OUR tour explores the historic locations where the novel ‘The Butterfly Women‘ is set, such as Papillon, Magdalene La, Casselden La, Gorman Al, Romeo La, Juliette Tce, Bilking Square, White Hart, Dr Howitt’s, Eastern Market, Melbourne Hospital, Black Eagle, Stephen Street, Theatre Royal, Royal La, Lt Leichhardt, Police Courts, Surry Pl and others. We also explore the historical women on whom the characters are based and the extraordinary social background of Little Lon and the surrounding precincts.

SET in 1863, The Butterfly Women by Madeleine Cleary is a richly researched historical thriller blending romance and mystery to uncover hidden sides of gold-rush Melbourne. Beneath the city’s spectacular rise is Little Lon, a notorious red-light district, infamous for Papillon, the glamorous bordello. For Irish immigrant Johanna Callaghan, working there offers a rare chance at affluence but comes with serious risk. Meanwhile, journalist Harriett Gardiner is drawn from respectable society into Little Lon when a serial killer stalks its streets. As the characters intersect in the search for the murderer of vulnerable women, the untold stories of Melbourne’s women come to life. 

WE include mention of other books written about the Little Lon precinct, including Madam Brussels by Barbara Minchinton, The Women of Little Lon by Barbara Minchinton, Little Lon by Andrew Kelly (illustrated children’s), Madam Brussells. This Moral Pandemon by I. Robinson and the Mystery of the Hansom Cab by Fergus Hulme. Melbourne Walks also leads Madam Brussells Tours.

‘PAPILLON’ in Madeleine Cleary’s novel is the re-imagining of Madame Brussell’s famous and magnificent bordello on Lonsdale Street, backed onto Gorman Lane. Her ‘flash houses’ opposite Parliament defied the bigotry of powerful men who vilified her as the ‘Queen of Evil and Harlotry’ and triggered the criminalisation of sex workers for over a century, until reversed by the Victorian parliament in 2022. This was a roller coaster era: gold rush, marvellous Melbourne, land boomers, the 1890s crash, and prohibition. Our tour is a fascinating insight into the values, morals and lifestyles of 19th century Melbournians and the architectectural transformation of a city which had abandoned its poor into a modern city with a social welfare safety net and striking contemporary architecture.

“I just wanted to say thank you for the great tour you gave last night, everyone had a wonderful time and for our line of work, all that history of welfare and everything else about this little corner of Melbourne was absolutely fascinating.’ Parliamentary staff outing.
Thank you again for taking us on the tour of Madam Brussell’s Melbourne. We all found out some fascinating information about our own ‘home’ city, which we didn’t know. So much history!”  Royal Melbourne Hospital staff outing.
“I want to thank you for your time and insight today, giving us that fantastic historical walk. We thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Emily and friends.

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