1969 and falling into decay after the criminal gangs and corrupt police were forced out following the Fitzgerald Inquiry. Gone were all major department stores, brothels and illegal casinos, left behind were boarded-up shops and empty warehouses. Fortitude Valley was earmarked for an urban renewal project by the city council. Into this social and economic climate, enterprisingto take advantage of Fortitude Valley’s cheap rents and tap into the federal government’s NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) program aimed at helping unemployed people start a new business. Joc Curran, 25, and her friend C. Smith, 23, used the $5,000 to open a new venue in an upstairs warehouse space on Ann Street, not far from iconic gay nightclub, The Beat. Curran and Smith had the dream to build a live music venue that celebrated independent music, art and creativity. Despite humble beginnings, The Zoo appeared at the perfect time, in the perfect place, to deliver on its core mission of nurturing young local talent. It went on to host many local, national and international bands and musicians, who would often perform ‘secret gigs’ when in town such as the legendary night in 1996 Nick Cave joined the Dirty Three onstage, or when The Pixies did an intimate warm-up show before headlining Splendour in the Grass in 2010. Just as importantly, it nurtured almost every Brisbane band to make it to the national stage. The Zoo was that kind of place – warm, open, welcoming. It changed the musical landscape of Brisbane, and Australia by association, at the vanguard of The Valley’s renaissance as the live music heart of Brisbane. Transport Brisbane Transport operates buses to, from and through Fortitude Valley. Fortitude Valley railway station serves all suburban and interurban lines, including Airport line service to Brisbane Airport. The station has four platforms and is located in Zone 1 of the TransLink integrated public transport system. Taxis Secure taxi ranks to enable patrons to catch a taxi home are set up at various strategic points and enable easy access without the need to hail a cab. Fortitude Valley has five locations with these ranks on Friday and Saturday night. Funding for this free service is provided by the Brisbane City Council, the Queensland State Government and the Taxi Council of Queensland. These secure ranks are staffed by taxi supervisors and security guards to ensure commuters an orderly and safe environment whilst they wait