Fortitude Valley, Queensland

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Fortitude Valley
Brisbane, Queensland

Fotitude Valley's landmark Church with the City as the backdrop

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:
Herston	Bowen Hills	Newstead
Spring Hill	Fortitude Valley	New Farm
CBD	Kangaroo Point	East Brisbane

Fortitude Valley, also known simply as The Valley is a suburb of central Brisbane, Australia immediately north-east of the CBD. It is one of the hubs of Brisbane's nightlife, renowned for its trendy bars and cafes, nightclubs and adult entertainment. Together with the neighbouring suburb of New Farm, the Valley has the highest number of gay residents in the state and boasts the largest number of gay businesses and venues in Brisbane. ^[3]

1 History
2 Gentrification and culture clash
- 2.1 Valley Music Harmony Plan
3 Transport and roads
4 Population statistics
5 Local events and culture
6 References
7 External links

[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 CBD to the 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 city proper and shops operated by Roman Catholics established 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 the Valley. By that time Brisbane's horse drawn tram system already centred on the 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 and 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 CBD and the close concentration of public transport in the area, through the 1950s and 1960s the Valley became the largest non-CBD shopping precinct in Australia.

The rise of suburban shopping centres and the closure of the tram network in 1969 sounded the death knell for the 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. 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 was opened in 1987.

[edit] Gentrification and culture clash

The 1990s saw the development in the Valley of 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, a new resident's complaint about neighbouring clubs' live music threatened the closure of the Empire Hotel and the Press Club, two popular and established venues. Musicians and their fans revolted through the "Save the Music" campaign and, 20,000 signatures later, petitioned Council and 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 the Valley.

The Valley Special Entertainment Precinct exempts entertainment venues within the Valley Special Entertainment Precinct from the amplified noise requirements of the Liquor Act 1992 and allows Council to manage amplified music noise within the precinct 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. ^[4]

[edit] Transport and roads

[edit] Rail

Brunswick Street Station currently serves all suburban and interurban lines, including the Airtrain. The station has four platforms and is located in Zone 1 of the TransLink integrated public transport system. Premier Peter Beattie revealed in May 2007 that Government had allocated $22.4 million in capital funding in the upcoming Budget to ensure the major upgrade of Brunswick Street Railway Station, worth $33 million, would be fully funded, it is expected to begin in June 2007 and completed by December 2008. ^[5]

[edit] Buses

Brisbane Transport operates buses to Fortitude Valley.

[edit] Speed limits

On August 24, 2007 a 40km per hour speed limit was introduced to parts of Wickham Terrace, Ann Street, McLachlan Street and Warner Street. The speed limit will apply 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. ^[6]

[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. The population was 44% females, 56% males. As at the 2001 Census of Population and Housing 31.4% of the population was born overseas.^[1]

[edit] Local events and culture

[edit] Valley Fiesta

The Valley Fiesta is an annual three-day event. It features 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 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 Rugby League 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 1970's.