Thrilling Coogee Shark Arm Case Becomes An Immersive Mystery
Image: Photo: Cover of The Sydney Truth, 5 May 1935
The bizarre and infamous true crime story of Coogee’s Shark Arm Case will be brought to life in an immersive murder mystery at the historic, 175-year-old Justice and Police Museum near Circular Quay.
Written by Kyla Lee, this gripping and perplexing theatrical event revisits the real events of 1935, Sydney, when a tiger shark in Coogee Aquarium famously regurgitated a human arm, which had a distinctive tattoo.
Mixing Sydney’s true crime and immersive entertainment, visitors will be able to uncover the murky underworld of 1930s Sydney, where smuggling, insurance fraud, and cold-blooded murder intertwine.
A cast of complex characters will emerge as the perplexing case unravels in front of the audience’s eyes. The cast includes Detective Sergeant Frank Mathews, underworld figures, and the wives of key suspects.
Blending immersive storytelling with live theatre, Shark Arm Case invites participants to explore the museum’s spaces while uncovering clues in a thrilling recreation of one of Australia’s most perplexing unsolved crimes.
The 175-year-old Justice & Police Museum will be housing the immersive mystery
The Justice and Police Museum is a portal to a world of crime, punishment, and policing. Revealing more than a century of Sydney’s underworld, the museum delves into the stories of razor gangs, bushrangers, sly grog, and now sharks regurgitating chopped off arms is part of the mix.
Stephen Carnell, who is the Founder of Deadhouse Productions and Producer of the Shark Arm Case, reflects on the show as “engaging and exciting” with the location of the show bringing an element of history and functionality.
“I chose this tale as a part of our Deadhouse immersive true crime series because it contains all the elements that make our productions engaging and exciting,” he said.
“We set it in the 175-year-old Justice & Police Museum at Circular Quay because this fascinating heritage building was what we sought for this tale, as it contained two courtrooms, several drawing rooms, and gaol cells.
“Set in 1935, the Shark Arm Case involves our audience in a wild story of a Tiger Shark disgorging a severed arm in front of an audience in Coogee Aquarium. The arm has been chopped off, not bitten off. It had a distinctive tattoo of two boxers. A murder mystery? The chase begins…”
The True Crime Story Starts in Coogee Beach
The bizarre true crime story started at Coogee Beach with a tiger shark, setting off a chain of events that captivated Sydney residents.
On the 17th of April 1935, a four-metre Tiger Shark was caught off Coogee Beach by a fisherman, which was then transferred to Coogee Aquarium Baths for public display.
Within a week of the shark being held captive, it vomited a forearm with a distinctive tattoo. After the examination, it was revealed that the arm had been severed off with a knife, catalyzing a police investigation into murder.
The Sydney State Library states that a description of the tattooed arm was published in the Sydney Truth. Edwin Smith came forward to identify the arm as his brother, James Smith, who had been missing since the 7th of April 1953.
Smith was a suburban Billiard Saloon Keeper, ex-boxer and a small time criminal. It is speculated that Smith was killed because of an insurance scam and blackmail.
Dates: 14 to 30 August 2025 (Thurs, Fri, and Sat evenings)
Session times: 6.30 pm and 8 pm each evening
Location: Justice & Police Museum, Cnr Phillip St and Albert St, Sydney
Tickets: Available via Eventbrite
Duration: 60 minutes
Age recommendation: 16+
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