[4] Fortitude Valley is built upon a low-lying marshy flat, immediately northeast of the Brisbane central business district.

Denied land, the immigrants set up camp in York's Hollow waterholes in the vicinity of today's Victoria Park, Herston, Queensland.

[11][12] All Hallows' School opened on 1 November 1861 by the Sisters of Mercy in the Dean's Cottage beside the Catholic Cathedral (now Old St Stephen's Church) in Adelaide Street in the Brisbane town centre.

[6] Needing more space to accommodate a growing school they moved on 1 November 1863 to the house Adderton on Duncan's Hill in Fortitude Valley.

[17] St Patrick's Catholic Church was built in Wickham Street by Father James Hanly, uphill from the Prince Consort Hotel.

In 1952 Brisbane City Council announced that it would be undertaking work in Ivory Street as part of a solution to eliminate traffic bottlenecks and St Patrick's School was one of the affected properties.

By that time Brisbane's horse-drawn tram system already centred on Fortitude Valley, making it the logical choice to establish a shopping precinct.

[22] Jenkinson committed the council to that decision by selling the site in Fortitude Valley to the Catholic Church for the construction of the Holy Name Cathedral (a project that, although commenced, made little progress and was eventually abandoned).

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.

[6] 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.

46.1% of people living in Fortitude Valley were born in Australia, compared to the national average of 66.7; the next most common countries of birth were India 4.4%, New Zealand 4.2%, England 3.2%, Brazil 2.4% and Colombia 2.2%.

Thereafter, the Brisbane City Council led a concerted urban renewal campaign, encouraging high density residential development around the suburb.

Musicians and their fans revolted through the "Save the Music" campaign and, 20,000 signatures later, petitioned Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government to address the emerging problem.

That resulted in 2005 in Fortitude Valley becoming Australia's first "Special Entertainment Precinct", designed to protect both live music and new residents through planning restrictions.

But it also requires new residential and accommodation development construction to achieve a minimum noise reduction of 25 decibels in the 63 hertz frequency band.

A 'Chaplain' service also operates where some people might be suffering the effects of excess drugs or alcohol and need some care and attention in a safe place rather than on a bench or footpath.

[69] Fortitude Valley's James Street is a retail and lifestyle precinct, beaming with lush tropical tree coverage and vines.

While redeveloped and repurposed, Fortitude Valley's James Street precinct pays homage to its industrial past, while also celebrating contemporary Brisbane.

The neighbourhood is home to a range of cafes, restaurants, boutique stores, luxury hotels, and James Street Palace Cinemas.

[76] Bigsound is an annual three-day music conference, industry showcase and festival taking place across the numerous live venues in the suburb's entertainment precinct, usually in the first week of September.

The event includes both performances by artists and bands, such as Stand Atlantic and Alex the Astronaut, and speeches by keynote industry specialists or experts.

[77] The Valley Fiesta is an annual three-day event featuring free live music, market stalls, food and drink from many local restaurants and cafés, and other entertainment.

Artists that have performed at the Valley Fiesta include Hilltop Hoods, Downsyde, Katie Noonan, Tim Rogers, Butterfingers, Evermore and The Preatures on the Brunswick Street Mall stage and Nick Skitz and End Of Fashion at surrounding venues.

[78] Straight Out of Brisbane was formed in 2002 by a group of emerging artists who wanted to create new opportunities in Queensland's independent cultural sector.

The festival is not-for-profit artist-run event that features workshops, performances, exhibitions, screenings, live music and public art.

Previous entertainment has included various local and international DJ's, performers such as Marcia Hines, Melanie C and TV Rock as well as drag shows.