Australian Families Of Crime
Australian Families of Crime is a documentary series that offers insight into some of Australia's most infamous crime families known for wielding power, fear, and destruction across the country. The series explores the lives, histories, and criminal enterprises of these families that played major roles in organized crime, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, arms dealing, and extortion.
Carl Williams, a notorious underworld figure in Melbourne's 1990s drug trade. Carl Williams was known for his involvement in a violent gangland war and is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of around 10 people.
"King of the Cross" refers to Abe Saffron, a notorious Australian crime boss and prominent figure in Sydney's underworld during the mid-to-late 20th century. He was known as the "Mr Big" of Australian crime and "Mr Sin," largely due to his extensive empire of nightclubs, brothels, illegal gambling, prostitution, drug dealing, and other vice businesses centered in the King's Cross red-light district. Saffron's influence extended deep into politics, law enforcement, and the entertainment industry, making him a powerful and feared figure for over five decades.
Kath Pettingill, often referred to as the "Mother of Evil," is the matriarch of the infamous Melbourne-based Pettingill crime family. Born in 1935, she was a former brothel owner who led one of Australia's most notorious and violent criminal families, heavily involved in drug trafficking, arms dealing, armed robberies, and other serious crimes. The family included ten children, many of whom were deeply involved in criminal activities themselves, with several known for violent offenses and lengthy prison sentences.
The notorious Kane brothers, Brian and Leslie Kane. Leslie Kane was described by his widow as “the most violent man in Australia.” The brothers were key figures in the Melbourne underworld during the 1970s. They were involved in violent gangland wars and criminal enterprises tied to the Painters and Dockers Union, which was a hub for illegal activities like extortion and gambling on Melbourne's waterfronts.
The notorious Sydney underworld crime bosses Lenny McPherson and George Freeman. Lenny McPherson, known as "Mr Big," was a ruthless and violent figure who controlled Sydney's organized crime scene for decades through extortion, drug trafficking, illegal gambling, and prostitution. He maintained deep connections with corrupt police officers that helped him evade serious prosecution for most of his crimes.
The chilling story of one of Australia's most infamous serial killer couples from Perth during the 1980s. David and Catherine Birnie abducted, raped, and murdered four women and attempted to kill a fifth, in what became known as the Moorhouse Murders, named after their home address on Moorhouse Street.
The brutal and infamous case of the Anita Cobby killers. Les, Michael, and Gary Murphy, brothers from a large Irish family, were among the men convicted for the savage abduction, rape, and murder of Sydney nurse and beauty queen Anita Cobby in 1986. The crime shocked the nation and led to widespread calls for the reintroduction of the death penalty in Australia.