FHACT Monthly Meeting (Register)

FHACT September Monthly Meeting is a hybrid meeting. Members and guests interested in attending should register for this event via Zoom or in person. After registering to attend via Zoom, you will receive an email with a link to the external Zoom website to complete the registration.

Topic: "The Butterfly Women"

It's 1863, and Melbourne is transitioning from a fledgling colony to a thriving, gold-fuelled metropolis. But behind its shiny new facade, the real Melbourne can be found in the notorious red-light district of Little Lon, full of brothels where rich and poor alike can revel all night. The most glamorous among them is Papillon, home to the most alluring women in the city.

Please join us to hear author Madeleine Cleary as she discusses her debut novel, The Butterfly Women, and shares some insights into the story behind the book. This includes the research she did with her dad into the family story: a connection to a woman called Catherine Cleary who was a resident of Melbourne's red-light district known as 'Little Lon' in the nineteenth-century. Living and working in a brothel in Juliet Terrace, Catherine Cleary was once described by The Age as 'an infamous wretch' who resided in 'one of the most disgusting dens in Melbourne'. Catherine also happens to be Madeleine's great-great-great grandmother. This was a family secret discovered after years buried in the shadows, so Madeleine will discuss how it was uncovered, other interesting facts about Melbourne's history and how this research inspired her debut novel.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Madeline speak about her debut book. Attendees joining us in person are warmly invited to stay after the meeting for supper and a chat—an opportunity to connect with fellow members and continue the conversation.

 Madeleine Cleary is a writer and podcaster. Her debut novel, The Butterfly Women was shortlisted for the 2025 Dymocks Book of the Year. Her writing has been shortlisted for The Australian Fiction Prize and featured in The Australian Weekend Magazine. Madeleine is the co-host of The Book Deal Podcast, where she interviews other writers about their pathways to publication.

Madeleine is a former bookseller and served as an Australian diplomat in China and now lives at the foothills of the Dandenong Ranges with her husband.