The Surry Hills garment industry can be traced back to the nineteenth century and became one of the state’s largest employers in the mid-twentieth century. Yet, as the Singer sewing machines sang in the sweatshops, the criminal underworld fought to control the sly grog and red-light trades in the surrounding laneways. Join best-selling author Amanda Hampson and historian Elliot Lindsay on a laneway adventure. Discover the history of the Surry Hills garment district and hear the stories of the local crooks, cops and pleasure-seeking soldiers who inspired The Tea Ladies series.