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.
Posted By : staceye687
We had the best afternoon playing tourist in our own city. If you are a Surry Hills local you'll particularly love this tour as there are so many stories that hardly anyone knows about. It really does give you a whole new appreciation of the suburb's rise and fall and rise again.
The usual tourist trail is of the Rocks (which is still a terrific thing to do) but Surry Hills has so many of its original buildings that it's well worth coming over to the East side to hear their stories. A bit of a warning for the not-so-mobile: it's a slow walk with a lot of standing around, and no sitting down stops, and it does go for the full three hours, so BYO fold up seat, it's well-worth the effort.
Elliott really knows his stuff and is a great story teller and we heard stories about unsolved murders and old cemeteries and famous brothels. the sly-grog shops, the pushes and the razor gangs and the Queens of Crime. The tour ends up at a great old pub where we had lunch and a drink and a really interesting chat with people we met on the tour. Highly recommend.
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Posted On : 2024-06-09 23:42:06 
Posted By : Weirs2007
If you are intrigued by the darker history of Sydney this is for you. It was great to be led by a guide who, so obviously, did not speak from a script but from in-depth knowledge with a great passion for the history. We will be doing more of these tours!
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Posted On : 2024-05-20 02:53:04
Posted By : H1983LRsusans
Great tour, lots of interesting and informative stories and pictures, the tour was put together well and the amount of time was perfect, well done Elliot! an interesting activity for visitors and locals!
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Posted On : 2024-04-28 03:04:52
Posted By : traceyhH8690OV
Lots of history and interesting stories.
Awesome tour. Excellent guide! Would highly recommend for everyone locals and tourists.
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Posted On : 2024-04-27 19:31:20
Posted By : LorraineS1334
Absolutely enjoyable, full of historical facts all woven together. You could tell that Elliott our guide loved what he was sharing with us. Whether you are a local or a tourist, this tour is a must.
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Posted On : 2024-04-20 07:11:32
Posted By : V4047PPjillb
I had no idea what to expect from this tour and am pleased to say it was highly impressive. Elliot is a very knowledgeable guide apart from being a nice guy. If the group is small enough he will tailor the trip to your interests whether they be history, architecture or true crime. Whether you are a first time visitor to Sydney or a long term resident I guarantee you will learn something interesting on the tour. Feel free to ask questions - Elliot can answer most of them!
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Posted On : 2024-03-10 01:28:41
Posted By : Chrissi N
Absolutely fascinating, so much history in Sydney’s suburbs. Elliot was a fountain of knowledge and I can’t wait to do my next one 👍👍
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Posted On : 2024-03-09 20:43:28
Posted By : Sonya_B
What a great way to see some of Sydney’s dark past and also the old architecture of East Sydney. Our guide Elliot was brilliant and knew his stuff on the history of the area. Would highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting Sydney or looking to do something Different. 10 out of 10!
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Posted On : 2024-02-12 02:10:58 
Posted By : 208loisd
It was a most enjoyable and educational walk. I knew some of the history of the area but I now have a much better understanding of it. Elliot has so much knowledge of the Darlinghurst area and the way he relates the history you can almost feel like you might have been there. Thank you Elliot for a wonderful day.
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Posted On : 2024-02-02 17:47:58
Posted By : KarenS805
An excellent walking tour. So many interesting stories and places. Elliot was a fountain of knowledge and a great storyteller. I highly recommend this experience.
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Posted On : 2024-02-02 05:01:58
