Lightning Ridge, in northern New South Wales, Australia, is a unique place with a spectacular name. In this episode, we meet up with Barbara Moritz, from the Lightning Ridge Historical Society to learn not only how Lightning Ridge got its name, but how it was three towns for the price of one -- Wallangulla, Nettleton and Lightning Ridge.

Special thanks to Barbara Moritz!

Historical photos provided courtesy of the Lightning Ridge Historical Society.

Lightning Ridge tourist information: http://lightningridgeinfo.com.au

Read more from Barbara about the Nettleton postal seal at ABC Open: https://open.abc.net.au/explore/61909

Book passage is quoted from My Bush Book, by Katie Langloh Parker (foreword and biography by Marcie Muir). I'd provide a link, but the book appears to be out of print. If you search, some second hand copies appear to be available through Amazon or eBay. It was published in 1982.

References for lightning strikes killing animals statistics:
http://www.glenallenweather.com/histo...
http://scienceblogs.com/tetrapodzoolo... (WARNING: Unpleasant images) http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/na...