs to hidden sex haunts, to remote parts of New Zealand and England. You’ll find yourself entangled in a police cover up, a case of wrongful conviction and a human experiment that didn’t go to plan. At the centre of it all was a covert government operation to eradicate 'the greatest menace to society': homosexuality. 

    Now with a bonus episode, The Runaway: In the first year since the series' release the producers were flooded with new information. This episode features an extraordinary interview with a prison inmate and looks at how he wants to regain his dignity.

    Researched, written and produced by Patrick Abboud and Simon Cunich. 

    Presented by Patrick Abboud. This Audible Original is produced by Lockdown Productions Pty Ltd. 

    Patrick Abboud was the Jesse Cox Audio Fellow 2020, with support from its founding sponsor Audible, its production partner Unison Sound and its festival partners Third Coast International Audio Festival and Audiocraft Podcast Festival.

    Reporting was also supported by The Walkley Public Fund.  

    ©2022 Lockdown Productions Pty Ltd. (P)2022 Audible Australia Pty Ltd.
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Episodes
  • TRAILER: The Greatest Menace
    Jan 30 2023

    Winner of The Walkley Foundation’s Media Diversity Australia Award 2022

    Gold winner in the Social Justice Podcast category, and awarded Bronze in the Serialized Podcast and Narrative/Documentary Podcast categories at the 2022 New York Festivals Radio Award

    Please note: Contains strong language and adult content.

    Tucked away amongst snow-covered mountains is a tiny Australian town with a dark secret. Journalist Patrick Abboud hears whispers that it was once home to the world’s only 'gay prison'. A prison that specifically incarcerated gay men. His investigation into what happened inside reveals the full story for the first time. This queer true-crime journey takes you from underground nightclubs to hidden sex haunts, to remote parts of New Zealand and England. You’ll find yourself entangled in a police cover up, a case of wrongful conviction and a human experiment that didn’t go to plan. At the centre of it all was a covert government operation to eradicate 'the greatest menace to society': homosexuality.

    Researched, written and produced by Patrick Abboud and Simon Cunich.

    Presented by Patrick Abboud. This Audible Original is produced by Lockdown Productions Pty Ltd.

    Patrick Abboud was the Jesse Cox Audio Fellow 2020, with support from its founding sponsor Audible, its production partner Unison Sound and its festival partners Third Coast International Audio Festival and Audiocraft Podcast Festival.

    Reporting was also supported by The Walkley Public Fund.

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    2 mins
  • Ep 1: The Vice Squad
    Feb 9 2023

    A mysterious tip starts Patrick investigating rumours of a gay prison and the police squad that ruthlessly targeted gay men.

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    40 mins
  • Ep 2: The Queen City of the South
    Feb 9 2023

    Patrick arrives in a small town with a big secret and starts investigating why the government would create a gay prison.

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    35 mins

What listeners say about The Greatest Menace

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An amazing interplay of history, reporting and personal reflection

Wow. I was shocked at what Patrick uncovers and thrilled at the professionalism of the narrative. He weaves re-enactments from historical documents with interviews of people who experienced physical and psychological torture ordained by the New South Wales government. As he delved deeper and develops more contacts and detail, the tension ramps up like good drama. But it’s not drama. It’s our hidden history. Characters range from inspirational to unrepentant vile examples of Australian men at the time. And overlaying this is Patrick’s complex but ultimately life affirming relationship with his family history, played out with conversations with his mum, Mary. She, more than many of the others, shows personal growth and true humanity. Just before Patrick reads out the credits, there is a wordless interaction between Mary and a (very) young family member that allows an at-times bleak narrative to sour with hope and joy. Dr Pól Miles-McCann, psychotherapist.

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An important read

Thank you to Patrick Abboud and Simon Cunich for their insightful research and sympathetic story telling. This was an emotional rollercoaster with wonderful characters.
The only shame that should ever have been felt, is the fact that our Country could treat it's citizens in such a cruel and inhumane manner.
Pity it took so long for love to finally win.

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Just amazing

Thank you so much for this. I smiled and cried in equal measure. Holding all those impacted directly in my heart.

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Fascinating

A fascinating look at Australia’s dark past and the beginning of the fight for Gay Rights. 10/10 👍

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eye opening

I loved it. I found it informative and enjoyed the personal touches of the investigative journey.

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An important story that needed to be found and told

This is a must listen to story researched and told so beautifully by Patrick Abboud and Simon Cunich. The world is changing and there are parts of this programme that recognise some of the amazing people who helped make the change Australia needed to have.
Thank you for bringing to life this important
part of Australia’s history.

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Horrific, Appalling, and Captivating

Pat has dug deep to get information on this horrendous part of gay history

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Very compelling

Very compelling and shocking narrative mixing the historical, the present and the extremely personal. Highly recommended.

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Engrossing!

What a story! How is this part of Australian history not more well known? Beautifully written and delivered. Look forward to more from these authors.

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Fascinating and devastating

This was so brilliant to listen to.
Hearing the history told first hand by the men and women who had to fight so hard to to live and express them selves is both fascinating and devastating.
Many a year was shed along with many smiles .

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  • Simplicity seller
  • 10-08-2023

didn't hold my attention

I have listened to two full episodes, and will probably stop here. The narrator/host has a lovely voice and delivery, but the content is pretty slow moving. I am disappointed because the topic at hand seems like an important one.

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  • Mike
  • 20-06-2023

This was a very awesome podcast

This is one of the most in-depth and accurate podcast I've listened to in a long time. Thank you for taking the time to do this.

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  • TheZee
  • 20-02-2022

And the truth wins

I listened to this podcast with bated breath and optimism even though I knew there would be difficult facts to unfold.

This notorious idea of a prison just for gay men is abhorrent and so far from the mind of those who believe in inclusion.

I am glad that this podcast exists so that many shamed people can find solace in their truth for the better.

Patrick and Simon have given the world a gift worth every pain to bring it forth.

Human evolution is slow and yet in our time it's time to accept that different doesn't mean bad. This podcast is proof the truth wins and no laws can control it.

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  • Lee
  • 22-03-2023

Flawless

Such an inspiring and well presented piece of work. You have done the LGBTQ+ community proud. Thank you.

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  • Rowan Calver
  • 15-01-2023

So good!

Everyone should listen to this. Narrated amazingly + so fascinating. So sad to learn about what happened but I hope times have changed for the better.

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