Melbourne Dark History Walking Tour: Explore Crime, Gangsters and 'Little Lon' Era

Uncover the dark and intriguing history of Melbourne on a walking tour led by writer and historian Michael Shelford. Explore the crime, gangsters, and ‘Little Lon’ era of the city, filled with shootings, bombings, brothels, and more.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Little Lon Distilling Co. - Little Lon Distilling Co is a Gin Distillery which operates from Melbourne CBD’s only surviving single story cottage. It also happens to be a former house of ill repute. You will hear stories of the cottage’s former inhabitants, sourced from original police files.
What's Included
  • Tour booklet with character photos
What's Not Included
  • Please bring along your own food and drinks.
Additional Information

Join us as we delve into Melbourne’s history, navigating through the years when a corner shop offered much more than just candies and fizzy drinks. Discover the city’s shadowy past from the 1870s to the 1930s, a time when Melbourne’s downtown poorer quarters, known as ‘Little Lon’, were majorly controlled by women. Understand the struggle for power, the…

Location
282 Exhibition St
Exhibition Street
We meet at the Coopers Inn Hotel, 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD. The Coopers has great food, drink, and a friendly Australian pub atmosphere.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(101 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Kate
Feb 9, 2025
Well worth it - Fabulous tour with an extremely knowledgeable guide who is a great story teller. Michael brought the area and the people to life. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
O6631gxkarenm
Jan 19, 2025
A morning well spent - A very informative and enjoyable education session Michael is incredibly knowledgeable I would highly recommend his tours
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ron_s
Jan 12, 2025
Highlight of Melbourne - An informative and entertaining experience. Saw and heard things that we wouldn't have if we hadn't gone on the tour.
Review provided by Viator
Mark_f
Jan 2, 2025
Melb Historical Crime Tours - Great tour, very knowledgeable guide. A “real” history feel. A must for crime or Melbourne history buffs.
Review provided by Viator
115rhondas
Jan 2, 2025
True value for money. - Michael has done his research well and it is hard not to catch his enthusiasm. I was disappointed to find we did not visit any lolly shops. No spoiler here - you need to attend the tour to find out why 🤪 Our small group of 7 made it easy for us to find time to ask questions. The booklet we each received was a great souvenir come keepsake. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Biglewy
Dec 13, 2024
History of lolly shops!!!!! - Very interesting and informative. I couldn't believe that l had walked past these places many times and not known history behind the buildings and lane ways. Highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
977marlit
Dec 8, 2024
Living history from the past - Thank you Michael for the best tour, you made all the characters of the past come alive . The details that you shared, along with your passion and knowledge of the police, gangsters and every day folk from another era ignites us to learn more.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roving29360676565
Dec 7, 2024
True Crime Walkabout - This was a great tour, the 3 hours went so quickly and we didnt really have to walk very far. Michaels knowledge of the area and the crimes that were happening is great, lots of laughs and some very funny statements that were read out. I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in Melbourne crime.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Utel481
Nov 19, 2024
Exploring Melbourne's Shadowy Past: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops - We had an incredible time on this walking tour with Michael. Meeting at the corner of Copper Inn, our small group of four was perfect for an intimate exploration of Melbourne's colorful past. Michael's storytelling brought to life the intriguing history of the Red Light District in the earlier days of Melbourne. His knowledge and passion for the city's history made the tour both informative and engaging. I highly recommend this tour to other visitors in Melbourne who are looking to uncover the city's lesser-known, yet fascinating, stories. Don't miss out on this unique experience!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D1064atrebeccal
Nov 9, 2024
Wonderfully interesting - Truly recommend. Michael was extremely knowledgeable and very interesting. It was great to get to know a lot more of my home town’s history!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Select Date and Tickets
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
February 2025
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today