• Archibald Memorial Fountain - Discover hidden histories from colonial times through the 1970s. Begin at the Archibald Fountain, a site symbolizing the city’s concealed queer histories. Reflect on Indigenous Australia’s perspectives on queerness before British colonization.

Explore how colonial Australia from 1788 treated LGBT individuals and how, despite a frequently hostile environment, queer people lived and loved.

• Emden Gun - At Whitlam Square, delve into the 1970s, marking the start of the gay rights movement advocating for fairness and equality. Discuss the media’s role and the varied responses across Australia to these claims.
• Green Park - Meander through Darlinghurst’s backstreets, pausing for coffee or tea at a charming local café en route to Green Park. Here, consider Sydney’s response to the HIV epidemic in the early 1980s, noting many successes and ongoing challenges amid homophobia and transphobia into the 1990s and 2000s.
• Kinselas Hotel - Arrive at Taylors Square, the final stop, to discuss the events of June 1978 at the first Mardi Gras held there and its enduring significance to Queer Sydney today.

Examine how perceptions have evolved over the years, from initial public wariness to a strong community embracing it as part of the city’s identity.

• Tea and coffee

Explore the city’s diverse and rich queer histories, and discover the stories of notable queer individuals, along with key elements of the cultural scene, such as the world-famous Mardi Gras parade.

Given the often concealed nature of queer history, this tour will offer insights into what is known about Indigenous Australia’s perspectives on diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, as well as the experiences and narratives of queer ancestors during the colonial era and into the early 20th century.

The tour will then highlight the era of social change and reforms that emerged into the mainstream from the 1970s onwards, including the importance of the inaugural Mardi Gras in 1978 and the subsequent decades of activism, celebration, and addressing the HIV crisis.

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