Alright, ya mob of snoozers, you’ve just lobbed into Sydney — and it’s not all sun, surf, and schooners. Not in the 1920s. Back then, this town was earning nicknames like the “Chicago of the South” and the “Cocaine Capital of the World”— and it wasn’t for funsies. Between 1927 and 1930 alone, there were over 500 razor attacks reported. And those were just the ones that made it to paper.
So if you wanna keep your cabbage, your face, and your freedom, listen close. Here’s your survival guide to the mean streets of Razorhurst.
1. Keep Your Eyes Open & Your Trap Shut
Sydney’s crawling with bludgers, lurk men, magsmen, and flashy molls running the Badger Game — seduce you, then rob you blind. A bit of charm, a bit of grog, and bam — you’re waking up without your wallet, watch, or wits.
And if you see a crew of spivs leaning on a lamppost like they own the joint? They probably do. Razor gangs like those led by Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh controlled everything from sly grog to standover tactics. If you don’t know the players, don’t join the game.
2. Learn the Drinking Rules — or End Up in a Stoush
The six o’clock swill turned Sydney into a wild rush of necked beers and busted noses. Pubs shut early, but booze kept flowing — through over 2,000 sly-grog shops in the inner city alone.
The real bars weren’t on tap — they were in kitchens, parlours, and shady back rooms. Say the right password, and you’re in. Say the wrong thing? You’re out — headfirst through the door. Or the window.
3. Beware the Standover Merchants
You think you’re running a tidy gambling den or a sly crib in Surry Hills? Not without paying your dues. The 1920s were peak time for standover men — hard blokes with razors and reputations who’d take a cut or take a limb.
And here’s the kicker — corrupt cops often took their own cut, too. Some even worked as muscle for rival gangs. So don’t think ringing the bell for help will save you. It’ll just cost you more.
4. Watch Your Step — and Your Pockets
Pickpockets weren’t amateurs — they were artists. The best could lift your pocket watch, slide your wallet, and sell your overcoat before you realised your goosebumps weren’t just nerves.
And if you tried to report it? Let’s just say the cops might charge you for loitering.
5. Don’t Get Caught in a Stab Night
Friday night in 1920s Sydney? That’s not date night — that’s stab night. Between 1927 and 1930, razor slashings became the weapon of choice because carrying a gun meant prison — but carrying a razor meant you were “just a clean-shaven gentleman.”
It was silent, swift, and surgical. A flick of the wrist and you’re bleeding on the curb. Most attacks weren’t fatal — they were reputational. A slashed face said, “This bloke got mouthy.” So keep your wits, and maybe wear a scarf.
6. The Code: You Never, Ever Tell
This ain’t Melbourne. (And thank God for that.)
You don’t dob. You don’t whisper to the traps. You don’t rat on your mates — even if you end up in hospital with your guts stitched up like a Christmas roast.
Because if you’re known as a fizz, you won’t last long. The gangs of Darlinghurst had more ears than a gossip column — and they settled scores with blades, bricks, or bullets.
Survive All That?
Then you’re ready to walk the streets of Razorhurst yourself.
Want the full bloody story — with all the grit, ghosts, and guts still intact?
Join a Bloody Interesting Tour and step into the underworld of Sydney’s razor gang era — where every alley has a story, and every story has a scar.
Book now — before someone else cuts in.
