Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour: Explore Melbourne's Historic Crime District with a Historian

Uncover the dark history of Melbourne’s crime district on the Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour. Explore former brothels, gangland murders, and more with a historian guide.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Fitzroy - Historic buildings and lane ways.
What's Included
  • Tour booklet with character photos
Additional Information

Take part in a riveting 2-hour stroll, exploring the bygone crime jurisdictions of Fitzroy, and familiarize yourself with the vibrant individuals who inhabited Melbourne’s notorious crime district a century ago. The enlightening Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour is exclusively curated and guided by literature enthusiast and historian, Michael Shelford,…

Location
9 Nicholson St
Nicholson Street
We meet at the entrance doors to Melbourne Museum, 9 Nicholson St Carlton.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
5.0
(105 Ratings)
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Jonmegs
Jan 28, 2025
Amazing tour - Michael is an amazing wealth of historical crime information and delivers an awesome incite into the lives of the early 1900’s crime figures that ran the street's and laneways of Fitzroy South. Michael takes you back and brings this area back to life as it was in the early 1900’s. My family and I (6 of us) enjoyed every minute of it. The booklet depicting the pictures and names of the characters that ruled these streets is a fantastic idea. I highly recommend doing this tour. Money well spent.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sally_p
Jan 28, 2025
Brilliant! - Fun, interesting, and educational - even as a local we learned a lot in this 2h walk around Fitzroy. Highly recommended!
Review provided by Viator
Globaltraveller0310
Jan 22, 2025
Fascinating insight into Fitzroy's past - We very much enjoyed hearing from Michael about the history of notorious gangsters, brothels and sly grog houses in the Fitzroy area. He really brought the area to life and buildings that we passed everyday now have new significance. The tour was well paced, with great background and photos and based on police records. Highly recommended and wish there were more historical tours like this! thanks Michael
Review provided by Tripadvisor
M8125fljodiep
Jan 22, 2025
Crime tour - Michael has a wealth of knowledge, really interesting, we enjoyed it. Great walking tour. Highly recommend the crime tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Akjordan2680
Jan 20, 2025
Ganster history comes to life - My friend and I did the Fitzroy True Crime Walking Tour on Sunday. Michael was our guide and from beginning to end we were entertained with his stories of a time when Fitzroy reigned supreme as the gangster capital of Australia. Based on 15 years of interrogating actual police files of that era in pursuit of his passion for writing books about this towns place in gangster history, his narrative was factual and engaging. His story telling is accompanied by a booklet with photos of the rogues and villains whose names and actions made this area a place to find illicit booze, working women, gambolling, trouble of every description and turf wars resulting in shootouts on alleys, streets and houses. In the days Squizzy Taylor and his gang fought open warfare against their enemies made this part of town a dangerous place to be. It was a fascinating tour, and I highly recommend it. Definitely value for money. Michael runs other historical tours, and I will be going on those at my first opportunity. And on your way home pop into Atherton Gardens and view the newly unveiled statue honouring the fabulous Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Traceybolt67
Jan 5, 2025
Great Father's Day Present - Michaels knowledge is amazing and he tells such a great story This is our second tour and we will definitely be doing the others. You never feel rushed and he seems to love answering questions. Thoroughly enjoyed it. . will never look at this area the same
Review provided by Tripadvisor
115rhondas
Jan 2, 2025
So impressed with the Gangster, Brothels & Lolly Shop - I fronted up the next afternoon for the Fitzroy True Crime walk - Yesterday I did the morning tour Gangsters, Brothels & Lolly Shops and I enjoyed it so much I returned New Year’s Day for the Fitzroy True Crime walk. I was not disappointed. There were some of the same characters from the morning walk which made it more interesting for me to be able to continue the history. But this did not take anything away from the tour for others. Wonderful tour and again the wonderful handbook/keepsake. Thank you Michael your research and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Judy_h
Dec 18, 2024
Informative - Not a lot of walking. So any age can do it. The guide was excellent very friendly and had lots of little tit bits if extra info. Really liked this tour.
Review provided by Viator
Mairi
Dec 11, 2024
History of Fitzroy brought to life! - This tour was super interesting! Michael was very knowledgable and has the tour down to a fine art. The booklet with photos of the people he was talking about really added to the experience. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jenny_j
Oct 28, 2024
A journey back in time. - Michael had so much knowledge whatever you asked he could answer. He took you back to that time and you were able to see the houses and imagine the circumstances.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
February 2025
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