Sydney Crime History & Architecture Walking Tour

Discover East Sydney (Darlinghurst), a suburb celebrated for nightlife and the LGBT community but with a hidden, darker past. Once called 'Razorhurst' in the 1920s, it was the battleground of prohibition-era gangs. Journey through alleys that once buzzed with criminals, prostitutes, and drug dealers. Highlights include:
Exploring crime scenes, notably the 'Parkland Killer' of the 1920s and the chilling 'Mutilator' murders of the 1960s.
Visiting homes of vice queens, Kate Leigh and Tilly Devine.
Standing in the shadows of the looming Old Sydney (Darlinghurst) Prison gates to hear about hangmen and inmates.
Learning about segregated African American soldiers in WW2 and their cultural impact on Sydney's jazz scene.
Admiring Darlinghurst's Victorian and Edwardian architecture.
Uncovering the forgotten LGBT history from the 19th century.
Compare now and then with photos.

Ending at Kinselas Hotel, a former 1930s funeral parlour, for refreshments and architecture secrets.

Meeting Point

Museum Station

Sydney NSW 2000, Australia

We meet in the courtyard of Hydeaway Cafe located behind Museum Station in Hyde Park, Sydney.

What's included:

• Casefiles eBook

What to expect:

Duration: 2 hours

Hyde Park

Elizabeth St, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales

Discover the history of Hyde Park, the ANZAC Memorial and pond. Hear about a cold case murder from the 1920s. The first cricket match between the Australians and English in 1830. The use of Hyde Park by Aboriginal people before colonization.

30 minutes

Darlinghurst

Sydney, New South Wales

After leaving Hyde Park you enter the old suburb of Darlinghurst ( aka East Sydney). You will spend the rest of the tour in this suburb exploring old laneways and streets investigating historical crime scenes from 1860 to 1970. Darlinghurst was the most dangerous suburb in Australia between 1890 and 1960. It was full of dangerous slums and ganglands. Here you will see the old Sydney (Darlinghurst) gaol that was built by convicts in 1841 and hear about the inmates and the hangmen. Next is the old Police Station and Courthouse. Finally, you will finish at Kinselas Hotel, a 1930s funeral parlour that has been converted into a bar, on Taylor Square. This is the famous backdrop of Sydney's LGBT Mardi Gras.

1 hour, 30 minutes