Early European Settlement
In the mid-1840s a Presbyterian clergyman, John Dunmore Lang, promoted assisted immigration as a means of relieving Britain’s impoverished classes. Acting in the belief that the government had agreed to grant the emigrants free land, Lang arranged the first of three shiploads to come to Moreton Bay. The first vessel, the Fortitude, arrived at Brisbane in January 1849. The free land was refused, but the new arrivals were given permission to set up a temporary village which beacme known as ‘Fortitude Valley’.
Religion and Retailing
During the 1870s and 1880s a number of churches of different denominations were built, an extensive drainage scheme constructed and schools opened, though Brisbane’s first railway line (1882) skirted the Valley.
Horse-drawn trams offered the main means of access to the Valley from 1885. Fortitude Valley’s rising commercial importance was best signified by the Renaissance style post office built in Ann Street in 1887 and the growing number of significant retail establishments, all department stores. The new shopping area was above the 1890 flood level, in contrast to central and South Brisbane.
Fortitude Valley had churches, chapels, State and Catholic schools, Oddfellows’ and Foresters’ halls, a public swimming baths in Wickham Street, numerous villa residences on the suburb’s outskirts toward the river and, in the other direction, the elegant new headquarters for the Exhibition (1891).
Electric trams were introduced in the 1890s while the group of department stores maintained the Valley’s retail importance for decades. Importantly, beyond the retail centre, there were substantial factories and warehouses.
Dark Deeds in the Valley
In the 1950s major retail chains from Melbourne and Sydney began to take over Brisbane and Valley department stores. The Valley’s retail strength dissipated as the retail anchors were closed, exacerbated by the rise of drive-in shopping centres. The industrial sites were now too small for modern industrial and warehousing methods, though some premises became affordable as galleries and for semi-retail occupations. Local employment dried up as people were attracted to the outer suburbs. In the 1980s Fortitude Valley was caught between a faded past and an uncertain future.
Recovery
A number of Malls, including the Chinatown Mall (1987) capitalised on aspects of the Valley’s cultural tradition and it became a middle-ranking retail area, known for Asian cuisine, entertainment and a fading history of illegal casinos and unlicensed night clubs. There are now 25 registered heritage sites in Fortitude Valley spelling out a brighter future for the area.
We discovered a neighbourhood of careworn character buildings that are home to a sprinkling of top art galleries, funky eateries, cafes and bars and some of the best indie shopping in Brisbane. The following week I had an opportunity to further explore the area, from James St down to New Farm, this time while the shops and eateries were open.
View from the Back 
Sounds like an amazing trip!
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is really a place to be, with your in-depth analysis,one should be there in a lifetime, great work, thanks for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh it was and there’s plenty more to come.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing your historical references and complimentary photos. Good. information.°°🐳💦
LikeLiked by 2 people
Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I will never be in Brisbane, I live in the other hemisphere, that’s why I read about the history of this city, look at photos and try to see as much of Australia as possible. This continent is worth exploring.
best regards
LikeLiked by 2 people
My husband and I love Australia. If we were 20 years younger, we’d mov3 there tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is really a place to be, with your in-depth analysis,one should be there in a lifetime, great work, thanks for sharing this.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed it, there’s much more to come.
LikeLike
I thrust you on that, keep the fire burning.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely trip and lovely detail to enhance this post. Thank you.
LikeLike
Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You sure covered a lot of ground Sheree and experienced so much of our city’s diversity. The old and the new and of course our fabulous river life. So pleased that you enjoyed it all. Lyn
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Lyn but there’s still more to come.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Thanks for the info and lovely photos. Bookmarking this for future reference 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s well worth a visit
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m sure it is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant, Sheree, you did us proud!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you 🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Awesome post, Sheree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your history explains what is an otherwise incongruous name for an entertainments centre
LikeLiked by 1 person
We visited partly because we heard so many people talking about it but couldn’t work out what it was from the name!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very informative “look from behind” as your name suggests. Well written and rich in content and context.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for your kind words.
LikeLike
Liked, shared, flipped ! Thank you !
__
https://flipboard.com/@outosego/travel-mag-0pjv4fh7y
__
LikeLiked by 1 person