History Of The Valley

These days, it might be a thriving hub of night life, modern apartments, multicultural eateries and eclectic shopping, but Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley has a long and interesting history for everyone to learn about in History of the Valley, to be held in the Brunswick Street Mall on Friday and Saturday, 28 and 29 November.

Friday’s afternoon and evening events kick off at 4pm where you can check out a host of historical stalls and exhibits. There’ll be photos, prints and other items showing the Valley through the ages, from early settlement to the present.

There’ll also be vintage cars and a vintage Yellow Cab on display, and local performers will cover tracks from artists who used to or sometimes still do call Brizzie home, such as Powderfinger, Regurgitator and The Bee Gees. You can also check out a short film screened throughout the day, with famous faces reminiscing about their own experiences in The Valley.

The action starts at 10am on Saturday, with all the previous day’s activities on offer and more. There’s a chance to take an historical selfie in the free vintage photo booth, complete with props and an iconic Valley image in the background.

You can also tag along on a guided heritage trail walk from 11am-3pm, with sites including the Valley Post Office, Valley Fiveways Building and McWhirters Department Store. Walks begin on the hour with the last one departing at 2pm.

Finally, from 2-3pm, take a bit of time to listen to local identities, leaders and musicians reflecting on their memories of the Valley. Full program here

by Vicki Englund