Episode 030 - The Hawkesbury River Monster

The Hawkesbury River Monster, a cryptid said to inhabit the waters near the Hawkesbury River in New South Wales, has been a part of Australian folklore for centuries. Descriptions of the creature vary, but many eyewitness accounts depict a large, serpentine or eel-like beast that surfaces from the murky waters, often near the river’s bends or secluded inlets. Some have compared it to the Loch Ness Monster, suggesting that the creature might be a relic of prehistoric times. Sightings of the monster date back to early European settlers, with indigenous people of the region also having legends of water serpents.

Join Holly & Matthew as they delve into the legend of the Hawkesbury River Monster.

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Sources cited:

• Lang, Ruby. 2012. The Hawkesbury River Monster—What lies beneath? Accessed August 25, 2021. http://strangenationaustralia.blogspot.com/2012/09/the-hawkesbury-river-monster-what-lies.html.
• Hawkesbury Regional Museum. 2010. Creatures of myth and legend. Accessed August 25, 2021. https://www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/105961/Myths,-Creatures-and-Legends-2010.pdf.
• The Windsor and Richmond Gazette. 1924. "Seeing things." September 5: 1. Accessed August 25, 201. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/85899247.
• Yahoo News. 2017. "Family films 'strange' creature in Hawkesbury River." December 12. Accessed August 25, 2021. https://au.news.yahoo.com/sydney-family-films-mystery-creature-swimming-in-hawkesbury-river-38255927.html.
• Truth. 1936. "Sharks in the Hawkesbury." December 13: 16. Accessed August 25, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/169591314.
• The Daily Advertiser. 1934. "Huge black cod." January 5: 2. Accessed August 25, 2021. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/143582247.
• The Newcastle Herald. 2016. "Odd creature washed up at Swansea identified as a pike eel." February 16. Accessed August 25, 2021. https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/3732074/messed-up-croc-washes-up-on-nsw-beach/.

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