A Selection of Objects from No 60 Lonsdale Street

The house at 60 Lonsdale Street was used as a brothel for many years.

An Interpretation of the collections is available.
Large Australian oyster shell
Size approximately 150 mm x 90 mm. Found with other oyster shells and champagne bottles. The house at 60 Lonsdale Street was used as a brothel for many years. Oysters and champagne were favourite, and expensive, celebratory fare last century.
27/09/02
Bottle
For medicine or poison. Height 230 mm.
27/23/11
Perfume bottle
‘E.D.Pinaud, Parfumeura Paris’ embossed on body, c.1840-70. Height 151 mm. Was the French perfume a gift to a prostitute in the establishment from a wealthy admirer?
27/23/12
Spur
Squatters and other wealthy men sometimes raced fine horses recklessly through the streets of Melbourne, especially after the hotels closed. Perhaps this is a relic of such a race?
27/22/49
Hair pin
Made of carved bone.
27/05/05
Bottle
This bottle may have held perfume. Height 126 mm.
27/23/08
Perfume bottle
‘I.M.Farina... Cologne’ embossed on body, c. 1840-70, French. Height 119 mm. Was the French perfume a gift to a prostitute in the establishment from a wealthy admirer?
27/23/13
Bottle
This bottle probably held perfume. Height 120 mm.
27/23/10
Seals from French wine bottles
‘High-class’ brothels served the best wines and champagnes to their customers. In cheap boarding houses and back lanes nearby, destitute men and women drank cheap adulterated spirits and contaminated wines.
27/22/13
Ornament, with male and female figures.
Staffordshire Potteries, England, c.1840-55. Height 186 mm.
27/22/27

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