Low, Degraded Broots? Melbourne's Little Lons
Biography & Memoir History Australiana
Low, Degraded Broots? by John Anthony Leckey shines a lantern on 19th-century Melbourne’s Little Lonsdale street, once branded the city’s “sink of iniquity.” This first-edition paperback blends biography, business and cultural history to recount how sex-workers, publicans and small-time hustlers built a thriving micro-economy in the shadow of respectability.
Black-and-white photographs from archives and newspapers give faces to the forgotten entrepreneurs who turned seedy shanties into lively enterprises. Leckey’s narrative keeps academic jargon at bay, making the book an easy yet eye-opening read for adults and curious teens alike.
The 2004 Australian Scholarly Publishing release is in very good shape: spine smooth, pages crisp, no dog-ears or library stamps. A neat previous-owner inscription hides inside the front cover; otherwise the copy is clean and unmarked, ready for a new shelf.
Collectors of Melbourne history, true Australian stories or urban culture will appreciate this scarce first edition, especially one preserved in such tidy condition from a smoke-free home.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
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