Gangsters, Brothels and Lolly Shops Crime Tour

Explore the streets and laneways, which were the home of crime, prostitution and vice 100 years ago. Shootings, bombings, bashings, brothels, robberies, opium, cocaine and sly grog - It's all there.

Walk through downtown Melbourne's 'Little Lon' district and learn of an era with much more on offer at lolly shops than confectionery and soft drinks.

You'll explore an underworld predominantly run by women and discover stories of how they stood their ground against well-known gangsters such as Squizzy Taylor. Along the way, stop outside buildings that 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.

Your guide is Michael Shelford. Michael is a writer, freelance journalist, and private historian. He has written for the Guardian newspaper and Time Out magazine and has been featured on ABC Radio.

With over eight years of experience researching Melbourne's crime history, Michael entertains with a treasure trove of chilling material and a generous helping of sin and scandal. You have been warned.