What is Fortitude Valley in Brisbane?
Fortitude Valley, often called the Valley, is an inner-city suburb of Brisbane known for its nightlife, live music venues, Chinatown and shopping. It is one of the city's main entertainment districts.
The suburb is named after the ship Fortitude, which brought free settlers to Brisbane in 1849. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it became a major shopping and commercial district with large department stores.
Brunswick Street Mall and Chinatown Mall are popular areas for dining, bars and markets. The Valley's Chinatown has restaurants and grocery stores selling Asian food.
Music and nightlife
Fortitude Valley is famous for its live music scene. Venues such as The Tivoli and the Fortitude Music Hall have hosted many local and international acts. The area was officially declared a special entertainment precinct to protect live music.
The Valley also hosts BIGSOUND, a major music industry conference and festival, held each spring. Emerging Australian bands perform across venues during the event.
James Street, on the edge of the Valley, is known for upmarket boutiques and restaurants. The suburb has many heritage buildings, along with newer apartment towers, and is well connected to the city by train and bus.