Page3 - Brothels of Little Lonsdale Street

‘Respectable’ men, politicians and the broth industry

Some members of Melbourne’s establishment were alleged to be clients of Madame Brussels. Superintendent F.A.Winch, second in charge of the police, and parliamentarian Sir Samuel Gillott, were two men whose careers were finished when they were found in com promising circumstances. It was alleged that magistrates also patronised the ‘high-class’ brothels.

Annie Wilson was one of Madam Brussels' main rivals and operated brothels in the study area. In 1889 Constables Benussi and Mansfield were found hiding in a water closet in Annie's yard; Benussi was dismissed from the force and Mansfield was fined one pou nd. (VPRS 937:329.) Wilson was most famous for the rumour that the parliamentary mace was taken to her Boccaccio House in 1891 by a Member of Parliament; the girls were alleged to have conducted a mock parliament there. Continuing embarrassment inspired the government in 1893 to appoint a Board to enquire into the loss. The Board concluded that the mace had been stolen on 9 October 1891 for melting down by persons unknown. (Argus, 28 March 1893.) During the archeological dig, it was hoped that traces of the mace might be found; but this did not happen.

"Latrobe newspaper collection, State Library of Victoria."

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