The bushland on the island is a Mecca for bushwalkers, and considered a safe haven for those wanting to start a new life, or to get away from something — or someone.

But over the years, Tasmania has become known as much for its secrets as it is for its beauty. Out of the 169 people who’ve gone missing on the island since the mid 20th century, dozens of those have entered the Tasmanian wilderness — never to be seen again.

But why do people seem to fall off the edge of the world here?

The Lost Ones eight-part podcast looks into the stories of those who’ve disappeared without a trace and those who have fallen victim to foul play.

In episode one we meet Geoffrey Rallings, who was a devoutly religious man who moved from England to Cooranbong, NSW, in the 1960s before relocating his family to regional Tasmania.

The piano accordion player went missing around Christmas, 1995, with a number of people suspected of murdering him. A man who more recently moved to Geoffrey’s township is convinced he’s buried on his property, claiming he’s “haunted” by him.

In episode two, we look at “Bushman” John Norrish, who always wore an Akubra-style hat, and went missing from the tranquil East Coast Tasmanian township of St Helens in 2018.

His family said they had to do all of the investigative work into his disappearance and are sure he was murdered over a $200 debt.

Listen to episodes of The Lost Ones here:

John’s family are infuriated by police, saying they didn’t take John’s case seriously and just “fobbed us off”.

Then, we meet Vietnam War veteran Ian Nichols who went to a campground in central Tasmania to build a retreat shack for vets called the Red Rooster. The others helping him returned home, but Ian was never seen again.

In episode four, Billy Steffen, a Brisbane man besieged with troubles after his divorce, and losing custody of his two children. In 1985, after visiting a Zen Buddhist retreat, he disappeared.

In episode five, we look at Tasmania’s caves, sinkholes and Tasmanian devils who can eat human remains, making it tough to find a body.

In episode six, we explore the theory of whether a serial killer could have been active in Tasmania during the 1990s.

High-profile lawyer Greg Barns SC then tells us in episode seven why people commit violent crimes in places like Tasmania.

Tasmania is the most densely-forested state in Australia. Its stunning landscape is freezing cold for much of the year, and if you come to grief in its wilds, you may never, ever be found.

Finally in episode eight, we meet Paul Byrne who disappeared from the township of Rossarden in 1996. Not longer after he vanished, Mr Byrne’s home and the house he was last seen at were burned to the ground. It’s believed he was sexually tortured before he was murdered, and thrown down a disused mine shaft.