In the 1990s and early 2000s, Australia was considered a far-flung paradise for backpackers from all over the globe.
Travelers flocked Down Under, where they were spellbound by our relaxed lifestyle, beaches, remote outback and the hostel culture.
The backpacker dream was badly shaken during serial killer Ivan Milat’s reign of terror, but in 2000, another tragedy ripped through the tourism community.
The rural town of Childers, 300km from Brisbane, was popular with backpackers for its fruit-picking opportunities.
On June 23, 2000, Robert Paul Long, then 37, deliberately lit a deadly fire at the Palace Backpacker Hostel in Childers.
At about 1 am, Long started a fire in a garbage bin outside the popular hostel as 84 people slept in the heritage building.
Long, a drifter who had previously lodged at the hostel allegedly had a hatred of the young backpackers who stayed there. It was later claimed he felt “excluded” and used the fire to channel his rage.
His petty revenge had unthinkable consequences, with 15 of the slumbering backpackers killed as the fire tore through the hostel.
Nine men and six women died, including Western Australian twins Kelly and Stacey Clarke.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 29, 2020-Ausgabe von New Idea.
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Diese Geschichte stammt aus der June 29, 2020-Ausgabe von New Idea.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
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PREP, SET & FORGET
LET THE SLOW COOKER DELIVER FLAVOURSOME MEALS WITH MINIMAL EFFORT!
Lady Louise - THE ULTIMATE WORKING ROYAL!
HELPING OUT FOAL-FILLS HER HEART
SKIPPING FOR JOY! Meet the next Bindi Irwin!
MAGGIE AND HER FAMILY ARE ON A MISSION TO SAVE THE KANGAROOS
In sickness & IN HEALTH
DAVID AND SHIRLEY MET IN A STRANGE TWIST OF FATE
Brad's romance rewind - NEW LOVE, SAME OLD MOVES!
ALL THIS IS LOOKING VERY, VERY FAMILIAR...
Margaret & David - SPARRING PARTNERS TILL THE END
THEY'LL ALWAYS BE TWO PEAS IN A POD
CALLUM HOLE 'IM THE NEW KING NEW OF TV'
HE'S STEPPED OUT OF CAMP AND INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
DR CHRIS VS JULIA - TV BATTLE LINES ARE DRAWN!
THE ANIMAL LOVER IS RETURNING TO FAMILIAR TERRITORY
Will the real Bert PLEASE STAND UP?
BROOKE, CAITLIN AND KARLI FELT SOMETHING WAS AMISS
MARY'S BRAVE CONFESSION 'BEING QUEEN IS OVERWHELMING!'
THE AUSSIE ROYAL ADMITS HER NEW ROLE IS TOUGH