Melbourne's Chinatown is a vibrant and bustling area of town, located in the Melbourne Central Business District. The area stretches from Little Bourke Street and Swanton to Exhibition Street. Melbourne's Chinatown is the oldest Chinatown in Australia and was originally established during the Victorian Gold Rush in 1851. Because the San Francisco Chinatown was re-built during the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Melbourne's Chinatown also wins the place of being the longest continuously running Chinatown outside of Asia.
After the gold rush, many workers who came from China to work in the mines did not return to China, but instead gathered in the cities. Soon these Chinese immigrants established businesses and marketplaces, catering to their own community. Today, Chinatown is popular area in Melbourne, filled with the culture and atmosphere that the Chinese community brings to Melbourne. You will find crowded cultural marketplaces, street vendors, delicious Chinese restaurants, special events, and regular cultural festivals. The area has been undergoing renovation projects, including improvements to the streets and sidewalks. Two of the more popular places in Chinatown are the Tianjin Garden, a park-like garden oasis in the center of the area, and Chinatown Plaza on Cohen Place, a new development with a Chinese museum and an entertainment complex. Be sure to spend some time getting to know more about the Chinese culture and history that is prevalent in Melbourne with a visit to Chinatown.
Details:
- Chinatown is located in the Melbourne Central Business District between Little Bourke Street, Swanton, and Exhibition Street.
