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Surry Hills & Darlinghurst History Tour — Gangsters, Girls & Grog

6 Reviews 4.83 out of 5 stars Based on 6 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor |
Recommended by 100% of reviewers
100% of reviewers gave this experience a rating of 4 or higher.
| Sydney, Australia
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from $38.59 per person

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On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.
2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
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Overview

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.

What's Included

  • 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
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • Gratuities
  • Food is not included on this tour, but your tour guide will have fantastic local recommendations
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Meeting Location

Meeting point

Foveaux Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

Show on Google Maps

Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.

End point

Crown Street
Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia

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.

What To Expect

Central Railway Station

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.
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15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free

Surry Hills

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.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

Darlinghurst

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.
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1 hour • Admission Ticket Free

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Additional Info

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for strollers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

Frequently Asked Questions

(7)

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Surry Hills & Darlinghurst History Tour — Gangsters, Girls & Grog?

A: You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund. For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AEST).This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund. Read more Apr 2025

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

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Activity code: C-48144P3

Reviews

4.83
6 reviews

Average 4.83 out of 5 stars based on 6 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor

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On average, this is booked 21 (0) days in advance.
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)

Activity name

The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.

Filter by:

Q: What is the cancellation policy for the Surry Hills & Darlinghurst History Tour — Gangsters, Girls & Grog?
A:
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AEST).
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q: What's included in the price?
A:
The following is included:
  • 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.
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax).
  • A visual folder with historic imagery, maps and portraits of the area.
  • A local Sydney historian as your tour guide.
The following is NOT included:
  • Gratuities.
  • Food is not included on this tour, but your tour guide will have fantastic local recommendations.
Apr 2025
Q: What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:

This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Apr 2025
Q: What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:

The minimum age to participate is 18..

Apr 2025
Q: My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:

If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.

If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.

Apr 2025
Q: Is this an accessible tour?
A:

Accessibility information for the Surry Hills & Darlinghurst History Tour — Gangsters, Girls & Grog is as follows:

  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for strollers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Apr 2025
Q: Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:

Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for Surry Hills & Darlinghurst History Tour — Gangsters, Girls & Grog will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!

 

 

Mar 2024

What's Included

Activity name

  • 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
  • GST (Goods and Services Tax)
  • A visual folder with historic imagery, maps and portraits of the area
  • A local Sydney historian as your tour guide
  • Gratuities
  • Food is not included on this tour, but your tour guide will have fantastic local recommendations

Additional Info

Activity name

  • Confirmation is instant and will be received at time of booking
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for strollers
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers

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Free Cancellation

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100% refund
No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (AEST).
  • This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
  • This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

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