By Matthew Sims
From Pakenham potter Robert Gordon discussing his love for clay to the history of the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick, a new podcast tour is showcasing some of the South East’s hidden tales.
As part of a partnership with Storytowns Podcast Tours, Metro Trains and the Department of Transport and Planning, new Storytowns podcast episodes are telling the untold stories of the region with a series of podcasts, with episodes along the Pakenham line now available.
Using geo-located podcasts, the podcast episodes play automatically as you approach a landmark or point of interest, with episodes now available for Pakenham, Berwick, Narre Warren, Dandenong and Springvale.
The podcast series covers a variety of themes, including local food, culture, street art, travel tips, fun facts, and interesting stories about each suburb’s history, culture and train stations.
Metro Trains chief executive Raymond O’Flaherty said the new podcasts are showcasing the rich and diverse history of Melbourne for all passengers.
“We are excited to provide a different and interesting experience for our passengers and tourists as they travel across our network,” he said.
Storytowns founder Jarrod Pickford said every suburb across the state has a story to tell.
“We’re excited to bring Melbourne’s unique character and history to life through the voices of its people,” he said.
The idea for the podcast originated during Mr Pickford’s global hitchhiking trips in his 20s and 30s, which inspired a passion to link travellers with local communities via geo-located audio, infused with local insights.
Since launching in 2019, Storytowns has offered hundreds of free geo-located podcast tours throughout Australia, transforming the way people explore and connect with their surroundings.
For more information, visit www.storytowns.com.au/metro or download the Storytowns app.
