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 c.1870’s to 1930’s, 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 (speak easies), and hear the stories of what occurred within their walls and on the streets and laneways around them.
Shootings, bombings, bashings, brothels, robberies, opium, cocaine and sly grog (speak easies).
The tour is designed and delivered by writer and historian, Michael Shelford.
Posted By : Tanya_O
Discovered so much about Melbournes history in the Little Lon district, especially at the final stop it was so great to discover what is hidden amongst the modern city
Highly recommend
Thanks Michael
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Posted On : 2024-06-23 17:15:36 
Posted By : Steph_C
Well paced tour, inredibly well researched and spoken by Michael Shelford. Can't wait to read his books. Who new "Little Lon" existed. We have lived in Melbourne for 22 years now, and it was lovely to hear about the history of this great city.
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Posted On : 2024-06-16 16:55:07
Posted By : SUSANMORGAN
Loved hearing things that I did not know about Melbourne's history. So interesting to see old buildings, some I didn't know existed, and what tgey were in the past.
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Posted On : 2024-06-02 17:36:54
Posted By : Jet26273595752
I had a wonderful time doing this tour. Michael is just so knowledgeable and I love that he shared some great finds from his own research. The tour is an easy walk and we'll paced.
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Posted On : 2024-06-01 21:29:00 
Posted By : 967dales
A highly entertaining (and informative) guided tour of a small area of Melbourne city. The walk was easy and there were plenty of stops to look at a variety of buildings. Michael was an excellent tour guide with a relaxed manner. Nothing about the tour was rushed (or dull) and Michael was obviously knowledgeable with a real love of the material which came through in the mix of colourful characters he told us about.
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Posted On : 2024-05-05 21:18:52
Posted By : suzies1
We really enjoyed our tour with Michael. He certainly knows our early history here in Melbourne. We enjoyed hearing stories about the early days of Little Lon.
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Posted On : 2024-05-05 00:37:09
Posted By : James_B
Michael was a great guide with clearly a lot of knowledge. It would have been great if the tour included a little more time to sample things in these past historic cottages. Overall would recommend it.
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Posted On : 2024-04-22 08:59:22
Posted By : Barney_M
Wonderful tour Michael is a knowledgeable enthusiast guide.
The tour is extremely informative and interesting. Would love to do his upcoming Chinatown tour and buy his soon to be published book letters from little Lon
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Posted On : 2024-03-31 17:26:41
Posted By : Lori_E
We had a fantastic tour. Our tour guide had an abundance of information much of which he researched himself looking through thousands of old police reports.
Truly amazing and very interesting!
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Posted On : 2024-01-28 17:48:39
Posted By : X6622WYjodieh
What a fabulous way to spend 2 hours learning so much about the history of Melbourne's slum district and the colourful characters who lived and worked in the area 100+ years ago. Michael is so well researched and obviously passionate about this fascinating time in our history. I am a local Melbournian and have learnt so much. Thank you Michael - looking forward to doing your Fitzroy tour soon!
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Posted On : 2024-01-20 03:41:42
