Fortitude Valley, Queensland

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Fortitude Valley Brisbane, Queensland
Looking through to St Patricks Catholic Church in Fortitude Valley with the Brisbane CBD in the background
Population:	4,469[1]
Postcode:	4006
Area:	1.4 km² (0.5 sq mi)
Property Value:	AUD $577,500[2]
Location:	1 km (1 mi) from Brisbane CBD
LGA:	Brisbane City Council
State District:	Brisbane Central
Federal Division:	Brisbane
Suburbs around Fortitude Valley: Spring Hill Bowen Hills Newstead Spring Hill Fortitude Valley New Farm Brisbane central business district Brisbane River New Farm

Fortitude Valley (also known simply as "The Valley") is a suburb of central Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The suburb lies immediately northeast of the Brisbane central business district, and is one of the hubs of Brisbane's nightlife, renowned for its nightclubs, bars and adult entertainment.

[edit] History

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Scottish immigrants from the ship SS Fortitude arrived in Brisbane in 1849, enticed by Rev Dr Dunmore Lang on the promise of free land grants. Denied land, the immigrants set up camp in Bowen Hills. A number of the immigrants moved on and settled the suburb, naming it after the ship on which they arrived.

1891 saw the train line extended from the Brisbane central business district into Fortitude Valley, and Thomas Beirne opened a business on Brunswick Street. His business thrived and, after extension, he travelled to England in 1896, leaving his manager of two years, James McWhirter, in charge. Soon after his return, McWhirter established a competing drapery business opposite Beirne's in 1898. Beirne and McWhirter became keen rivals and are credited with establishing the Valley as a hub of commerce from the late 1890s.

In the late 19th century, commercial activities in Brisbane were divided along religious lines, with Protestant shopkeepers setting up along Queen and Adelaide Streets in the central business district, and shops operated by Roman Catholics in Stanley Street, South Brisbane. However in 1893 (and again in 1897), major floods wiped-out many shops, and owners in that area decided to move and set up operations north of the river in an area free of flooding. The area they chose was Fortitude Valley. By that time Brisbane's horse-drawn tram system already centred on Fortitude Valley, making it the logical choice to establish a shopping precinct.

From the early 1900s through to the 1960s, the thriving shopping precinct was dominated McWhirter's, Beirne's and, later, Overends' department stores. They were ultimately bought out by the Myer, David Jones and Walton chains respectively. Woolworths and Coles supermarkets and a host of smaller shops also flourished in the precinct during this period. Owing to its proximity to the central business district and the close concentration of public transport in the area, the Valley became the largest non-CBD shopping precinct in Australia through the 1950s and 1960s.

The rise of suburban shopping centres and the closure of the tram network in 1969 sounded the death knell for Fortitude Valley, with a gradual decrease in customers. David Jones closed its Valley store in the 1970s and Myer closed its doors in the early 1990s, and the once-thriving commercial centre devolved to dilapidation. In the 1970s and 1980s, the area fell into disrepute and, with the tacit support of police and government, illegal gambling houses and brothels set up shop. As the first step to its revitalisation, the Chinatown Mall opened in 1987.

The 1990s saw the development of Fortitude Valley into a thriving live music scene and nightclub district. In 1991, the Brunswick Street pedestrian shopping mall was established. Thereafter, the Brisbane City Council led a concerted urban renewal campaign, encouraging high density residential development around the suburb. The Sun Newspaper building and McWhirter's department store were redeveloped to house residential apartments.^{[citation needed]}

In 1999, residents' complaints about neighbouring clubs' live music threatened the closure of the Empire Hotel and the Press Club, two established venues. Musicians and their fans revolted through the "Save the Music" campaign and, 20,000 signatures later, petitioned Brisbane City Council and the State Government to address the emerging problem. That resulted in 2005 in the establishment of Australia's first "entertainment precinct", designed to protect live music and new residents through planning restrictions.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Valley Music Harmony Plan

The Brisbane City Council commenced the development of a Valley Music Harmony Plan in July 2002. The plan was developed in response to ongoing conflict that has arisen between residents and the entertainment industry in Fortitude Valley. The aim of the Valley Music Harmony Plan is to manage the impacts of music noise on residents and businesses without compromising the viability of the entertainment industry in Fortitude Valley.

The Fortitude Valley's Special Entertainment Precinct exempts entertainment venues within the area from the amplified noise requirements of the Liquor Act 1992, and allows council to manage amplified music noise under the Amplified Music Venues Local Law 2006. It also requires new residential and accommodation development construction to achieve a minimum noise reduction of 25 decibels in the 63 hertz frequency band.^[3]

[edit] Transport

[edit] Rail

Fortitude Valley railway station serves all suburban and interurban lines, including Airtrain to the Brisbane Airport. The station has four platforms and is located in Zone 1 of the TransLink integrated public transport system.

[edit] Buses

Brisbane Transport operates buses to, from and through Fortitude Valley.

[edit] Speed limits

On 24 August 2007, a 40 km (25 mi) speed limit was introduced to parts of Wickham Terrace, Ann Street, McLachlan Street and Warner Street. The speed limit applies between 10pm and 6am from Friday to Sunday night. The speed limit was introduced following a safety audit walk through Fortitude Valley by Cr Quirk early on a Sunday morning in late May 2007.^[4]

[edit] Population statistics

In the 2004 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing, the population of the Fortitude Valley postcode area was 4,469 people, in an area of 1.4 square kilometres, with 44% females and 56% males. As at the 2001 Census, 31.4% of the population was born overseas.^[1]

[edit] Local events and culture

[edit] Valley Transmission

The Valley Transmission is a non-profit showcase of the latest and greatest original music Brisbane has to offer. The gig is a Bi-Monthly event held on the busiest street at its busiest time in the heart of Brisbane's Music and Entertainment district Fortitude Valley! This is the best way for Brisbane to discover new and upcoming acts that might have just remained hidden under your very nose. The main focus of the VT is to help promote and network local independent bands by allowing them to play their music straight to Brisbane's Saturday nightlife. Artists that have performed at the Valley Transmission include the Last Dinosaurs, Ellington, Numbers Radio and Grand Atlantic. Previous artists have scored record contracts, high rotation airplay on triple j and played some of the biggest shows in australia.

[edit] Valley Fiesta

The Valley Fiesta is an annual three-day event featuring free live music, market stalls, food and drink from many local restaurants and cafés, and other entertainment. Artists that have performed at the Valley Fiesta include The John Steel Singers, Tim Rogers, Butterfingers and Evermore on the main stage and Nick Skitz and End Of Fashion at surrounding venues.

[edit] Valley Jazz Festival

The Valley Jazz Festival was founded in 2004 by Jazz Queensland Incorporated.

[edit] Straight Out of Brisbane (SOOB)

Straight Out of Brisbane was formed in 2002 by a group of emerging artists who wanted to create new opportunities in Queensland's independent cultural sector. The festival is not-for-profit artist-run event that features workshops, performances, exhibitions, screenings, live music and public art. The festival has been held every year up until 2007.

[edit] Fortitude Valley Diehards

Fortitude Valley Football Club, also simply known as "Valleys", were the oldest surviving rugby league team in Brisbane until their demise in 1995. In 2002, Valleys entered a partnership with another former Brisbane rugby league team, Brothers. Playing under the name Brothers-Valleys until changing their name to Brothers Diehards for the 2004 season. Valley's Juniors are still active members of the QRL South East Division having been based at Emerson Park in Grange since the 1970s.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Fortitude Valley, Queensland is at coordinates 27°27′23″S 153°02′04″E / 27.456473821177°S 153.034508228302°E / -27.456473821177358; 153.034508228302Coordinates: 27°27′23″S 153°02′04″E / 27.456473821177°S 153.034508228302°E / -27.456473821177358; 153.034508228302
• Brisbits suburb information - Fortitude Valley
• OurBrisbane.com - Fortitude Valley
• the Valley Transmission
• Valley Fiesta
• Valley Jazz Festival
• Straight Out of Brisbane Festival