In a moment that has become a cornerstone of Australian pop culture, a 1991 arrest outside a restaurant in Brisbane’s Chinatown has been officially recognized as one of the Sounds of Australia. This incident, which later evolved into one of the world’s earliest viral video memes, continues to captivate audiences nearly two decades later.
The events unfolded on the afternoon of August 11, 1991, when reporters were tipped off about a significant police arrest scheduled to take place at the China Sea restaurant in Fortitude Valley.
The original footage, rediscovered in 2009 by Russell Furman, a Nine Network presentation coordinator and tape operator, was uploaded to the burgeoning video platform YouTube. This upload marked the beginning of its viral journey.
By 2013, the video had gained international attention when it was featured by US content creator Ray William Johnson, leading to millions of views worldwide and solidifying its place in internet history.
The man at the center of the incident, Karlson, who passed away in 2024, found himself back in the spotlight years later. In several interviews, he reflected on the event, candidly admitting that he wasn’t entirely sure what had provoked his now-famous outburst.
Karlson, who died in 2024, also returned to the limelight, conducting multiple interviews on the subject, and admitting he wasn’t sure what prompted the famous outburst.
Now, the original Seven news broadcast has been named one of nine Sounds of Australia for 2026 by the National Film and Sound Archive.
Others included Scar by Missy Higgins, Rosie Batty’s Australian of the Year acceptance speech, the Reading Writing Hotline jingle, and the sound of a PB/5 pedestrian crossing button.
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