Welcome to Dark Tales local history & true crime stories
Bringing the dark history of Sydney's Inner West to life.
New Discoveries Await
The aim of Dark Tales is simple, to give people a new way to explore the suburbs they see every day.
My first book Dark Tales of Lost Leichhardt was written to reignite interest in the formerly bustling suburb of Leichhardt, Sydney. It covers 100 years, from the disappearance of Ludwig Leichhardt in 1848 to the mid-1950s. The book includes tales such as the female highway robber on Parramatta Road, the cunning larrikin gangs of Norton Street and the truth that lies buried beneath Pioneers Memorial Park. For younger readers, there is an informative, history-based version -the Younger Person's Edition.
On The Edge: More Dark Tales of Sydney's Inner West maps the dark tales and historical true crime events from suburbs that share a border with Leichhardt - Annandale, Balmain, Haberfield, Lilyfield, Petersham and Rozelle. You can buy the whole book, or the Annandale and Balmain and Rozelle-focused editions. Find out about Balmain's coal mine catastrophe, the Basher Gangs of Rozelle, the underbelly of Annandale and the role of Petersham in the Pyjama Girl Murder.
And for those of you who like a walk, tales from Dark Tales and On The Edge have been expanded into a walking guide, spanning Leichhardt, Haberfield and Lilyfield - the Ten Walks of Terror.
I am now focusing on Inner West Sydney's most notable streets, with Dark Tales of King Street Newtown and Dark Tales of Glebe Point Road just published. There will be more to come, so please step in and immerse yourself in a world that lies underneath the everyday in the Inner West of Sydney. I am a long-time Leichhardt resident, social researcher and local history buff.
Heather, Owner and Founder, Dark Tales
Dark Tales was a Finalist in the 2025 Inner West Business Awards
My books - click an image to buy
