Crimes That Shook Australia

On 8 December 1987, Frank Vitkovic opened fire with a military‑grade rifle at the Australia Post headquarters on Queen Street in Melbourne. The incident, later termed the Queen Street massacre, resulted in eight deaths. Eight people were killed in the attack.

The programme titled “The Queen Street Massacre” is presented as a single episode that recounts a tragic event in Australian history. It is structured as a factual recounting rather than a dramatised narrative, aiming to give viewers a clear picture of what happened on a specific day in Melbourne. The episode’s focus is narrowly set on the incident at the Queen Street headquarters of Australia Post. The core of the episode centres on the shooting that took place on 8 December 1987 at the Australia Post building on Queen Street. On that afternoon, Frank Vitkovic entered the premises and opened fire using a military‑grade rifle. The assault resulted in the deaths of eight people, a loss that the programme records in a straightforward manner. The description sticks to the known details of the shooter, the weapon, the location and the fatal outcome. In addition to outlining the basic facts, the episode walks through the sequence of events as they unfolded within the building, noting the timing of the attack and the immediate impact on those present. It also touches on the broader repercussions of the incident, presenting the information without speculation. By concentrating on the date, place, perpetrator, armament and casualty count, the programme offers a concise, factual account of the Queen Street massacre.