A party suburb popular with gays, professionals and young people.
Fortitude Valley, Brisbane (0-5km)
OK. Wanna party? Are ya young, young-ish or gay? Wooo Hooo it's Fortitude Valley time. This suburb is NOT suited to families. It is a lively, jumping place 1km east of the city centre. Gone are the days when this was a sleazy drugs and hooker hangout. Now it's nightclub central, with a Chinatown, plenty of shops, bars, cafes, art, grubby streets, a depressing looking mall area, scores of apartments, and some chi chi shopping. (More information below and to your left >>>)
> FORTITUDE VALLEY ON THE BRISBANE MAP > FORTITUDE VALLEY MAP > TRANSPORT, GETTING THERE > DISTANCES FROM FORTITUDE VALLEY TO...
Rent $$$:
apartment rents are in the mid range to expensive range
James St
Location:
Inner city, Near QUT/Shillington
Apartment city
Would Suit:
Singles, Professionals, Gay/lesbian, Students
Can be a nightmare
Vibe:
Party time
If this suburb were a shoe, it would be a Converse and black work shoe
In recent years, independent designers and arty types have moved into Fortitude Valley opening up shop bringing with them young, funky crowds, gays, and cashed up older types. There are three main shopping areas in the Valley: (1) Brunswick St which includes the grubby mall, (2) James Street - which has upmarket shops and cool cafes; and (3) the Emporium Shopping Centre - with ultra expensive shops, but not much soul.
The Valley is the nightclub centre of Brisbane which means, yes, there is grunge and adult entertainment and live music, but on Friday and Saturday nights you will also see plenty of drunk teenagers and people in their 20s in the streets. It's not exactly a pretty sight. (Not your cup of tea? Then check out neighbouring New Farm.)
The streets in Fortitude Valley are mostly narrow. Warehouses have been turned into apartments, or they have been knocked down to make way for apartments. They're not cheap. The nicer areas to live include the streets around James St.
This is mostly young people and childless people territory.
Public transport here is excellent with numerous train and bus lines passing through. Train services to the city centre are frequent. You can catch the train to the airport from the Fortitude Valley train station.
The area was named after a ship called the Fortitude. When migrants on that ship stepped on land, they settled into slums in the valley.
Parking is very hard, get the train or bus. Vibe: party time. Shoe equivalent: Converse. Would suit: singles, students, party goers. Location: inner city. Distance from city centre: 1km. Direction: East. Postcode: 4006
