Highlights
Known as the ‘Chicago of the South’ Sydney in the 1920s and 1930s was famous for its vicious gang rivalry, cocaine addition, and sly-grog scene. From this labyrinth of lanes a mass of criminal empires emerged, ruled by two mob bosses with a difference – these bosses were women. Hailed Queens of the Underworld, Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, had crawled their way up from obscure origins over the bodies (sometimes literally) of men to become the most powerful women in Sydney, and they were not about to give up that power — especially not to each other. Join us as we explore the lesser known laneways and secrets of Surry Hills, meet the colourful collection of working girls, gangsters and hit men who gave Sydney a bad reputation, finishing on Stanley Street a popular street with many speakeasy style bars.
About This Deal
Departure Point
- Please meet outside the **old Excelsior Hotel, El Loco at Excelsior** on 64 Foveaux Street. A short stroll from Central Station.
Return Details
- This tour finishes with on Crown Street, a great place with many speak-easy style bars and restaurants.
Busses, Central Station and the railway are all with in walking distance of this location with connections to and from the city.
Duration
2 hours and 30 minutes
Languages Available
- Human tour guide - English
Points of Interest
Stop At: Central Railway Station
Eddy Avenue, Sydney, New South Wales
Meet your guide in the Grand Concourse of Central Station — a large terminus hall constructed in the early 1900s with a giant steel frame vaulted roof. Your tour guide will introduce you to the notorious characters that preyed on naive newcomers who once arrived here on the country trains. You'll also learn what happened here in 1916 that helped determine Sydney's underworld over the next decades.
Duration: 15 minutes
Stop At: Surry Hills
Sydney, New South Wales
As you walk through the history of the area you'll learn about the notorious razor gangs, illegal grog-shops, brothels, gambling joints and slums. You'll also delve into the stories of the infamous crime-lords and ladies who ruled over an empire of illegal trades scattered throughout Surry Hills streets and alleyways in the roaring inter-war years.
Duration: 1 hour
Stop At: Darlinghurst
Sydney, New South Wales
Darlinghurst was once the playground of Sydney's not-so-glamourous underworld Queens : Kate Leigh & Tilly Devine. You'll discover the forgotten venues of their competing sly grog & bordello empires and the cocaine-crooks, standover men, gangsters, good-timers, haunts & hide-outs that kept them at the top of the food-chain.
Duration: 1 hour
Additional Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not recommended for strollers
- Tour finishes on Stanley Street. a great place filled with speakeasy bars and restaurants
- 2.5 hour walking tour covering approximately 20 historic sites and stories
- A visual folder with historic imagery, maps and portraits of the area
- A local Sydney historian as your tour guide
Exclusions
- Food is not included on this tour, but your tour guide will have fantastic local recommendations
Voucher Info
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
The tour identified in this promotion is made available through Viator. Groupon is not affiliated with or sponsored by the Journey Walks in connection with this deal. Please contact Groupon customer service for all inquiries related to this offer. Inquiries placed to Viator will be directed back to Groupon.
This offer is not eligible for promo codes.
Fine Print
7-day cancellation rights do not apply; no refunds or exchanges permitted. Voucher valid only for date and time listed; may not be exchanged or redeemed for other dates. Purchaser name and phone number must be provided at checkout; this information will be shared with Viator and the tour operator for purposes of order fulfillment. Groupon promo codes may not be used for this offer. Groupon voucher Terms of Sale do not apply. See the tour operators terms and conditions for this offer here.
Offer is not eligible for our promo codes or other discounts.