Post Code: 4006 Distance to CBD: 1 km
Fortitude Valley or simply “The Valley” is the heart of Brisbane. It is adjacent to the northeast of the Central Business District. The place is named after the ship SS Fortitude that landed in Brisbane in 1849. It brought the Scottish immigrants who were duped to the promise of free land grants in Queensland. Denied of the land they had been promised, the immigrants settled in the valley. The Valley has literally, its ups and downs as a commercial area. It become prosperous from the 1900’s to the 1960’s. However, business went down in the 1970’s and the area became a hot bed for gambling joints and prostitution dens. In 1987, things become brighter again when Chinatown Mall was opened. By the 1990’s, Fortitude Valley regained its character as a lively and scintillating red light district.
Fortitude Valley’s Top Attractions
o Chinatown
Once you see the Chinese stone arches at Wickham and Ann Street, that means you are now approaching Chinatown. Chinatown is not only for the Chinese. It represents the whole of Asia. Chinese supermarkets also sell Thai, Filipino, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian, Korean and Japanese products. It is also a hub of Asian cultural activities and the permanent host for festivals and events. Brisbane has one of the most authentic Chinatowns in the world.
o The Events and the People
The Fortitude Valley is alive with excitement and events with wide tolerance for cultural differences. If you are in Brisbane at the right time of the year, you just might witness one of their regular events.
o Valley Transmission is a musical festival featuring Brisbane’s original music. This is held on a Saturday every two months in Brunswick Street Mall.
o The Valley Fiesta, a great outdoor party of free live music and country fairs are held for three consecutive days every spring.
o The Valley Jazz Festival, a five-day musical festival in a multi-venue atmosphere that showcases Australia’s contribution to the musical art of jazz. It also features artists from around the world.
o SOOB or Straight Out Of Brisbane, a festival dedicated to the upstarting artist. It is intended as a venue to help new artists to show their artistry,
o Big Gay Day, a festival for Gays, Lesbians, Bi-Sexual, Transvestites, and Straight people. The festival provides entertainment and raises funds for groups that promote Gay Rights such as GLBT, GLWA and Open Doors
One local might advise you that the weirdo’s are not dangerous and they are friendly.
Some places that are worthwhile to mention are the Embroiders Guild QLD in the historic Masonic Hall and the Queensland Military Memorial Museum. The Embroiders Guild exhibits a collection of antique and modern needlework and about 1000 catalogued multi-media on embroidery. The Queensland Military Memorial Museum displays military paraphernalia, military uniforms, and photographs from 1800’s to the present.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 0 comments… add one now }