QLDPlanned settlement
Fortitude Valley
Named for an immigrant ship, it grew into a city centre outside the city.
1849Fortitude immigrants arrive
WHAT STARTED IT
In 1849 the Fortitude brought the first of John Dunmore Lang’s assisted immigrants to Moreton Bay. Refused the free land they had expected, many were allowed to camp at the York’s Hollow waterholes outside the town, and settlement spread over the higher ground north-east of Brisbane that took the ship’s name.
WHAT SUSTAINED IT
By the late 1850s the Valley had 100 to 150 houses, and it gained its own council ward in 1864. Its streets stood above the 1890 flood level, and drapers such as T.C. Beirne (1891), McWhirter’s (1898) and Foy and Gibson (1903) grew into department stores around Brunswick and Wickham Streets, served by trams from the northern suburbs.
TURNING POINTS
1849The Fortitude’s immigrants are landed on Moreton Island and brought up to Brisbane.
1864A separate Valley Ward is created; Thomas Finney buys a drapery in Ann Street.
1887A Renaissance-style post office is built in Ann Street.
1891T.C. Beirne opens in Brunswick Street, followed by McWhirter’s in 1898.
1957The Chermside drive-in shopping centre begins drawing shoppers away.
WHAT IT DOES NOW
An inner-city entertainment and business district. After its department stores declined from the 1950s, night clubs and music venues revived it in the 1980s and 1990s.