Images and Video
Gangsters, Brothels & Lolly Shops – Historical Crime Tour
Highlights
- Explore Melbourne’s gritty past as you stroll through Little Lon, uncovering tales of crime and resilience.
- Discover the stories of powerful madams who challenged notorious gangsters like Squizzy Taylor during the 1870s to 1930s.
- Stop at historic brothels and sly grog shops, immersing yourself in the vibrant underworld of early Melbourne.
- Learn from expert historian Michael Shelford, whose insights bring the city’s dark history to life with vivid detail.
Take a walk through downtown Melbourne and learn of an era in which there was much more on offer at the local confectionery store than just lollies and soft drinks.
Explore Melbourne’s underworld c.1870’s to 1930’s, an era in which Melbourne’s downtown slum district, ‘Little Lon’, was mostly run by women. Learn about the battle for supremacy, madams who stood their ground against well-known gangsters such as Squizzy Taylor, and an all-female crime syndicate known as ‘The Combine’. Stop outside buildings which were once brothels and sly grog shops, and hear the stories of what occurred within their walls and on the streets and laneways around them.
Shootings, bombings, bashings, brothels, robberies, opium, cocaine and sly grog (speakeasies).
The tour is designed and delivered by writer and historian, Michael Shelford.
Tour details
-
Available from 1 January 2024 to 30 November 2025
Features
Service facilities
Disabled access available, contact operator for details.
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
Plan more around this area
Melbourne, VIC The Victoria Hotel Melbourne
Offering classic style and contemporary comfort, ibis Styles Melbourne, The Victoria Hotel is the perfect accommodation choice for visitors travelling to Melbourne. Centrally located in
Melbourne, VIC 
Sofitel Melbourne On Collins
One of Australia's most luxurious hotels, Sofitel Melbourne On Collins is ideally located at the 'Paris' end of prestigious Collins Street.
East Melbourne, VIC Park Hyatt Melbourne
Surrounded by century-old elm trees in the heart of the city, Park Hyatt Melbourne offers a warm residential ambience, exceptional levels of personalised service.
Melbourne, VIC 
Grand Hyatt Melbourne
Grand Hyatt Melbourne hotel is located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD on prestigious Collins Street, Melbourne's epicentre of high fashion and fine dining and
Carlton, VIC The Eminence Apartments by CLLIX
Located in Melbourne in the Victoria region and Melbourne Museum reachable within 1 km, Arise The Eminence provides accommodation with free WiFi, BBQ facilities, a
Melbourne, VIC Avani Melbourne Central Residences
Avani Central Melbourne Residences is the perfect location to take in this buzzing, cutting edge city full of arts and culture.
Melbourne, VIC Cookie
Level 1 – Curtin House Cookie stands as one of Melbourne’s trendiest drinking and dining spots, blending a lively beer hall, hidden cocktail bar, and
Melbourne, VIC Rooftop Bar
To be honest, we can’t really think of a better way to describe Rooftop than the name already does: a bar…on a roof…in Melbourne! Having
Melbourne, VIC The Toff
Hiding away on the second floor of Melbourne’s iconic Curtin House is The Toff. The Toff features two distinct spaces, the carriage side for drinks
Melbourne, VIC Ngarrgu Djerring
Ngarrgu Djerring (pronounced Nar-guw Jerr-ing) is a social enterprise cafe by Killara Foundation, a First Nations not-for-profit supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by
Melbourne, VIC HER Melbourne
At the top of the building is HER ROOFTOP – a relaxed garden terrace for drinks, lunches, dinners and après – with European-inspired interiors, a
Melbourne, VIC Hello Kitty and Friends Cafe
Welcome to the Hello Kitty and Friends Café, Australia's first dining experience dedicated to Sanrio's beloved characters. Located at Melbourne Central, this whimsical café offers
