Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour Melbourne 1890s

Melbourne's Forgotten Gangsters: A 2-Hour Walk Through Fitzroy's Crime Streets

You walk Fitzroy's crime streets for two hours with a historian using original 1890s–1920s police files. You'll see the buildings where brothels, speakeasies and gangland murders happened, receive a booklet with photos of the people involved, and end up understanding a whole layer of Melbourne's past that most visitors never see. Tram-accessible from the CBD.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Fitzroy's historic crime district

• Join 2-hour walking tour
• Visit historic buildings and laneways
• Learn about brothels and speakeasies
• Hear stories of gangland murders
• Receive free booklet with photos

The experience

I didn't expect the lane ways to look so ordinary. You walk past what used to be a brothel or a speakeasy, and it's just a brick wall with a door, maybe some graffiti, and you'd never know what happened there a hundred years ago. That's what makes this Fitzroy true crime walking tour hit different: Michael Shelford, the historian who built it, walks you through the actual streets where the shootouts and murders went down, using original police files from 1890 to 1920. He's not dramatizing it. He's reading from the records, and somehow that makes it realer than any story could be.

The tour runs for two hours and stays on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD, so you're never far from the city but you're in a completely different world. Fitzroy's old crime district had everything: gangland rivalries, cops getting shot at, women running operations from the back rooms. Shelford points out the buildings where it all happened, and you get a free booklet with photos of the actual characters involved, which is the thing that really gets you. You're looking at a face from 1905 and then looking at the corner where that person's story ended. The trams run right through, so getting there from the city is straightforward.

What stays with you isn't the violence. It's how normal the streets look now, and how many lives were tangled up in those lanes. The tour doesn't need theatrics because the history is dark enough on its own.

What’s included

Your two hours include a guided walk through Fitzroy's historic crime district with writer and historian Michael Shelford, access to the original buildings and lane ways where the stories took place, and a free booklet containing photographs of the characters discussed during the tour.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 10:30 and 14:00

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

GroupUp to 22

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.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Melbourne Historical Crime Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to understand a hidden layer of Melbourne's history without arranging your own research or transport: the historian and the original police files do the work, and the tram connection means you can fit it into a city day without planning.

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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 happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the Fitzroy true crime walking tour?

Two hours. The tour covers the old crime district on foot, starting and finishing on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD.

What's included in the tour?

A guided walk through Fitzroy's historic crime streets with historian Michael Shelford, plus a free booklet featuring photos of the characters and stories discussed along the way.

What era does the tour cover?

The tour focuses on 1890 to 1920, using original police files from that period to tell the stories of gangland murders, shootouts, brothels and speakeasies.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces on the walking route are wheelchair accessible, and infants in prams or strollers are welcome.

How do I get to Fitzroy for the tour?

Fitzroy is on the fringe of Melbourne's CBD and is easily accessible by regular tram from the city center.

Do I need to be fit to do this tour?

No. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels and is a walking tour at a normal pace through city streets.

Are service animals allowed?

Yes, service animals are allowed on the tour.