Stacey Tierney's heartbroken family were not aware she was working at a strip club

Stacey Tierney, the British woman found dead in a Melbourne strip club, had not told her family the truth about where she worked.

The 29-year-old had been working as an exotic dancer at Dreams Gentlemen's Club when she died on December 19. She had been living as a backpacker in Australia for three years, but trained as a dancer in her home of Manchester and dreamt of becoming a nurse.

But her family in the United Kingdom were seemingly unaware of how she was supporting herself. Her uncle Graham Tierney told news.com.au he was shocked his "hard working" niece had been linked to a strip club.

"Most of us were unaware," Mr Tierney said.

The news came as a shock. "It certainly surprised me." His brother Alan and his wife visited Australia 18 months ago and met up with her - but there was no hint that she was supporting herself by working in strip clubs.

Her social media profiles suggest nothing out of the ordinary either. Her Facebook page is full of pictures of her on Queensland beaches and partying with other travellers.

Some relatives were aware she was doing some pole-dancing, but were reportedly stunned to learn she was working in a strip club.

Family members said her parents, Stephen and Michelle, would be horrified to know she was a stripper, British media reported.

On the weekend she died, the club was promoting a "Saturday Night Party" featuring "over 30 Hot Sexy Young Girls 18 with a Vip area available and full bottle Service.

"It's going to be an Amazing Night, Full of Erotic Fantasies! See all the Dream Girls parade live on the main stage at 1am every Saturday night," an advertisement said.

Friends who had worked in clubs with Ms Tierney said she was fantastic to be around.

"You were such an awesome person to work with and one of the few genuine people in this world and industry," one wrote online.

Ms Tierney had reportedly been urged not to work at the club by those closest to her in Melbourne. Her death - and the worldwide media coverage - has horrified her inner-circle.

"I just hate that she is all over the news," a friend told news.com.au.

Her uncle, Graham Tierney, said the shock of her death was worsened by the lack of information about what exactly happened, and the family were angry about what happened in her final hours.

It's understood Ms Tierney was with a group of men who entered the club on Sunday, December 18 - when it was closed - who left the club after she died.

"What I heard was that it was a private party inside the establishment when it would be normally closed and these alleged several men who fled the scene without raising any concerns," said Mr Tierney. "Then where were the staff I assume would be serving them and who authorised the party? Surely the owners must know?"

He didn't believe she was the only staff member there, and said health and safety should surely mean she couldn't be left alone.

Furious messages began appearing on the Facebook page of Dreams Gentlemen's Club this week by people upset the club hadn't acknowledged Ms Tierney's death, with many accusing the club of removing critical posts.

The club issued a statement to news.com.au on Wednesday night saying they extended their sympathies and condolences to the family and friends of Stacey Tierney, "who recently passed away".

The statement said management and employees were assisting with the "ongoing" police investigation.

Homicide squad detectives have joined the inquiry, but police have stopped short of calling the death a murder. Police refused to comment on most aspects of the case with a spokesman telling news.com.au they would not provide an "ongoing commentary".

Mr Tierney said his brother, Ms Tierney's father, was "grief-stricken and upset".

"I am waiting for him to get back to me. I have not heard from him since."

A gofundme page set up to raise money to help get Ms Tierney's body home has so far raised almost $20,000.