402 Water Street, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006

Fortitude Valley (also known simply as "The Valley") is a suburb of central Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. The suburb lies immediately northeast of the Brisbane central business district, and is one of the hubs of Brisbane's nightlife, renowned for its nightclubs, bars and adult entertainment. At the 2011 Australian Census Fortitude Valley recorded a population of 5,615. In the 1950s, the suburb was the largest shopping precinct outside of a central business district in Australia. Source: Wikipedia

As with its neighbouring suburbs, Fortitude Valley has undergone extensive redevelopment and rejuvenation over the last decade. A mix of commercial and residential, much of the business activity around the Valley happens between St Pauls Terrace and McLachlan Street. Of the residential housing available in the area, new unit and apartment complexes make up the majority, attracting many young singles and couples to the area. Source: REIQ

Being situated so close to the Brisbane CBD many of Brisbane's elite private and public schools are within an easy travelling distance.

The Valley has a hub of entertainment venues, cafes, night clubs, galleries and restaurants and draws residents and visitors from around Brisbane every weekend. Source: REIQ

Scottish immigrants from the ship SS Fortitude arrived in Brisbane in 1849, enticed by Rev Dr John Dunmore Lang on the promise of free land grants. Denied land, the immigrants set up camp in Bowen Hills. A number of the immigrants moved on and settled the suburb, naming it after the ship on which they arrived. A post office was established in 1887.^[2] 1891 saw the train line extended from the Brisbane central business district into Fortitude Valley,^[2] and Thomas Beirne opened a business on Brunswick Street. His business thrived and, after extension, he travelled to England in 1896, leaving his manager of two years, James McWhirter, in charge. Soon after his return, McWhirter established a competing drapery business opposite Beirne's in 1898. Beirne and McWhirter became keen rivals and are credited with establishing the Valley as a hub of commerce from the late 1890s. In the late 19th century, commercial activities in Brisbane were divided along religious lines, with Protestant shopkeepers setting up along Queen and Adelaide Streets in the central business district, and shops operated by Roman Catholics in Stanley Street, South Brisbane. However, in the 1893 Brisbane flood (and again in 1897), major floods wiped out many shops, and owners in that area decided to move and set up operations north of the river in an area free of flooding. The area they chose was Fortitude Valley. By that time Brisbane's horse-drawn tram system already centered on Fortitude Valley, making it the logical choice to establish a shopping precinct. Fortitude Valley was also strongly advocated as the location of a new town hall in what became known as "the battle of the sites".^[3] Proponents noted a more central site closer to the Valley on which stronger foundations existed over the swampy site on Adelaide Street in the commercial district. A petition was raised in support of the Adelaide Street site and with the support of the mayor, it was chosen over the Fortitude Valley site.^[3] From the early 1900s through to the 1960s, the thriving shopping precinct was dominated by McWhirters, Beirne's and, later, Overells' department stores. The Overells Building was completed in 1907.^[4] They were ultimately bought out by the Myer, David Jones and Waltons chains respectively with Overells being bought by Walton in 1956.^[4] Woolworths and Coles supermarkets and a host of smaller shops also flourished in the precinct during this period. Owing to its proximity to the central business district and the close concentration of public transport in the area, the Valley became the largest non-CBD shopping precinct in Australia through the 1950s and 1960s. The rise of suburban shopping centres and the closure of the tram network in 1969 sounded the death knell for Fortitude Valley, with a gradual decrease in customers. David Jones closed its Valley store in the 1970s and Myer closed its doors in the early 1990s, and the once-thriving commercial centre devolved to dilapidation. In the 1970s and 1980s, the area fell into disrepute and, with the tacit support of police and government, illegal gambling houses and brothels set up shop. As the first step to its revitalisation, the Chinatown Mall opened in 1987. Source: Wikipedia

Shopping around the Valley is always an adventure with the variety of food outlets in the Chinatown and Brunswick Street Malls complemented by fashion boutique stores along Ann Street. The Valley Markets on Saturdays also provide a fun alternative to retail shopping. Source: REIQ