A Quick History of Music in Fortitude Valley

Fortitude Valley is Brisbane’s music hub. As a record store owner, it’s why I’m here. Let’s take a quick look at how it has evolved.

Indigenous Music and Early Settlement

The Turrbal people have camped, gathered, and made music in the area now known as Fortitude Valley for more than 20,000 years. One of their major camping grounds was at Barrambin (today called Victoria Park), a short walk north‑west of the Valley. Some oral histories, researched by Dr. Ray Kerkhove and shared by the Save Victoria Park Campaign, describe a corroboree once performed in these parts that told the story of the Brisbane River’s creation by a Dreaming Ancestor — variously remembered as an eel, a bunyip, the rainbow serpent, or a great carpet snake.

This Ancestor is said to have travelled down from the mountains, carving out a valley as she slid toward the river. She did this while fleeing a Goanna chasing her for her eggs. The eggs were in her mouth. But during the chase, they spilled out at the river’s mouth, becoming the islands and the first people.

Music was very important for the first owners of these lands. It connected them to Country, carrying stories, law, and memory. When European settlers arrived in the 1800s, they brought their own musical traditions. By the mid‑1800s, Fortitude Valley had become a busy and growing part of Brisbane’s emerging city.

They used music to connect with the land and tell stories. When European settlers arrived in the 1800s, they brought new musical traditions. By the mid-1800s, Fortitude Valley had become a bustling part of Brisbane’s city.

The Rise of Fortitude Valley

By the early 1900s, Fortitude Valley had grown into one of Brisbane’s busiest shopping districts. Large department stores such as McWhirters and smaller radio shops like Mastertone sold records and gramophones, making the Valley a hub for the city’s first record collectors. McWhirters later became Myer, and price tags from the famous Australian department store can still be found on many secondhand records today.

Below is an image of one of the earliest records of music sold in the Valley that I’ve been able to identify. It shows a T.C. Berine & Co. stamp on a shellac disc — the dominant audio format before vinyl, and even before radio became widespread.

The record is a banjo performance of American country folk singer Uncle Dave Macon singing “The Fox Chase” and “The Old Maid’s Last Hope (A Burglar Song)”. It was released in 1924. Berine, whose store sold the record, was a major Brisbane retailer, and the building still stands. He claimed he began his business after receiving a vision from God in Ireland.

The 1970s and 1980s: Brisbane Finds Its Sound

During the 1970s and 1980s, Brisbane began to change. Economic hardship and political unrest gave rise to a wave of punk culture. The Saints led the charge, followed by indie bands such as The Go‑Betweens. These groups often played in smaller venues to avoid police harassment, as the city’s conservative climate made performing in larger spaces difficult.

Artists including John Willsteed, a member of The Go‑Betweens, who rented affordable warehouse space in Fortitude Valley, to rehearse and create art. Early punk bands performed in local venues such as The Silver Dollar, helping to establish the Valley as a creative refuge amid Brisbane’s city’s restrictive atmosphere.

The 1990s Music Boom

The 1990s marked a big change. In 1988, 4ZZZ, Brisbane’s alternative radio station, was forced to leave the University of Queensland. But in 1994, it reopened in Fortitude Valley. This gave local bands a much-needed sense of community.

With affordable rents, more artists moved to the area. Inspired by the global recognition of The Go-Betweens and The Saints many began making and performing their own original music. Old buildings, like the former Target store, became rehearsal spaces. Bands like Powderfinger and Regurgitator used them. In 1989, The Tivoli opened as a concert venue with an impressive 1,500-person capacity. Smaller venues like The Zoo (1992) and Ric’s Bar (1993) followed. These artists and venues helped shape Brisbane’s developing music scene.

Music Institutions and the Valley Today

Fortitude Valley’s reputation as a music hub is now stronger than ever. The Music Industry College opened in 2010 to train future musicians. QMusic, founded in the 2000s, supports the local scene and hosts BIGSOUND, Australia’s top music conference. In 2019, the Fortitude Music Hall opened. With a 3,000-person capacity, it’s the Valley’s largest venue to date.

The Valley’s Lanes precincts opened in the 2010s. California Lane, Winn Lane, and Bakery Lane now host many DJ and live music events. Winn Lane even held one of the first editions of the now-international Laneway Festival. Annual events such as The Brisbane Festival and The Valley Fiesta also draw large crowds to The Valley yearly.

The Changing Scene

Fortitude Valley’s music scene has faced real challenges. Venues like The Zoo and record stores such as Butter Beats, Phase Four, and Foundry Records have closed in recent years. Yet spaces like Glitter Records and Catalog Music continue to keep vinyl culture alive. And new venues — Greaser, Crowbar, Tomcat, and The Brightside — still champion live music in The Valley. Glitter Records’ own store and events, including the California Lane CD Record Fair, carry that tradition forward.

Final Thoughts on Music in Fortitude Valley