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.

Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops

Take a Walk on the Dark Side...

Melbourne: A cosmopolitan town with rich culture, history, and a passion for food, art, sport and True Crime.

Enjoy a leisurely guided walking tour revisiting historic true crime spots that will leave you speechless.
Uncover the lost histories of murder, intrigue, unsolved cases, blackmail, scandals and much more.
Learn about the lives of the big names from Melbourne's Crime History past and the impossible situations they faced.﻿
Undertake an exploration of Melbourne's dark history - the ultimate destination for true crime enthusiasts.
Book your ticket for this unique investigation into a fascinating and complex history of true crime.
Rip away the fabric of polite society and take your chance to travel back in time to examine the annals of Melbourne's true crime history.

Reach deep into the paradise of Melbourne's complex dark past and unearth the buried secrets that lurk within its streets.

...stories the city couldn't make up...

Melbourne's True Crime Tour

Come on an amazing trip back in time to Melbourne's Chinatown from c.1850s to the 1950s. Receive a free tour booklet with images of the characters discussed, original police-drawn crime maps, confiscated gambling paraphernalia and other evidence from 100+ years ago. Hear the stories of police raids for opium, illegal gambling, and other lawbreaking activities. Hear stories of blackmail, gang war, and police corruption. Your tour guide has been researching Melbourne's Chinatown via the original police files for over 15 years and delivers the old stories from original source material. Opium, gambling, speakeasies, blackmail, riots, police corruption.

Old Stories of Melbourne's Chinatown

Come on a pub crawl through time, c.1860s to 1920s, with true crime author Michael Shelford. Travel back to a time when Collingwood's streets were run by youth gangs known as 'larrikin pushes'. A time when Collingwood was considered by police to be "the home of Melbourne's criminals", and was also home to Australia's largest illegal gambling enterprise known as John Wren's Collingwood Tote. 

Youth gang wars, murder, shootings, cop bashings, illegal gambling, sly grog shops (speak easies), corruption, and most importantly - booze.

Four pubs in three hours. 

Drinks and food are not included in the price of the tour but can be purchased along the way if you feel hungry or thirsty. Each venue practises responsible service of alcohol.

Collingwood Crime Crawl

Step into the darker and more fascinating side of Fitzroy with Fitzroy Noir, a walking tour that reveals the corners where history, crime and the paranormal intertwine hauntingly. Along its Victorian streets and bohemian alleyways, you'll discover haunted houses that hold ancient secrets, unsolved murders that still rock the neighborhood, ghostly apparitions that persist despite the passage of time and urban legends that remain alive in the collective memory. This immersive tour combines storytelling, mystery and atmosphere to offer you a distinct experience, ideal for those who want to explore Melbourne through its shadows and delve into the hidden pulse of the city.

Crime Tours in Melbourne

Melbourne Historical Walking Tour: Crime, Gangsters & Lolly Shops

Melbourne's True Crime Tour

Old Stories of Melbourne's Chinatown

Collingwood Crime Crawl

Fitzroy Noir Mystery Crimes and the Occult Tour