Sydney suburbs Darlinghurst, Woolloomooloo and Kings Cross in the late '20s and '30s were a hot-bed of turmoil. Off the back of the First World War, organised crime grew as a result of three key factors; prohibition on prostitution, prohibition of cocaine sales via pharmacies, and the 6pm closing of public bars and hotels.

These organised criminal enterprises were dubbed 'Razor Gangs' after the single blade 'cut throat' razor popular at the time. Use of the razor as a weapon has been attributed to the outlawing of Pistol carrying (via the Pistol Licensing Act 1927).

Two of the main players in these gang wars were Tilly Devine and Kate Leigh, who we meet during the Underbelly: Razor season. Tilly was known as the 'Queen of Woolloomooloo' - running a string of brothels situated around the Cross and along Palmer St. Kate, the 'Queen of Surrey Hills', was a 'sly-groger'.

Learn more about Sydney's history and the Razor Gangs by watching Underbelly: Razor, and reading the articles below. Reference: records.nsw.gov.au