Melbourne Sex Guide

Melbourne’s adult entertainment scene easily rivals Sydney’s, making it a firm contender for Australia’s top spot.

In truth, there’s not much to choose between the two cities. While Sydney has fully commercialised its sex trade, we’d argue Melbourne has the better selection of high-end luxury services… think “6-star” brothels and super exclusive escort agencies.

Our Melbourne Sex Guide covers everything from the best brothels and AMPs in the CBD, to popular escort services in Thomastown, Geelong, Collingwood, and the surrounding suburbs. There’s no shortage of dirty thrills to be sampled around Victoria’s metropolitan capital!

Sex and Prostitution In Melbourne

Sex work is fully decriminalised in Victoria.

The Sex Work Decriminalisation Act 2022 was passed in February 2022 and officially came into effect on December 1st 2023. 

Sex workers can operate freely around Melbourne. Adult venues such as brothels and massage shops enjoy the same freedoms as any other business.

The landmark act revoked the old licensing system where brothels, agencies and service providers were required to disclose their SWA numbers and register with the Business Licensing Authority (BLA). The two-tier approach of the previous system had attracted enormous criticism, and many would say that it failed the state’s sex workers. We’re pleased to see Victoria has taken this positive step forwards.

Previously there were around 90 licensed brothels in Melbourne, but estimates put the total number of unlicensed venues at much higher – as many as 400. 

All of these establishments are now deemed legal, as long as they comply with existing Victorian Planning Provisions and WorkSafe requirements.

In practice, punters have always had plenty of choice. We’ve been reporting the best options for well over a decade. The city is well-served by renowned escort agencies (outcalls), with high-class brothels and hundreds of massage shops (incalls).

Compared to other Aussie cities, Melbourne’s approach is now on par with the most progressive, second only to Sydney for the sheer number of adult services on offer.

Punter’s Views

We ask readers for their thoughts on the sex industry in Melbourne.

Some select highlights below:

I punt around the CBD a couple of times a month, mostly the little Asian shops. Experience can be pedestrian, but let’s face it… the major shops don’t come cheap. I think if they charge anymore, you’ll see an exodus of punters to the escort directories. [On the law changing?] It’s not like it makes much difference to me. You’re not gonna teach this old dog new buying habits with an act of Parliament, right? Still… I’m glad the girls are finally getting some of the “official” support and protection they deserve.

Anon punter (Brunswick)

Generally my advice is to stick to the places that are proud to advertise what they are. If I drop in to a shop and none of the girls can speak English, with faces like a slapped arse, that just screams bad news. We don’t want to talk about it, but this city does have a trafficking problem and I don’t want anything to do with that.

Anon punter (Geelong)

Most of these girls are active on social these days, the Western ones anyways. Obviously… OnlyFans is a big draw, but even Twitter/X and Instagram. I much prefer doing my own research and taking the independent route. Better than dealing with an agency or a brothel. You know who’s getting the money. Not to mention, the best punt of my life came from a Melbourne party girl on OF.

Anon punter (South Melbourne)

I’ve worked in both cities [Melbourne and Sydney]. And they’ve both changed a lot since Covid. There’s huge turnover at the major brothels. Places like Top of the Town and Gotham have a never-ending factory line of girls, and the same applies to the punters. We get a real mix of customers. Young, old, rich, tradies… I’ve kinda learned to keep my expectations in check, ’cause you never know who’s coming through that door. There’s a sense of relief at the moment [with the decriminalisation act taking effect]. People don’t realise the bullshit hoops a sex shop had to jump through in the past. Something as simple as hiring security for the front door… how are you going to do that with advertising banned? It’s about time we had these changes.

Anon escort (St Kilda-based)

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Escort Industry

Recent estimates put the number of active sex workers in Melbourne at anywhere between 5,000 to 10,000. 

While the city does a roaring trade in its licensed brothels and massage shops, the vast majority of these sex workers operate independently – as private escorts. Most don’t work for agencies. They advertise their services on directory sites and classified listings.

That said, there are still a few dedicated agencies in the Melbourne region:

Butterfly Babes – A roster of high-end courtesans available for everything from dinner dates and private encounters, to full-blown F1 weekend getaways.

Paramour – They claim to have “the most expensive escorts in Melbourne“, which says a lot about the type of moneybag Johns they’re hoping to attract! Over 250 ladies on their books.

By-Her – An award-winning agency for those crave the ‘finer things’. Rates start at a pricy $700 per hour, with overnight bookings starting at $4000.

These agencies are specifically for the monied executive types. Many punters use the independent directories instead, which are a bit more hit-and-miss, but tend to offer much cheaper rates.

Popular options include the Aussie staples of Scarlet Blue (hundreds of call girls, local and visiting), Ivy Societe (500+ ads) and Escorts and Babes (700+ ads). Locanto is also stacked with escort ads, with literally hundreds posted every single day, and these are generally the ‘cheapest’ (<$250/hr).

Needless to say, you’re not going to be lacking in choice.

In Melb, you’ll find local Australian women, European backpackers, international students from Asia offering services part-time, and touring escorts from interstate or abroad.

The city’s multicultural makeup is reflected in the escort listings: everything from Aussie “girl-next-door” types to French, British, Chinese, Thai, Latina, and beyond.

Ages generally range from early 20s up to 40s, with the majority of ads clustering in the twenty-something and early-thirtysomething bracket. There’s a niche for every taste: Asian student escorts, curvy European companions, tattooed alt-girls, mature MILFs… you name it, Melbourne has it.

Melbourne Brothels

Oh yes.

Brothels are legally operated and plentiful across Melbourne. Our latest Melb brothel count returns over 75 active establishments, but that’s still only scratching the surface.

Under Victoria’s sex work laws, brothels have been allowed for years (with licensing in the past, now just like any other business after decrim). Melbourne’s brothels range from luxurious establishments in inner-city suburbs to humble “suburban whorehouses” in industrial estates.

Most of them work the same way.

There’s usually a reception area where a manager will take your first-name only and the house fee (which covers room hire; payment for the service itself is then typically arranged with the SW, though in practice brothels have “standard prices” that everyone knows).

Available ladies will do a lineup or introductions in a lounge area, wearing lingerie or casual sexy attire, and you pick who you’d like to spend time with. The rooms range from tiny motel style holes-in-the-wall to executive lounges and Safari-themed fucking dens.

See our list for a comprehensive tour of venues.

Major players include:

The Boardroom – 53 Market St, Southbank VIC 3006. A multi-award-winning high-end brothel in South Melbourne’s Crown precinct, known for luxury themed rooms and a lineup of top-tier ladies.

Gotham City – 70-74 Clarke St, South Melbourne VIC 3205. When we first reviewed Gotham City many years ago, it claimed to be Australia’s first 6-star venue. Time is no healer for the ego, as their website now boasts that they’ve upgraded to 8-star status lol.

Manhattan Terrace – 554-556 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000. Known as The Brothel That Never Sleeps, this is a 24/7 modern cathouse with plenty of girls to choose from, including both local Australians and Asians.

If we look across the city, each brothel has its own character – some focus on a certain ethnicity of workers (Asian or locals), some on particular services or themes.

There’s pretty much something for every punter.

Red Light Districts

Melbourne has a a couple of notorious hot-spots and streets historically linked to the sex trade:

St Kilda

Melbourne’s unofficial red-light area.

The beachside suburb of St Kilda, especially around Grey Street, has long been known for street prostitution. Since the 1970s, Grey Street’s southern end became the spot for street-based sex workers in Melbourne.

Even today, despite changing laws and gentrification, you’ll find a handful of hookers there after dark. They tend to work the corners of Grey St near Barkly St or Inkerman St, and nearby lanes. Expect police patrols cruising by on weekend nights and the occasional “gutter crawler”… guys in cars slowly circling the block looking for a pick-up.

Many SWs in St Kilda struggle with addiction or homelessness. It’s a pretty grim environment and we’d strongly suggest you stay away from the street – even though most street sex work is now decriminalised.

Kings Street

The CBD’s strip club strip.

While not about prostitution per se, King St in the CBD (especially the block between Flinders Lane and Lonsdale St) has long been lined with strip clubs, adult bookstores, and the like.

In the late 20th century, King Street was infamous for boozy strip joints and the occasional streetwalker outside after closing time. Today… well, it’s cleaned up a bit, but you’ll still find several of the city’s major strip clubs on or around King. We’ll cover those in our strip club section.

For our purposes: King Street = strip club central. It’s not known for brothels.

The Price of Sex in Melbourne

How much does it cost to get laid in Melbourne?

Obviously, we have to caveat this with the simple reality that the choice is huge, and the economics are distinctly…uh, varied.

Brothel Prices: Most Melbourne brothels have fairly standard rates for a “standard service” (covered oral and intercourse, usually one shot). The mid range is around $140 for 30 minutes, $240 for an hour. Some higher-end places will go above this, typically floating around $300/hour. You also have some dirt cheap venues (often poorly reviewed) quoting as little as $80 for 30 minutes FS. Generally, $100–$150 for half an hour is the ballpark average.

Escort Prices: Hiring an escort is typically more expensive than visiting a brothel, which curiously, isn’t always the case in other Aussie cities. A typical rate is around $300-$400 per hour for a mid-range companion. Many list $350/hr as a starting point for GFE. Agencies might offer 1-hour incall around $400-$500 and outcalls $50–$100 more. There’s a wide spectrum: you can find independent newcomers charging just $250/hr and hoping to build clientele.

And, of course, you will also find super-premium escorts asking $1000+ per hour. An overnighter with a VIP companion is likely to cost at least $4000.

Street Sex: Firstly, this is not a good idea. The prices are low, and with good reason – the risks are considerable. Street hookers will often charge $50–$100 for a quick car job, and perhaps $150 for FS.

Rub and Tug: A one-hour erotic massage with happy ending goes for around $100–$150 at a typical suburban massage parlour, but there are several luxury ‘spa’ like facilities where the cost is considerably higher. Any FS upgrade (if available) is likely to be priced comparable to a lower end brothel.

On forums like PunterPlanet, you’ll see guys complaining about price hikes, especially after Covid. The consensus though is that you will generally get what you pay for.

Melbourne prices are often compared to Sydney: from our various listings, we’d say they are roughly similar… perhaps Melbourne is slightly cheaper on average.

Erotic Massage Shops

Erotic massage – the classic “rub and tug” – is a huge part of Melbourne’s adult services.

We’ve tracked a massive number of erotic massage shops in Melbourne, and they range from luxurious hotel-like facilities to AMP holes-in-the-wall.

Erotic or sensual massage with sexual acts is treated as sex work under the law.

Previously, massage parlors that offered extras often operated in a grey area or simply quietly broke the rules (advertising only “remedial massage” while giving happy endings in the back room). But with decriminalisation, it’s much simpler: If a venue offers sexual services, it’s effectively a brothel and can do so legally as long as it meets council planning rules.

Needless to say, many small massage shops have taken advantage of the law change to be more open about their offerings. The massage section on Locanto is like the Wild West these days.

Where do you find erotic massage in Melbourne? 

Everywhere! 

The city is peppered with massage joints… from the CBD to suburban strip malls with a reputation for extra services. Clues include covered windows, neon “Open” signs, ads mentioning “Japanese/Thai/Chinese massage – very friendly girls – relaxation” etc etc.

Here’s a few notable erotic massage venues:

Far Eastern Relaxation – 77 Racecourse Rd, North Melbourne VIC 3051. A brothel that specializes in erotic massage. Rates for just massage are available and you can add extras as you see fit. The roster is a mix of Asian and Indian girls.

Bodyline – 0/13-21 Thomas St, Yarraville VIC 3013. With ‘more ladies that you can poke a dick at’ (their word, not ours!), Bodyline is another licensed brothel that specialises in erotic massage.

Jevou – Park St, South Melbourne VIC 3205. Known for its excellent nuru massages, Jevou is a boutique massage parlour covering a wide range of erotic bodywork services in South Melbourne.

Sex Clubs In Melbourne

Melbourne’s swinging and sex-positive crowd is one of the largest in Oz, and the city has a polished selection of clubs, private venues, and members-only events for people who like their fun with a bit of variety.

We’re talking BYO partner, towels and a willingness to play nice. These aren’t brothels (though you will still pay for entry!)… everyone’s there for mutual, unpaid pleasure… but they still operate under the same safety and consent rules you’d expect from any reputable adult space.

Top venues and events worth a look:

• Shed 16 – 16 Cumberland Dr, Seaford. The original “big box” swingers club in Melbourne. It’s kind of like a warehouse-turned-adult-playground, complete with spa, sauna, open play rooms and private cubicles for when the chemistry hits. Couples-focused, with very limited single-male nights. Regular themed events, newbie nights and lifestyle meet-and-greets.
• Pineapples Lifestyle Bar – South Melbourne. New kid on the block, a nudist club that is already stirring up the neighbours. Pineapples markets itself as a high-end, two-storey adult bar: cocktails downstairs, playrooms upstairs. Themed dress-up nights, erotic shows and a very selective door policy.
• Between Friends Wine Bar – Kew. A smaller, members-only space that feels more like a date night than a warehouse party. Relax over a bottle of red with other couples, then slip upstairs to private rooms if the evening takes a turn. Ideal for first-timers or those who prefer a quieter, more intimate setting.
• Saints & Sinners Ball – OK, so this one is not a venue but a long-running annual Melbourne institution, and we have to mention it for the sheer debauchery. Hundreds of guests in fetish, lingerie or not much at all. Live shows, play zones and an anything-goes atmosphere. If you time your trip right, this is a bucket-list lifestyle party.
• Fetish House – 1 Edinburgh St, Oakleigh South. Technically…a BDSM brothel? But their dungeon hire and pro-domme events cross over into the broader kink scene.

Most clubs run strict entry ratios to keep the gender balance healthy, and you’ll be expected to dress the part… lingerie, fetishwear or at least something that says “I’m not here for a pint of milk.”

Basically: read the entry requirements!!

As always, if you want to get involved with the swinging scene in Melbourne, we’d highly recommend joining one of the dedicated communities for lifestyle events.

Red Hot Pie and AdultMatchmaker are full of listings for private parties, orgies and god knows what else. Many events are posted exclusively on those platforms (or even sponsored by them).

Melbourne Strip Clubs

The past few years have been… unkind to Melbourne’s strip joints.

And that’s putting it politely.

We’ve had a pandemic gut the nightlife trade, two much-loved clubs reduced to ash (farewell, Kittens Caulfield and Goldfingers), one fighting off the wrecking ball thanks to an expired lease (Kittens Cecil St), and another slapped with a ban for breaking the Sex Work Act (Sin City). That’s before you even get to the mysterious deaths and tabloid-fodder scandals splashed across the papers.

What’s left of the scene today?

The big-name CBD clubs still pull a steady flow of suits, bucks parties, and curious couples.

King Street remains the unofficial catwalk for Melbourne’s remaining nudie bars, even if the lineup has thinned. Out in the suburbs, a few stalwarts have doubled down on regulars, themed nights, and “VIP” experiences to keep the punters reaching for their wallets.

The major attractions:

Centrefold Lounge – 22 King Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. One of the busiest joints in town, with multiple stages and a notorious shower show that’s been responsible for many an unplanned drink spill. Fairly decent mix of locals and touring bombshells.

Men’s Gallery – 601 Lonsdale St, Melbourne VIC 3000. Hosts the annual Showgirl World Championships. It’s also a winner of the Best Gentlemen’s Club in the land via the Aussie Adult Industry Awards.

Maxine’s Gentlemen’s Club – 676 Sydney Road Brunswick, Melbourne 3056. Shoutout to the suburban institution! Housed in an old theatre, this one pulls a crowd that’s part tradies on payday, part curious couples from the northside.

Local Sex Shops and Adult Stores

Melbourne has a ton of adult retail outlets, from “couple-friendly” boutiques to old-school sleaze magnets with a whiff of regret in the backrooms.

What are some of the key players?

Well, we have…

Sexyland – Multiple branches. Of course! The Bunnings of adult toys. Bright lights, aisles of toys, lingerie, bondage gear, DVDs, lube, all of the mainstream niches nicely ticked off. Open late, some stores 24/7, and the kind of place you can lose an hour just wandering in a horny stupor.

Club X – 216 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000. Slightly different clientele here. X is another Aussie adult retail institution. Expect DVDs, toys, lingerie, and the old-school extras: private video booths and mini cinemas. A distinctly grittier vibe.

Lucrezia & De Sade – 441 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065. In the market for leather? This is Melbourne’s high-end fetish boutique. Mostly specialising in leather, latex, steel and restraint gear for the BDSM crowd.

The city centre is easy pickings for adult shopping. Swanston Street and King Street between them cover the big chain stores, peep show throwbacks and a whole lot of neon goodness.

Our Posts Covering Melbourne’s Sex Scene

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What are your thoughts on the Melbourne sex scene today?

Drop us a comment or a private email if we’ve missed anything important!