The brothel, located in a weatherboard house in Skipton Street, has been operating “for months” according to neighbours.

On Thursday, the Ballarat Magistrates Court declared the premises, which has been operating as “Silk Hands Massage”, a proscribed brothel from Tuesday.

Anyone who enters or leaves the premises without lawful purpose will have committed an offence.

The brothel, which has video cameras installed at various locations along its verandah and has blocked-out and screened windows, did not answer when approached by The Courier.

One neighbour said the premises had been raided on September 22 with a number of unmarked police cars and a regular police car approaching and taking photographs.

He said a locksmith had visited the venue on Friday, presumably to fix the locks following the raid.

The man said neighbours were fed up with the scores of cars that would park around the block, waiting for calls to be told it was their turn to enter.

“It’s supposed to be a massage parlour; it’s been going on for months,” he said.

“We don’t need this kind of stuff around here. I’ve had enough of it. Have it in an industrial area, not around here where there’s kids walking around.”

The man said a neighbour with a similar street address was constantly having her door knocked on, with queries from the brothel’s clients.

He expressed concern that although the premises had been declared a proscribed brothel, that the unwanted visits and activity would continue.

Another neighbour said when the brothel first opened, it had its windows broken. Following that incident, she said owners puts screens over the windows for security.

She said she had seen two older men and a younger man dropping girls off regularly at the premises.

“It’s just annoying that it’s in a built-up area like this and the cars and coming and going,” she said.

“They (the cars) go right down the street. It’s older men (who are cients), but there are younger ones that go in too.”

The Courier was unable to reach Ballarat Police for comment.

Any activity at the premises can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.