Infamous Melbourne sex dens and strip joints: Sin City, Venus Babes, Gotham City, Men’s Gallery
Bikie brawls, hookers dancing semi-naked in the street, sex on the sly massage parlours, it’s all part of Melbourne’s headliner brothels and strip joints.
Melbourne City
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Bikie brawls, alleged drug use, sneaky sex for cash and even prostitutes dancing semi-naked in the street, it’s all on the menu when it comes to Melbourne’s infamous brothels and strip joints.
WAIT GAME ON FOR SIN CITY
Notorious Dandenong strip club Sin City Gentlemen’s Club closed its doors after it was caught doubling as an illegal brothel.
The Langhorne St business was declared a proscribed brothel in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in October 2019.
The Comanchero-linked venue had been investigated by Victoria Police’s Sex Industry co-ordination Unit for operating as a “sex service provider”.
A police source confirmed investigators received “intelligence” Sin City was offering sex on the sly.
Police successfully lodged an application with the court to declare the premises a proscribed brothel for 24 months.
While Sin City was allowed to remain open during the time frame, management weren’t permitted to sell, supply or allow the consumption of alcohol.
As a result, management, who could not be reached for comment, decided to pull the pin and close the venue.
However, management’s application to revoke the order was granted at the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court in February last year and the business reopened.
GOTHAM CITY CONTROVERSY
Gotham City brothel boss Frank Puleo made headlines earlier this year after he fronted court on drug charges.
Puleo is contesting all charges and his lawyer told the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court he wanted to make it clear his client was “strenuously” denying the charges and would continue to plead not guilty.
Police allegedly found cocaine, speed, MDMA and Kamagra oral jelly – used to maintain an erection – after raiding both premises in June 2019.
It’s alleged police also found a combined $65,290 hidden in a secret wall cavity and inside a safe in the Gotham City office.
Police allegedly found Puleo in the office at the time of the raid.
Investigators also alleged there had been drug use and cocaine trafficking at Gotham City and that the hefty sum of cash was the proceeds of crime, the court was told.
Investigators’ suspicions regarding Gotham City were raised after police checking city brothel Top of the Town heard the workers make comments about Puleo’s alleged operation.
Puleo will face court again at a later date.
Prostitutes at Venus Babes brothel, Braeside
VENUS BABES’ GIRLS DANCING IN THE STREET
Legal Braeside brothel Venus Babes landed in hot water with its neighbours in early-2019 after management applied to expand its Downard St premises.
Their main source of anger were claims – backed up by CCTV – that Venus Babes prostitutes were dancing semi-naked in the street in their underwear.
Brad Konndouras had operated a business next door to the brothel, but said he had to move.
“Women in knickers and bras dancing out in the street, girls hopping in cars and driving away for 20 minutes, everything went on there,” Mr Konndouras said.
Venus Babes was contacted for comment prior to a gang of angry prostitutes storming a nearby newsroom.
SUNNY MASSAGE aka HEALTHY MASSAGE
Illegal Cheltenham brothel Sunny Massage tried to pull a fast one on authorities after it obscured its “proscribed brothel” sign.
The parlour was slapped with the notice at Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court back on April 1 2019 but by April 9 eagle-eyed residents knew something was wrong.
The sneaky move meant anyone who enters the business — unless for a lawful purpose — could cop a prison term.
Outraged community members contacted police and the matter was resolved.
Three months later the illegal Cheltenham brothel, formerly known as Sunny Massage was rebranded as Healthy Massage.
And you wouldn’t believe it but the “proscribed brothel” sign was nowhere to be seen.
Once again angry community members reported the matter to police.
Acting Senior Sergeant David Quirk — who has knowledge of the brothel’s history — confirmed the sign must be attached to the front of the business in a visible position for 12 months.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE MEN’S GALLERY
Melbourne nightclub king Peter Iwaniuk said he was “baffled and confused” after police moved to have his premier city strip club The Men’s Gallery listed as a brothel.
The longstanding King St venue had been part of a Victoria Police Sex Industry Coordination Unit investigation but the application was withdrawn at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier this month.
Anthony Albore, for police, withdraw the proceeding after informing the court Mr Iwaniuk had engaged “senior counsel”.
Mr Iwaniuk, who was not present nor represented nor required to appear at the brief hearing, told the Herald Sun he was “grateful” the application was withdrawn.
“I don’t really want to stir the pot but something didn’t add up, it was a mistake, we are not sure why the application was made in the first place because we are not a brothel,” Mr Iwaniuk said.
“I’m grateful police dropped the charges, I was baffled and confused initially but pleased it’s over and we just want to put it behind us and move on.
“We are part of Melbourne culture, we have been here for 28 years, we employ 150 staff, we pay our taxes, 250,000 people come through our doors (pre Covid), we have bus loads of tourists, we have a good reputation in Melbourne and around the world.”
FROM JAPAN WITH LOVE (AT A PRICE)
A Japanese brothel madam Mizuho Ino operated an illegal sex den under the guise of a legitimate Ascot Vale massage parlour.
Ino, 53, was convicted and fined $5000 after she pleaded guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court earlier this year to recklessly carry on business as a sex work provider without holding a licence.
The former madam was busted after police received a tip-off she was running an unlicensed brothel at her Maribyrnong Rd business Japanese Massage and Spa Kirei.
The whistleblower told police Ino interviewed her for a massage job, the court was told.
Ino told the whistleblower she would have to offer “extra services” for the remaining 15 minutes of a massage or a customer would be sent “another girl”.
The court heard the woman, who provided sexual services on two occasions, was told she could make “extra money” for these extra services.
BIKIE STRIP CLUB BRAWL
A “ferocious” and “gutless” attack at Melbourne strip club Centrefold Lounge ended in two Finks bikie associates being served jail terms.
Jamshed Rashidi, 38, and Ahmad Rashidi, 24, were sentenced at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court last December after both pleaded guilty to a charge of affray by using unlawful violence.
The brothers were caught on CCTV carrying out the savage beating at the King St venue just after 6.30am on March 24, 2019.
Three other alleged Finks Outlaw Motorcycle Gang bikie members are contesting charges pertaining to their involvement in the affray.
The court heard the group attacked two men, aged 37 and 40, who posed no threat to their attackers soon after the victims arrived at the club.
STEAMY ST KILDA SITE
Steam Bar & Beauty had the doors slammed shut on its illicit sex den trade by the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in April after it was declared an illegal brothel.
Sex Industry cops applied to have the Grey St brothel cobbled after a short investigation exposed the venue’s saucy secrets.
Investigators who visited the venue were greeted with an Asian woman in thongs and a tight red dress which exposed her cleavage and back, the court was told.
Police failed to discover any evidence Steam Bar & Beauty operated as a legitimate massage therapy and beauty salon which the business claimed to be.
Investigators discovered rooms with solid lockable doors which contained double beds within the two-storey building wedged between a tattooist and a laundry.
Police also uncovered saucy ads on sex classified site Locanto which proved the salon was offering sex on the sly.
A witness told police they were twice offered sexual services at the bogus salon earlier this year.
Steam Bar & Beauty claims to offer massage therapy and foot steams which provide enhanced “blood flow within the blood vessels” according to the salon’s Facebook page.
The business also promotes its services will improve sleep quality, alleviate fatigue, strengthen immunity and improve “general health”.
The shonky 121 Grey St site has a dodgy history with the court hearing it was proscribed a brothel back in 2018.
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