Duration:
1h40m
The glamour of current-day Brisbane tries to hide its brutal and bloody past, but there is only so much the bright lights of Bris-Vegas can mask.
Operated By:
Take a Walk on the Dark Side.
Don’t be fooled by the bright lights and bustling city streets. This city has a past…a dark past.
- Enjoy a leisurely guided walking tour retracing the steps of the city’s most infamous men.
- Transport yourself back in time to a seemingly lawless world of brawlers, fraudsters, and love triangles gone wrong.
- Uncover the dark secrets that lurk behind every historic building and alleyway.
- Wander the city streets with your tour guide and experience firsthand the rich history that once reigned supreme around every corner.
- Book your ticket now for a unique investigation into the criminal underbelly that once plagued this fine city.
The glamour of current day Brisbane tried to hide its brutal and bloody past, but there is only so much the bright lights of Bris-Vegas can mask.
Forget what you think you know about Brisbane and join us for a jaw-dropping trip down a memory lane you never knew existed.
Meets at the front entrance of the Brisbane City Hall in King George Square. Bring comfortable shoes.
…stories the city tried to forget…
Find Us Online
- Instagram – Dark Stories Brisbane
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- Tik Tok – Dark Stories True Crime
- Facebook – Dark Stories Brisbane
Find us for your Tour
The meeting point is at the front entrance of the Brisbane City Hall in King George Square. Please arrive 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time of your tour, if at all possible.
Click here for directions.
Brainteaser Questions
Let’s get you into the Bris-Vegas spirit with a couple of local trivia questions :-)
Q1. Brisbane’s Central Business District was once the red light district of Colonial Brisbane. It was a low lying, mangrove swamp and suffered periodic flooding. What was the name of this area of the city?
a. Toad’s Hollow
b. Frog’s Hollow
c. Convict’s Hollow
d. Logan’s Hollow
Q2. Which famous Brisbane landmark was the site of the first execution in Brisbane’s history?
a. Brisbane City Hall
b. General Post Office
c. The Old Windmill
d. Treasury Building
e. Old Government House
See the base of this email for answers.
What’s Nearby
We also appreciate you may be wondering what to eat and drink both before and after your tour. You’ll likely be looking for a Bar? A Cafe? Or a Restaurant?
We’ve taken the liberty of listing a few places that we highly recommend. These are not only great options in their own right, but they are also very conveniently located close to the tour start and finishing points.
Gelato
Gelatissimo – you can’t buy happiness, but you can buy gelato and that’s kind of the same thing. With over 50 flavours to try, and with a range of delicious sweets to choose from, you will be reminded life tastes better with Gelatissimo. Find them here.
Bar Restaurants
The Pig ‘N’ Whistle King George Square is the favourite Friday night haunt for local workers within the CBD and beyond! Close to public transport links and featuring beautiful alfresco dining whilst still embracing the traditional British pub interior, this is the perfect place to unwind after a hard days work! Find them here.
The Grand Central Hotel is a stylish, old-world multiroom pub, offering gourmet bistro fare, plus music & TV sports. The GCH is everything you want your local pub to be and is bringing back the good times and serving up good quality seasonal pub food. Find them here.
Restaurants
The iconic Jimmy’s on the Mall is Brisbane’s longest established outdoor restaurant having served millions of Brisbane locals and tourists. Situated in the heart of the action in the Queen St Mall this unique establishment has been open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week since 1982. Find them here.
The Beach House Bar & Grill is a dynamic concept in Hospitality – an Australian themed Bar & Grill celebrating Australian Beach culture and cuisine. Enjoy flame-grilled beef and seafood in a large, bright dining room hosting live music 6 nights a week. Find them here.
Momo Chicken (and Beer) – Inspired by the simplicity of Korean street food Momo chicken offers a great atmosphere to enjoy with your friends and family if it’s for a tasty meal or a cheerful drink and feast. Momo chefs take market fresh ingredients and fire them up for that amazing Korean flavour. Find them here.
Post tour Cocktails
Death and Taxes – With inspiration taken from the underground bars of London and Paris, guests are invited to forget the outside world and get lost within the intimate lighting and grand back bar, displaying over 1000 spirit bottles. Once within the venue, explore their back room where you will find sumptuous booths, matched with 100-year-old wooden floors. Find them here.
The Arcadium Bar – this is the Cocktail Bar for the adventurous, the mysterious, the contemplative adventurer and even the occasional armchair philosopher. The Arcadium Bar provides a unique collection of all kinds of curious recipes for wandering travellers. Find them here.
Getting Here by Public Transport
If arriving by Train; getting off at the Brisbane Central Station will provide you with a 5-minute walk to the tour starting point, and it will be a 5-minute return walk from the tour finishing point.
If arriving by Bus; The King George Square Bus Station is located just near the tour starting point.
If arriving via the Myer Centre/Queen St Centre Bus Stations, please allow 10-15 to get to the tour starting point. The lifts occasionally run slower than expected.
Getting Here by Car
If arriving by car we recommend parking at the King George Square Car Park as the most convenient. The car park is located just near the tour starting point, and a 5-10 minute walk from the tour finishing point. Find the carpark here.
If you are arriving via the Myer Centre car park, please allow 10-15 to get to the tour starting point. The lifts occasionally run slower than expected.
An alternative option is to park at the Cornerstone Carpark on Wickham Terrace. This is close to the tour finishing point. If choosing this option then it will be a 5-10 minute walk to get to the tour starting point. Find the carpark here.
Fitness Level
- The tour is approximately 2-3 km in length, taken at a very leisurely gentle walking pace with plenty of stops along the way.
- It usually takes 90-100 minutes with some stairs to navigate on mostly flat terrain, however, there is a hill towards the end of the tour that we climb in stages between stories.
Running Late?
- If for reasons beyond control you are running late, please contact us and provide an estimated time of arrival, and the tour host will be notified.
- If you are running more than 10 minutes late, as the tour will have already started, we will attempt to coordinate with you and the tour host for an alternative meeting point.
A1. The answer was b- Frog’s Hollow. A creek used to pass through the swampy area joining the Brisbane River in the vicinity of the intersection of Alice Street and Edward Street. Due to the periodic flooding, rents were cheap leading to the development of Brisbane’s first red-light district.
A2. The answer was c- The Old Windmill. In July 1841, a public occurred execution of two men convicted of the murder of members of a surveying party on 31 May 1840. There is a high likelihood that the men were innocent of the crime they were accused of.
See you soon :-)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Gift Card Purchases are subject to the following terms and conditions:-
– Gift cards can be redeemed for any product in any location.
– Gift cards are valid for 3 years from the date of purchase.
– Gift cards are non-refundable, but remain fully transferable.
Rain and Weather:-
– Dark Stories will contact you via SMS or Email on the day your tour runs if there are weather issues that are likely to impact the tour.
– Please be patient; inclement weather during the day often(but not always) leads to clear skies in the evenings.
– Tours will usually operate under most conditions including sporadic light rain.
– Dark Stories will be in touch as early as possible(at the latest 90 minutes prior to tour start times) if the tour is impacted in any way.
– Dark Stories reserves the right to make the final decision to proceed or cancel an event for rain impacted days/nights.
Minimum Attendance Clause
– Dark Stories requires a minimum number of participants to proceed. If this number is not met, the tour may be cancelled, and attendees will be offered the option to reschedule or receive a full refund.
General
– Please respect all other participants, and tour hosts. No rudeness or aggressive behaviour will be tolerated. Dark Stories reserves the right to remove any person/s from the tour who pose a danger to others or are disruptive to the tour.
– Dark Stories reserves the right to refuse entry and evict persons under the influence of drugs or alcohol who are disorderly or engage in inappropriate behaviour or vandalism.
– Rules are strictly enforced for the safety and enjoyment of all participants.
