Melbourne brothels: the sex dens that found trouble in 2019
From prostitutes dancing in the streets in their underwear to sneaky moves by illegal brothels, these are the Melbourne sex dens that have landed themselves in hot water in recent times.
South East
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There’s no shortage of brothels in Melbourne but some of these are less than legal.
Here are some of the sex dens which landed themselves and their customers in hot water.
PROSTITUTES DANCING SEMI-NAKED IN THE STREET
Legal Braeside brothel Venus Babes landed in hot water with its neighbours after management applied with Kingston Council 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.
THE SOUTHEAST IS MELBOURNE’S BROTHEL CAPITAL
It was revealed in 2019 that Melbourne’s southeast is home to 31 licensed brothels — including one that offers a monthly prize of free sex — with the biggest concentration in Port Phillip and Kingston.
Port Phillip houses 10 legal brothels, Kingston has eight, Greater Dandenong has seven, Frankston is home to four and Glen Eira and Casey each have one.
But that number hasn’t prevented a growing cohort of illegal sex dens from sprouting up across the region causing huge headaches for councils.
The drain on council resources to fight illegal brothels is no more evident than in Kingston.
The council was involved in the shutdown of 12 illegal brothels in 2018/19 alone.
Planning and Development general manager Jonathan Guttmann called for the Police Minister to appropriate resource to and “address this significant issue”.
Mr Guttmann also urged Victoria Police to use the “full extent of their powers to investigate and shut down illegal brothels”.
THE PROSCRIBED BROTHEL WHICH PULLED A FAST ONE
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 on April 1 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.
SUNNY MASSAGE AGAIN, WAIT, NO SORRY, THAT’S HEALTHY MASSAGE NOW
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.
Last July, he told Leader that Victoria Police Front Line Tactical Unit was investigating the matter.
BIKIE-RUN STRIP CLUB OFFERED A LITTLE EXTRA ON THE SIDE
Notorious Dandenong strip club Sin City Gentlemen’s Club closed it doors last October after it was caught doubling as an illegal brothel.
The Langhorne St business was declared a proscribed brothel in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on October 17, 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 on February 20 and the business reopened last week.
MANY HANDS MAKES LIGHT WORK
Former illegal Malvern brothel Healing Hands Massage was put out of business after a court proscribed it as a brothel in February last year.
The Station St sex den went bust after an undercover sting by vice cops found out they were offering way more than just massages.
A Sex Industry Co-ordination Unit investigator told the court two officers sat in a car and waited outside watching as a series of men went inside, and soon afterwards quickly left.
They decided to follow two men and stopped them for a quick chat.
They were asked what they were doing there, and when questioned they made “full admissions” to receiving “full services”.
Internet searches also found that the venue was being promoted on escort websites with provocative advertising as a way to lure in men looking for sex services.
THE CASEY CONUNDRUM
Last April, it was confirmed, at least four illegal brothels in Casey had been under investigation.
The scourge was revealed after police admitted clandestine sex parlours can be opened and closed with “relative ease”.
And the Australian Adult Entertainment Industry warned illegal brothels put the community at risk through the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and infections.
AAEI spokesman William Albon — whose group manages the interests of the majority of Victoria’s legal brothels — said illegal sex den activity was “rife”.
“It is completely out of control and the blame lays at the feet of Victoria Police,” he said.
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But Victoria Police sex industry co-ordination unit Inspector Jodie Buckley said police took allegations of illegal sex work seriously.
“Victoria Police is investigating a number of alleged illegal brothels operating in Casey,” Insp Buckley said last April.
All of the brothels under investigation were located in Narre Warren except one, in Hampton Park.
At least one of the illegal brothels was located near a primary school.