• Anzac Memorial - The journey begins at Hyde Park, which was once sacred Gadigal land, later transformed into a colonial parade ground, and now hosts a striking monument of grief and power. The Anzac Memorial’s impressive art deco design symbolizes a city wrestling with loss, identity, and authority.

By the 1920s, these tensions erupted. Sydney transitioned from solemn remembrance to chaos, becoming the crime capital of the Commonwealth. The surrounding streets shifted from marches to mayhem, marking the onset of the Razor Wars.

• Francis Street - In 1926, Norman Bruhn arrived from Melbourne, a career criminal with a fierce temper, a sawed-off shotgun, and ambitions to dominate Sydney’s thriving vice scene. He wasn’t just challenging men; he was confronting the razor queens already in control: Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh, and their networks of girls, grog-runners, and corrupt police.

Bruhn established himself just steps from here. Less than a year later, he was ambushed and killed on this very street—a violent end that didn’t quell the chaos but ignited it. His death marked the true beginning of the Razor Wars, Sydney’s bloodiest chapter.

• Riley Street - In the late 1920s, Riley Street was the stronghold of Kate Leigh, Sydney’s most formidable sly grog queen. Operating from her home at 104 Riley Street, she built an empire of illegal pubs and cocaine supply. Just a few blocks away, Tilly Devine ran her brothels. The city wasn’t big enough for both, and as their empires clashed, Sydney descended into the chaos of the Razor Wars.
• The Strand Hotel - This William Street pub became one of the most notorious landmarks of Sydney’s Razor Wars. It was the scene of a fatal shooting, a near miss, and whispered threats over whisky. Frank Green, Barney Dalton, Nellie Cameron—their stories all passed through these doors.
• Woods Lane - For years, these laneways were the heart of Tilly Devine’s brothel empire. Her girls worked the terraces, protected by razor gangs and bribes. It was here, in the shadows of Chapel Street, that deals were made, rivals were slashed, and Sydney’s sex trade turned bloody during the Razor Wars.
• East Village Hotel Sydney - Once known as the Tradesman’s Arms, this pub was a notorious Razorhurst watering hole. Gangsters, brothel madams, and corrupt cops drank here, often at the same table. Deals were made, threats exchanged, and more than one brawl started right at this bar.
• Eternity Playhouse - Formerly the Burton Street Tabernacle, this site is where Arthur Stace heard the sermon that inspired his famous one-word graffiti: “Eternity.” From a house of worship to a theatre of stories, this corner has resonated with conviction, redemption, and a touch of the divine ever since.
• Darlinghurst Gaol (now National Art School) - Behind these stone walls, Sydney’s most notorious criminals were imprisoned, and some never left. In 1889, Louisa Collins became the last woman hanged in NSW after four trials for poisoning her husbands. Her execution sparked outrage and marked the beginning of the end for public hangings.
• Kinselas Hotel - Once a funeral home, Kinselas has witnessed its share of drama long before becoming a Darlinghurst icon. Rumor has it Tilly Devine’s rivals were laid out here. Today, it stands on the remnants of Razorhurst, reborn as a bar, a stage, and a celebration of the city’s rebellious past.

• Exclusive insights not found on plaques, guidebooks, or other tours
• True crime tales from Sydney’s 1920s–30s underworld
• Guided walking tour led by a professional storyteller

During the 1920s, Sydney was notorious as the world’s crime capital, dominated not by suited gangsters, but by women armed with razors. This walking tour guides you through Razorhurst, the area where cocaine queens, brothel madams, and corrupt police officers established their violent empires. Encounter Tilly Devine, Kate Leigh, and Nellie Cameron — the authentic crime leaders who made Sydney even more perilous than Chicago. For those who are fascinated by true crime, scandal, and stories too outrageous for traditional history books, this tour is a must-see.

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.