Dark Tales of King Street, Newtown

Since 2023, Heather from Dark Tales has been bringing the dark history that shaped Sydney’s Inner West to life through books, talks and local tours. Heather’s aim is to connect people to place through making history accessible and engaging through a focus on historical true crime and other dark events.

In her 2025 book Dark Tales of King Street, Newtown Heather takes readers on a virtual walking tour up King Street looking at its history, from being one of the colony’s most ancient tracks – the Bulanaming Road – to its growth as an economic hub, care of the St Peters brick pits, its pubs and places of entertainment. She also covers the increasing chaos of King Street after the introduction of the tramways and sudden prevalence of motor vehicles. As with all things Dark Tales related, there is an emphasis on viewing King Street’s development through the lens of true crime and dark events, as well as drawing on a sense of change.

The talk will include the following:

• The roots of Newtown along the Bulanaming Road

• The riot at the Sydney Park Hotel

• Gunfight at the Trocadero

• The curious case of the boxer assassinations

• The Mystery at Camperdown Park

• The surprising history of some well known pubs

You may never walk King Street the same way again.

Presented by H. L. Jones 

www.darktales.com.au 

Suitable for participants aged 16+ 

We aim to present inclusive and accessible events. If you have any particular access or communication needs, please contact Pine Street Creative Arts Centre on 02 9265 9333 or pinestreet@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. 

Bookings can be cancelled up to 7 days before the start of your course. Cancellations made after this will not be refunded. For more information see our terms and conditions.

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