{"title":"Barbara Minchinton","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the captivating world of Barbara Minchinton, a renowned author who masterfully intertwines the past with the present through her scholarly yet accessible works. Delve into her collection and uncover the rich tapestry of history that lies within Melbourne's streets, with a special focus on the untold stories of its lesser-known inhabitants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMinchinton takes readers on a fascinating journey through history, as seen in \u003cem\u003eMadame Brussels\u003c\/em\u003e, where you’ll discover the enigmatic figure who reigned over Melbourne's most infamous brothel. This biography explores the life of a woman who defied societal norms and left her indelible mark on the city’s landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor those with a thirst for historical exploration, \u003cem\u003eThe Commonwealth Block\u003c\/em\u003e provides an insightful look into a vital segment of Melbourne's political and public life, detailing the significant events and everyday occurrences that have shaped the area. This book is an invitation to understand the complex layers of societal change that have unfolded over time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe Women of Little Lon\u003c\/em\u003e, Minchinton casts a spotlight on the lives of women in Melbourne’s notorious Little Lon district. With her adept storytelling, she brings to life their struggles and triumphs, capturing the essence of a world often hidden in shadows.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBarbara Minchinton's works are perfect for readers who relish Biography \u0026amp; Memoir, as well as History \u0026amp; Military genres. Her writings not only educate but also inspire curiosity about the multifaceted narratives that construct our collective past. Uncover the stories that have shaped Melbourne with Barbara Minchinton's compelling collection.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"the-women-of-little-lon-by-barbara-minchinton-9781760642419","title":"The Women of Little Lon","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA vivid account of a remarkable but little-known chapter in Melbourne's history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSex workers in nineteenth-century Melbourne were judged morally corrupt by the respectable world around them. But theirs was a thriving trade, with links to the police and political leaders of the day, and the leading brothels were usually managed by women.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWhile today a city lane is famously named after Madame Brussels, the identities of the other 'flash madams', the 'dressed girls' who worked for them, and the hundreds of women who solicited on the streets of the Little Lon district of Melbourne are not remembered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWho were they? What did their daily lives look like? What became of them? Drawing on the findings of recent archaeological excavations, rare archival material, and family records, historian Barbara Minchinton brings the fascinating world of Little Lon to life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Women of Little Lon\u003c\/em\u003e unravels these mysteries, offering a captivating glimpse into an often-overlooked piece of Melbourne's past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46343714898156,"sku":"9781760642419","price":41.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/23811133482814.jpg?v=1744005321"},{"product_id":"madame-brussels-by-barbara-minchinton-9781760644932","title":"Madame Brussels","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA must-read biography of an enigmatic personality who helped shape early Melbourne.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMadame Brussels\u003c\/em\u003e, the most legendary brothel keeper in nineteenth-century Melbourne, is still remembered and celebrated today. But until now, little has been known about Caroline Hodgson, the woman behind the alter ego.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBorn in Prussia to a working-class family, Caroline arrived in Melbourne in 1871. Left alone when her police-officer husband was sent to work in remote Victoria, she turned her hand to running brothels. Before long, she had proved herself brilliantly entrepreneurial—her principal establishment was a stone's throw from Parliament House, lavishly furnished and catered to Melbourne's ruling classes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCaroline rode Melbourne's boom in the 1880s, weathered the storm of the depression years in the 1890s, and suffered in the moral panic of the 1900s. Her death in 1908 signified the end of one kind of Melbourne and the beginning of another—in terms of prostitution, the city went from tolerance to complete prohibition in her lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on extensive research, author and historian Barbara Minchinton deftly pieces together Madame Brussels' story and recreates a fascinating, colourful period in Melbourne's history. This is a major biography of an Australian icon.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House NZ","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46373923946732,"sku":"9781760644932","price":41.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/23836263482814.jpg?v=1744823471"},{"product_id":"the-commonwealth-block-melbourne-by-jeremy-smith-9781743323694","title":"The Commonwealth Block, Melbourne","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor much of the 19th and 20th centuries, Melbourne's Little Lonsdale—locally known as 'Little Lon'—was notorious as a foul slum and brothel district, occupied by the itinerant and the criminal. The stereotype of 'slumdom' defined 'Little Lon' in the minds of Melbournians and became entrenched in Australian literature and popular culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Commonwealth Block, Melbourne\u003c\/i\u003e tells a different story. This ground-breaking book reports on almost three decades of excavations conducted on the Commonwealth Block—the area of central Melbourne bordered by Little Lonsdale, Lonsdale, Exhibition, and Spring streets. Since the 1980s, archaeologists and historians have pieced together the rich and complex history of this area, revealing a working-class and immigrant community that was much more than just a slum. \u003ci\u003eThe Commonwealth Block, Melbourne\u003c\/i\u003e delves into the complex social, cultural, and economic history of this forgotten community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46850013298924,"sku":"9781743323694","price":54.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/19138623482808.jpg?v=1759075042"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.pro\/collections\/barbara-minchinton.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}