15 Facts About Dulcie Markham

Dulcie May Markham was a prominent Sydney prostitute and associate of gangland figures in Sydney during the 1930s, 1940's and 1950s, when she was closely involved with the razor gang milieu of that era of organised crime within that city.

The Daily Mirror, a former Sydney newspaper, summed up her career in crime thus: "Dulcie Markham saw more violence and death than any other woman in Australia's history".

Dulcie May Markham was born in the inner city Sydney suburb of Surry Hills on 27 February 1914 to John Markham and Florence Millicent nee Parker.

Dulcie Markham became one of Australia's most notorious prostitutes and underworld figures.

Dulcie Markham became a prostitute when she was 15 and Sydney's most extravagant gangster's moll by the time she was 18.

Dulcie Markham was attracted to, and associated with, many major criminals of the era.

Two months later, aged 21, Dulcie Markham was in court accused of falsifying a telegram on behalf of her new husband.

In 1943, Dulcie Markham relocated to Queensland's Gold Coast to take advantage of the influx of American GIs.

In 1947 aged 30, Dulcie Markham was accused and stood trial for conspiracy to murder Valma Hull, the wife of Keith Kitchener Hull, who had shot and killed another Sydney gangland figure, Donald "The Duck" Day, in January 1945.

On 25 September 1951, Dulcie Markham was shot in the hip at a wild party that turned violent in St Kilda, Victoria.

Dulcie Markham faced Central Police Court for soliciting one final time in 1957 before retiring from prostitution.

In January 1959, Dulcie Markham stood before a special Federal Court on a charge of not having filed a tax return for 1957.

Dulcie Markham married Martin Rooney in 1972 in Sydney, and gave up her criminal career.

Dulcie Markham had outlived most of her criminal contemporaries from Sydney's tempestuous razor gang era.

Dulcie Markham's funeral was held at St Patrick's Catholic Church, Bondi and the eulogy was given by Detective Frank "Bumper" Farrell.