Melbourne: Gangsters, Brothels and Lolly Shops Tour
🏎 Why We Picked This
Culture experiences like this one are ideal for free mornings before Friday practice or the quiet Sunday morning before the race — you get depth without eating into race day.
📅 Popular during Grand Prix week
Melbourne: Gangsters, Brothels and Lolly Shops Tour
From $35 per person
About this experience
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 circa 1850s-1940s, 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 (speakeasies), and hear the stories of what occurred within their walls and on the streets and laneways around them. You can also see examples of former opium dens and all night cocaine cafes, and learn of the characters who frequented these establishments. You will hear of shootings, bombings, bashings, brothels, robberies, opium, cocaine and sly grog (speakeasies), on a tour designed and delivered by writer and historian, Michael Shelford.
Highlights
- ✓Explore the streets and alleys of Melbourne's former slum & brothel district
- ✓Stop outside the former home of Australia's most famous gangster Squizzy Taylor
- ✓Discover buildings which were 'houses of ill-fame' 100 years ago
- ✓See former opium dens and cocaine cafes and learn about the people who frequented these premises
- ✓Visit the last remaining single storey cottage in Melbourne's back lanes
What's included
- ✓Free tour booklet containing photos of the characters featured on the tour
Good to know
• Wear comfortable shoes for walking suggested • Sunscreen and weather protection are recommended according to conditions
Getting there
The tour group meets at 282 Exhibition Street (Coopers Inn Hotel), and leaves from this location right on starting time. If you're running a little late, you'll probably see the group in the small paved park across the lane.
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“Unexpectedly awesome. Michael showed his impeccable knowledge on the subject and kept us entertained with the shenanigans of the time. Even better we didn't have to walk far to see it all.”
“It was so fascinating & Michael was so knowledgable & kept us enthralled with his tales of the area. Will recommend doing this tour to family & friends.”
“Very informative, extremely helpful with questions asked”
46 reviews on GetYourGuide
Unexpectedly awesome. Michael showed his impeccable knowledge on the subject and kept us entertained with the shenanigans of the time. Even better we didn't have to walk far to see it all.
Very informative, extremely helpful with questions asked
It was so fascinating & Michael was so knowledgable & kept us enthralled with his tales of the area. Will recommend doing this tour to family & friends.