7246 Minnie

In 1907 Melbourne's underworld was dominated by a cross section of hardened gangs, overlords, pimps and sly grog king pins. Criminal identities terrorised Melbourne's surrounding suburbs Including bands of outlaws like the Crutchie Push, while the Fitzroy Push paid allegiance to two-time welterweight boxing champion Ted Whiting. Sly grog baroness Bridgett Mahoney controlled a vast portion of the city's sly grog, while lone gunmen such as John Clark, Long Harry Slater and Snowy Cutmore all made a living from law breaking. Yet Squizzy Taylor and his girlfriend Dolly Gray emerged in Melbourne in 1907, challenging the entire criminal fraternity over the following decade. For Minnie McKillop, life was never easy. At 17 years old, the Tasmanian born girl led a life of drinking, late nights, guns, sex and sly grog that would haunt her for her entire life. Her path towards becoming one of the most prolific brothel running, sly grog making madams in Australia's history would position her as the key figure at the beginning and the end of the Fitzroy Vendetta in 1919. As the criminal class jostled for positions of power, Minnie's grit, determination and her enduring strength made her the touch-stone for a set of key events that has given us the most telling window to the underworld of 1900-1930 that we have ever had access to before. The life of Minnie Clark is a dark and gritty story, set against a backdrop of Fitzroy's bloodiest days. As one of the central figures of the Vendetta, her life and its incredible story comes to life in "7246 Minnie".