Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime & Gangsters, 2 Hours

Walk Melbourne's underworld through the eyes of the women who ran it

A two-hour historical walking tour of Melbourne's downtown, led by writer and historian Michael Shelford, explores the city's underworld from the 1870s to 1930s: a period when the slum district Little Lon was largely controlled by women. The tour stops outside former brothels and sly grog shops, recounting stories of madams, gangsters like Squizzy Taylor, and an all-female crime syndicate called The Combine, sourced from original police files. You receive a tour booklet with photos of the characters discussed. The tour is wheelchair accessible, suitable for all fitness levels, and children aged 16 and up are welcome when accompanied by an adult.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Melbourne's underworld history

• Walk through downtown Melbourne
• Learn about Little Lon district
• Hear stories of gangsters and madams
• Stop outside former brothels and speak easies
• Visit Little Lon Distilling Co cottage
• Listen to police file stories of inhabitants

The experience

The tour starts in Melbourne's CBD and moves through the laneways and streets of Little Lon, stopping outside buildings that once operated as brothels and illegal drinking dens. Michael Shelford, the historian who designed and leads the walk, draws on original police records to tell the stories of what happened inside those walls: shootings, bombings, bashings, robberies, opium trafficking and the power struggles between madams and well-known gangsters. One stop takes you to Little Lon Distilling Co, a gin distillery now housed in Melbourne's only surviving single-storey cottage from that era, which was itself a former house of ill repute. Shelford shares the stories of its former inhabitants from archived police files.

What sets this tour apart is its focus on the women who controlled Melbourne's underworld during this period. Rather than the usual gangster narrative, you'll learn about the madams who held their ground against male criminals, and The Combine: an all-female crime syndicate that operated across the district. The two-hour pace allows time to absorb the stories without rushing through the laneways, and you leave with a tour booklet featuring photographs of the characters and places discussed, so you can revisit the details later.

What’s included

• Two-hour guided walk through Little Lon with historian Michael Shelford.
• tour booklet with period photographs of the characters and locations discussed.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDepartures at 11:00 and 19:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Child (16 to 17 years) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Melbourne Historical Crime Tours

Is this one for you?This tour suits anyone interested in social history and the untold stories of women in crime, rather than the standard gangster narrative. The two-hour length and walking pace work well for those who want depth without a full-day commitment, and the historian-led approach means you're getting research-backed stories, not anecdotes.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (16 to 17 years). Children under 16 can't be included in the booking.

What was Little Lon and why was it unusual for its time?

Little Lon was Melbourne's downtown slum district from the 1870s to 1930s, and it was unusual because it was largely run by women (madams and members of an all-female crime syndicate called The Combine) rather than by male gangsters, which was atypical for underworld districts of that era.

Will I hear about specific crimes and criminals on this tour?

Yes. The tour covers shootings, bombings, bashings, robberies, opium and cocaine trafficking, and features stories of well-known gangsters like Squizzy Taylor and the madams who opposed them, all sourced from original police files.

What happens at Little Lon Distilling Co during the tour?

Little Lon Distilling Co is a gin distillery housed in Melbourne's only surviving single-storey cottage from the era, which was formerly a house of ill repute. Michael Shelford shares stories of its former inhabitants drawn from archived police records.

How long does the tour take and what's included?

The tour runs for two hours and includes a tour booklet featuring photographs of the characters and places discussed throughout the walk.