Brisbane: Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour

Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley has a dark and captivating history, and now visitors can uncover its illicit past on a 1.5-hour Historical Crime Walking Tour. For just €20.87 per person, this immersive experience takes you through the former epicenter of vice, exploring sites linked to notorious underworld figures and the infamous Fitzgerald Inquiry. Led by an informative guide, you’ll dive into the stories behind the neighborhood’s corrupt history, discovering hidden details that shed light on a bygone era. With wheelchair accessibility and free cancellation, this tour offers a compelling way to explore the shadowy side of Brisbane’s past.

This experience made our list of the 4 Best Walking Tours In Brisbane.

Key Points

• Immersive 1.5-hour walking tour exploring Fortitude Valley’s notorious past as Queensland’s capital of vice and corruption during the 1980s.
• Visit former headquarters of underworld kingpins, illegal gambling dens, and the site of the tragic Whisky Au Go-Go nightclub fire.
• Gain insights into the Fitzgerald Inquiry’s exposure of deep-rooted political and police corruption in the region.
• Discover notorious spots like Beat nightclubs and Les Bubbles Restaurant that were part of Fortitude Valley’s seedy underbelly.
• Accessible for diverse participants, with a 3-out-of-5 rating based on a single review highlighting both informative aspects and areas for improvement.

You can check if your dates are available here:

Tour Overview and Pricing

The Brisbane: Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour offers visitors an immersive 1.5-hour experience, with prices starting from €20.87 per person.

The tour is conducted in English and is wheelchair accessible, making it accessible to a wide range of participants.

Customers can take advantage of the free cancellation policy, which allows them to receive a full refund if they cancel up to 24 hours in advance.

The tour also features a ‘reserve now & pay later‘ option, allowing customers to secure their spot without paying anything upfront.

Experience Highlights

Participants on the Brisbane: Fortitude Valley Historical Crime Walking Tour will visit the former headquarters of underworld kingpins from the 1980s, uncovering the secret locations of illegal casinos that once operated in the area.

They’ll also explore the infamous Whisky Au Go-Go nightclub, the site of a mysterious fire in 1973 that claimed 15 lives.

The tour delves into the corruption that plagued the city, including insights into the Fitzgerald Inquiry’s Corruption Commission.

Along the way, guests will discover other notorious spots like the Beat nightclubs and Les Bubbles Restaurant, learning about Fortitude Valley’s dark and glamorous past as the capital of vice in Queensland.

Historical Context

Fortitude Valley has long been steeped in a dark and corrupt past, earning a reputation as the capital of vice in Queensland. Known for its glamour and criminality, the area was home to an underworld of illegal casinos, questionable clubs, and powerful kingpins during the 1980s.

Stories abound of key players in the criminal world and their relationships with corrupt police officials. This sordid history culminated in the Fitzgerald Inquiry, a landmark corruption commission that exposed the deep-rooted graft plaguing the city.

Today, Fortitude Valley’s past continues to fascinate as visitors explore the infamous spots that once hosted illegal activities and uncover the insights into the corruption that once thrived here.

Tour Logistics

The walking tour meets at the corner of Church Street and Wickham Street in Fortitude Valley, just across from the local police station. Participants should look for a guide wearing a Dark Stories uniform and carrying a lantern to identify them.

The tour includes a local guide, the walking experience, and hotel pickup and drop-off, with tips also covered.

The tour logistics are as follows:

1. Meeting Point: Corner of Church Street and Wickham Street, Fortitude Valley, next to the Church across from Fortitude Valley police station.

2. Guide identification: Dark Stories uniform with logo, holding a lantern.

3. Inclusions: Walking tour, local guide, hotel pickup and drop-off, tips.

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Customer Feedback

Travelers have offered a middling 3-out-of-5 rating based on a single review on GetYourGuide, reflecting a mixed assessment of the tour experience. While some aspects were praised, such as the informative guide and the opportunity to explore the valley’s notorious past, other elements fell short. The review highlighted areas for improvement, including the tour’s value proposition and the need for more engaging storytelling. The customer feedback provides a glimpse into the tour’s strengths and weaknesses, helping potential participants make an informed decision.

Positives	Negatives
Informative guide	Value proposition
Exploring notorious past	Need for more engaging storytelling
	Limited customer feedback

About the Neighborhood

Known for its colorful past, Fortitude Valley has long held a reputation as the epicenter of vice and corruption in Queensland. Once a hub of illegal activities, the neighborhood’s dark history is intricately woven into the fabric of its development.

Fortitude Valley’s notorious past includes:

1. The headquarters of underworld kingpins from the 1980s, where illicit deals and criminal operations were orchestrated.

2. The presence of secret locations of illegal casinos, where the wealthy and powerful indulged in high-stakes gambling.

3. The Whisky Au Go-Go nightclub, the site of a mysterious and tragic fire in 1973 that claimed numerous lives.

This walking tour aims to shed light on the Valley’s gritty history and the corruption that once plagued the city.

Key Players and Corruption

Fortitude Valley’s sordid history includes the exploits of notorious underworld figures who wielded immense power and influence, often through corrupt connections with law enforcement and political elites.

Figures like Jack Kearney and Alan Maxwell were known as kingpins of the local gambling and vice rackets. They bribed and intimidated officials to protect their criminal empires, which included illegal casinos, prostitution, and extortion.

The Fitzgerald Inquiry in the late 1980s exposed the depth of corruption, leading to the jailing of corrupt police and politicians. These revelations shook the foundations of Queensland’s hotel, forever tainting the reputation of Fortitude Valley as a hub of vice and corruption.

Tour Itinerary and Highlights

The tour takes visitors on a captivating journey through Fortitude Valley’s notorious past, exploring the headquarters of underworld kingpins and the secretive locations of illegal casinos.

Participants will visit the Whisky Au Go-Go nightclub, the site of a mysterious fire in 1973 that has long been shrouded in mystery.

The tour also delves into the Fitzgerald Inquiry’s Corruption Commission, providing insights into the rampant corruption that plagued the city during this era.

Key highlights include:

1. Discovering the secret hideouts of infamous underworld figures.

2. Exploring the illicit gambling dens that operated in the shadows.

3. Unraveling the intriguing story behind the Whisky Au Go-Go tragedy.

Recap

Explore Brisbane’s gritty past on this captivating historical crime walking tour.

Uncover the dark secrets and notorious figures that once haunted Fortitude Valley, from the Whisky Au Go Go nightclub to the hideouts of underworld bosses.

With an informative guide, explore this once-infamous epicenter of vice and corruption, gaining insights into the Fitzgerald Inquiry that exposed the neighborhood’s seedy underbelly.

An immersive, wheelchair-accessible experience not to be missed.

You can check if your dates are available here: