An illegal brothel has been shut down after being found operating just 50 metres from Footscray Primary School.
The brothel was operating at Young Asian Massage at 120 Geelong Road, in premises owned by Daniel and Amanda Cumming, the brother and sister-in law of Maribyrnong mayor Catherine Cumming.
Sunshine Magistrates Court declared the premises a proscribed brothel under the Sex Work Act 1994, making it an offence for any person to be found in or entering or leaving the premises without a lawful purpose.
State planning rules require brothels to be at least 200 metres from schools and any other places children spend time regularly.
The now abandoned brothel was operating in a prominent location in the Heritage Council-listed Green’s Buildings.
Neighbouring resident Jonathan said he had complained more than a year ago to the owner’s mother, Margaret Cumming, about the premises being used as an illegal brothel.
“To have a brothel so close to a school, with people walking in and out all times of the day, doesn’t really fit the industry criteria from what I understand,” he said.
“It was going for a long time before anything happened.”
Another nearby resident said she was appalled an illegal brothel in such a prominent location could have operated under the noses of the authorities for so long.
“There seems to be this idea that it’s Footscray so we’re not meant to worry about these things,” she said.
Star Weekly located a number of personal escort ads online relating to the premises and observed visitors attempting to gain access to the premises on Monday.
The closure follows November court orders shutting down an illegal brothel operating as Red Rose Body to Body Massage at 120 Ballarat Road, just 200 metres from Footscray City College, and another at 228 Ballarat Road.
Footscray police inspector Adrian Healy said illegal brothels tend not to come to the attention of local police unless there are associated issues such as assaults or sexual assaults.
“That tends to happen at a higher level, based on intelligence where there might also be wider issues such as illegal activities around the staff where the operators may be holding their passports.”
John Cumming, a former mayor, last year received council approval for an 88-bed backpackers lodge on the top floor of the Green’s Buildings.
Cumming family members did not respond when contacted by Star Weekly.
