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Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour
Highlights
- Explore Melbourne's oldest suburb and uncover the gritty history of notorious criminals from a century ago.
- Stop outside historic brothels and sly grog shops, immersing yourself in Fitzroy's vibrant past and its infamous characters.
- Follow the narrative crafted by historian Michael Shelford, bringing to life the dramatic tales of gang wars and crime.
- Receive a free booklet featuring photos of criminals, enhancing your understanding of Fitzroy's dark yet fascinating history.
Explore Melbourne’s oldest suburb, a place where the city’s most notorious criminals lived 100 years ago. Along the way you will stop outside buildings which were once brothels, sly grog shops (speakeasies) and dens of thieves.
The narrative follows Fitzroy’s journey from a wealthy and fashionable suburb through to the post World War I era when the district erupted into Australia’s greatest ever gang war. The tours are designed and delivered by writer and historian, Michael Shelford, and based on original source material from the old police files. You will receive a free booklet with photos of the criminals featured on the tour.
Tour details
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Available from 1 January 2024 to 18 December 2025
Features
Service facilities
Actively welcomes people with access needs.
General access
- Offers multiple options for booking – web, email, phone is available.
- Offers a range of contact methods for receiving complaints.
- Companion Cards are accepted.
- Website meets <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/" target="_blank">WCAG 2.0</a> accessibility standards
- Assistance with booking arrangements (includes providing clear itineraries with written instructions on what to do at various destinations)
Access & Inclusion
An access and inclusion statement is available on the business website.
- https://www.melbournehistoricalcrimetours.com/accessibility.html
Operation information
Melbourne Historical Crime Tours
Join in a Melbourne true crime tour – created and hosted by writer and historian Michael Shelford as featured on ABC Radio, BBC Radio, SBS television Secrets of our Cities and numerous other radio and podcast shows. His true crime articles have been published in newspapers such as the Herald Sun and the Guardian along with various magazines.
Take a trip back to the early 1900s when Melbourne’s inner-city crime district was controlled by female syndicates, Fitzroy was home to Australia’s largest-ever gang war, and Melbourne’s Chinatown was targeted by police for illegal gambling and opium.
Night tours feature a handheld laser projector, used by your host to project images of the historical characters discussed onto the buildings and streets they once inhabited.
The two-hour walking tours take place every Saturday late morning (Melbourne CBD), Saturday afternoon in Collingwood, Sunday late morning (Fitzroy) and Sunday afternoon in Chinatown. There is also a Melbourne CBD night tour on the first Friday of each month.
Included as part of the tour is your own copy of the official tour booklet, which contains photos of the criminals discussed and other interesting information.
Please book online in advance via the website or on Facebook.
Tags
Memberships
- Victoria Tourism Industry Council
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