BGM_Lil’ Lon Slum and the Origins of Call Girls

In the shadows of Naarm -Melbourne’s grand Victorian architecture once lay the district of Lil’ Lon-a notorious slum where crime, vice, and survival went hand in hand. This episode of Down the Yarra delves into the history of Melbourne’s first call girls, the hidden brothels and the shy grog shops that fueled the underworld economy, and the powerful madames who knew Melbourne’s deepest as well as darkest secrets. We also uncover the bizarre tale of the stolen parliamentary spectre-vanished into the streets of Lil’ Lon, its fate still wrapped in mystery today. Plus, we remember Look, History In the Eye Melbourne and their Madame M episode, a deep dive into one of Melbourne’s most infamous Madams. And don’t miss our next episode, where we explore the transformation of Melbourne Hospital into the Queen Victoria Hospital, and finally to QV Square. Hit Follow and take a walk through Melbourne’s forgotten past.