Melbourne Historical Crime Tours

These award-winning true crime tours are designed and delivered by author and journalist Michael Shelford, and based on over 15 years of research through the original police files.

The downtown Melbourne former slum district of ‘Little Lon’ was known for its brothels, street prostitution, illicit drugs, and as being the habitué of many of Melbourne’s worst criminals. This area, bounded by Spring, Russell, Lonsdale and La Trobe Streets, is where Melbourne Historical Crime Tours’ 'Gangsters, Brothels and Lolly Shops Tour' runs every Saturday and on the first Friday of every month.

The tours are delivered in a light-hearted way and there's plenty of unavoidable humour. Saturday's day tour include a free tour booklet with photos of the characters discussed. The Friday night tours are enhanced by a handheld projector used to shine photos of the characters discussed onto the buildings and laneways they once frequented.