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Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops provided by Melbourne Historical Crime Tours

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Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops

See all things to do
See all things to do
Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops
5
35
By Melbourne Historical Crime Tours
Book in advance
from
$27.75
per adult
Reserve now & pay later: Save your spot free of charge with flexible booking.
100% of travelers recommend this experience
This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this reservation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Full view
Tour snapshot
Duration:
2h
Taking Covid-19 safety measures
Group size:
20
Wheelchair accessible
Ticket type:
Mobile
Free cancellation
  • Duration:
    2h
  • Taking Covid-19 safety measures
  • Group size:
    20
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Ticket type:
    Mobile
  • Free cancellation
About
Know before you go
  • Duration: 2h
  • Mobile tickets accepted
  • Instant confirmation
Cancellation policy
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
Available languages
English
What to expect
Know before you go
  • Duration: 2h
  • Mobile tickets accepted
  • Instant confirmation
Available languages
English
Cancellation policy
  • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
What to expect
Need help booking?
Call the number below and use the product code: 44202P3
Important information
Inclusions
  • A tour booklet featuring photos of the characters discussed along the way.
Exclusions
  • Please bring along your own food and drinks.
Duration
2h
Departure details
  • 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia We meet at the Coopers Inn Hotel, 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD. The Coopers has great food, drink, and a friendly Australian pub atmosphere.
  • 36 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia The tour finishes at the corner of Lonsdale Street and Madame Brussels Lane.
Additional information
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Inclusions
  • A tour booklet featuring photos of the characters discussed along the way.
Exclusions
  • Please bring along your own food and drinks.
Departure details
  • 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia We meet at the Coopers Inn Hotel, 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD. The Coopers has great food, drink, and a friendly Australian pub atmosphere.
  • 36 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia The tour finishes at the corner of Lonsdale Street and Madame Brussels Lane.
Duration
2h
Return details
  • 36 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia The tour finishes at the corner of Lonsdale Street and Madame Brussels Lane.
Additional information
  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Stroller accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Transportation is wheelchair accessible
  • Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
  • Most travelers can participate
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 20 travelers
Travel safe during COVID-19
What you can expect during your visit
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
What you can expect during your visit
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands
  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
Itinerary
  • You'll start at
    282 Exhibition St
    282 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    We meet at the Coopers Inn Hotel, 282 Exhibition St, Melbourne CBD. The Coopers has great food, drink, and a friendly Australian pub atmosphere.
    See address & details
  • 1
    Little Lon Distilling Co.
    Stop: 10 minutes
    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.
    Read more
  • You'll end at
    36 Lonsdale St
    36 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
    The tour finishes at the corner of Lonsdale Street and Madame Brussels Lane.
    See address & details
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
35 reviews
Excellent
35
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
0
lsacker
Melbourne, Australia13 contributions
Living History
Mar 2022
Firstly it was wonderful to be back in the city again.. it was filled with people just enjoying our marvellous Melbourne. I so enjoyed this walk and have spent today with the excellent booklet researching some of the fascinating things Michael , our tour guide, shared with us. The walk was filled with insights and revelations and I would heartily recommend this to anyone. Who knew about the little "gin distillery" in the middle of a huge high rise complex? Who knew about the sly grog shops the lolly shops and we had a chance to meet some of the shady characters and ordinary people from that time. Thanks Michael. Great tour. You brought history to life.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Dermot M
Lightning Ridge, Australia8 contributions
Ye Olde Melbourne
Jan 2021
Fantastic tour. Michael was excellent in his story telling and knowledge of the Little Lon area of Melbourne pre and post 1900. Loved the tour, and now want to do the Fitzroy tour sometime. Also the tour was perfectly timed at 2 hours, which gave us time to grab a meal before seeing Come From Away at the Comedy Theatre, which was just around the corner from where the tour finished. Perfect. 👍
Written January 24, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lewoo
96 contributions
What a narrative!
Congrats on building such a strongly supported narrative of the underworld lifestyle in the early 1900s. The tour was well organised, I loved that there were photo booklets for group members to refer to and quotes read from primary documents that gave a taste of the language and characters of the time. Highly recommend this to those who have an inkling of history buff in them.
Written January 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Michael S
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and really appreciate the review. All the best, Michael
Written January 12, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Belinda P
4 contributions
Best Tour in Melbourne
Feb 2020 • Friends
Was absolutely blown away by this tour, so much history and so much to learn. Even though I’m from Melbourne I learnt so much I never knew and Michael was able to paint such a clear picture of by gone times. Michael is so enthusiastic when telling the stories of Marvelous Melbourne that you can’t help but be exited too.
Thank you for a fantastic afternoon.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
gothique4
Melbourne, Australia40 contributions
Fantastic and well planned tour
Apr 2021
I recently spent a very enjoyable 2 hours learning about the history of the Little Lon area and its inhabitants of the last century and a bit. Michael was an excellent tour guide and knows the history of the area like the back of his hand. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to know more of the local history of the infamous red light district.
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Enya
1 contribution
Wow!
Feb 2020 • Couples
This tour is a must do! Michael is a great tour guide very knowledgeable and friendly. He really keeps the group engaged with his knowledge on the history of the eastern part of Melbourne CBD. Who knew there was so much history in such a short walking distance! Thank you Michael really enjoyed, can’t wait to go on your Fitzroy tour.
Written February 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
David A
Parkdale, Australia1 contribution
Crime, Gangsters, and Lolly Shops
Nov 2021
Very interesting and worthwhile tour. Two hours investigating Melbourne's colourful Underworld.

We saw where famous brothels were and heard the stories about the "ladies" who ran them. We saw where the Sly Grog shops were and the stories about the proprietors. We saw where "Quizzy" Taylor lived

Michael the Tour Guide was excellent; very knowledgeable and pleasant
Written November 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Kerrie G
Melbourne, Australia7 contributions
Riveting!!!
Apr 2021 • Couples
Fascinating insight into locations and history within our own capital city. We loved it. Michael is enthusiastic friendly and riveting in rendering the authentic tales of the era. Incredible knowledge! Recommend highly!
Written April 4, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
K816OSwendym
Melbourne, Australia4 contributions
Interesting and worthwhile tour.
Feb 2021 • Friends
Thoroughly enjoyed our tour. A great insight to early times in Melbourne. Michael provided lots of information and tales of goings on. Visited some fabulous laneways with lovely historic buildjngs.
Written March 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
travellingwoodburys
Sydney, Australia327 contributions
Great informative tour
Met at our pick up point, spent the next couple of hours walking around as Michael explained the criminal history of the area, while bringing the characters to life. Would have loved to do both tours but time didn’t allow. Would recommend this tour.
Written April 28, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Michael S
Thanks so much for the review. Really glad you enjoyed the tour, all the best, Michael.
Written May 6, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
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Showing results 1-10 of 35
About the operator

Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator.

By: Melbourne Historical Crime Tours
279
I1394JTcolinb
I1394JTcolinb
00
History tour of Melbourne
Excellent night, Michael is very informative and kept all of us entertained with some great stories. Have done lots…
Raelene1970
Raelene1970
00
Worth doing
Fantastic experience, knowledgeable guide, so much history in our back yard. Easy stroll through streets.
mannedy
mannedy
00
Little Lon
Great afternoon/early evening out in Melbourne. Familiar streets with intriguing tales of debauchery and mayhem in …
pamelatO6748IC
pamelatO6748IC
00
Highly Recommended
What a great tour, very informative, and Michael was well versed in all things of that era and of the characters, w…
lynnek142022
lynnek142022
00
crime tour
My friend & I did the tour on Sunday afternoon which walked around Fitzroy. We loved it , Michael was very informat…
tmclellan2022
tmclellan2022
00
Brilliant
Michael is such a wealth of knowledge making the tour a great experience. I'm sure he could have talked for days an…
Jenny J
Jenny J
00
We learnt such a lot
Such a wonderful tour with the ultimate tour guide. Michaels knowledge of the gangsters and crime families of ‘old’…
Linda B
Linda B
00
Great value for money
We did the Fitzroy True Crime Walking tour today with Michael. We are locals and had previously done his Gangsters,…
Kate D
Kate D
00
Excellent
Michael has so much knowledge about Melbourne's historic underworld and he imparts it in a way that is clear and ea…
elk1232022
elk1232022
00
historical crime tour
was excellent thoroughly recommend this tour looking forward to my next tour very informative tour guide was very …
Angela N
Angela N
00
Fun and informative!
The guide was very knowledgeable and kept a good pace for the entire tour. The stories were very entertaining :)
783georginab
783georginab
00
Put this on your bucket list. This tour was amazing
What a story teller. We felt like we were back in time in the late eighteen hundreds amongst the criminals. Well do…
Alinta B
Alinta B
00
Great tour
Great tour - Michael is very knowledgeable - it gives a very good sense of life at the time, and a slice of Melbour…
den590
den590
00
Fitzroy True Crime tour
Great Tour through Melbourne's oldest and most interesting suburb, Michael is a great guide, really knows his stuf…
danverberne
danverberne
00
Crime tour
Great tour. Michaels knowledge about the history and characters is second to none. Was amazing walking the back str…
Frequently Asked Questions about Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops
Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops will start at 4:00 PM. Discover and book Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops on Tripadvisor
Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops price starts from $28.05. Discover and book Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops on Tripadvisor
Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops cancellation policy: For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Discover and book Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops on Tripadvisor