Thursday, February 01, 2007

Melbourne's Chinatown


Yesterday I was in the city and made an unplanned walk up Little Bourke Street, which is Melbourne's Chinatown. I didn't have my camera with me so I got this photo off the net. I finally got around to visiting the Chinese Museum, which I fully enjoyed and highly recommend. I spent a good hour looking at the exhibit, which on one floor even recreated various aspects of Chinese life in 1850s Australia.

20 comments:

Val said...

I love the atmosphere of London's Chinatown, though its not very large. But it is dense on people and experience. I went there a few months ago to try to find a t'ai chi sword. No luck, but a fun time looking.

Susie said...

I know you enjoyed SF's Chinatown. Is this comparable?
I don't recall if there is a Chinese Museum in SF or not..
xoxo

Val said...

The Melbourne Chinatown certainly doesn’t have the shops that SF does, although I must go back and check out the ones that are there. It’s mainly the atmosphere, very narrow street, lots of Chinese restaurants as the main “activity”, and it does have gates like SF does. You can just make them out in the photo. I think SF has a temple, but I’ve never been. Val mentions the atmosphere in London, and I can still remember a school excursion to Chinatown in New York (MANY years ago)and visiting a temple there. The class also went into a shop and a number of us bought Chinese language newspapers. Heavens knows what we thought we were going to do with them! Today I would decorate my books with them, but then I wouldn't know if I were putting in something really inappropriate!

Peter said...

Hi Val, I guess the museum covers the Chinese gold miners, they were evidently so meticulous that the scavengers who followed European miners (and sometimes found more gold than the first ones) didn't bother if the Chinese had worked an area.
There is a temple, as you probably know at Bendigo.

Carole Burant said...

When I was in Vancouver, British Columbia I was surprised to learn that they have a Chinatown there also...I so enjoyed going in all the little shops and enjoying a Dim Sum. Hugs xox

Jellyhead said...

I've been to Melbourne a few times, but never to the Chinatown there. The museum sounds good - maybe I'll manage to get there next visit!

Good to hear from you :)

Kerri said...

I used to love visits to Sydney's Chinatown...especially to eat Chinese food. Mmmmm! Last time I was there was in 2003. Unfortunately, I didn't have a chance to see the Chinese Gardens.
I'm sure that museum is a wonderfully interesting place.

Merle said...

Hi Val ~~ Interesting post, thanks for
sharing it. Things at Carlton are not improving a lot are they? I hope they do better on field this year.
Thanks for your visit. The Mother story was sad and I hope not too many sons and
daughters are like that. Did you get on to your Mother? Hope so. Take care, Val
Love, Merle.

Granny said...

It looks like fun. I love the Chinatown in San Francisco, especially the streets which aren't as well traveled as Grant.

Hope you don't think I've forgotten you and thanks for the latest comment.

Partly I've been busy and partly until the last few days, the net has been giving me fits.

Gwen said...

Hi Val..
Nice shot of Little Bourke,I'm going to Melb in the next few weeks to visit my daughter.So might go and have a look at China
Town I haven't been there for ages.
Stay Well.

Jo said...

Went to a Restaurant in ChinaTown 2 years ago, was very nice was at nighttime, havent been in the city for a while, I try to avoid it if I can.

sonia a. mascaro said...

Sounds you had a great time!

Love your motto:"Try to have some fun every day!"

lindsaylobe said...

Hi Val
I enjoyed the Immigration Museum; the Chinese museum is one I now need to add to my list of places to visit.
Best wishes

Meow (aka Connie) said...

I haven't been to Melbourne's Chinatown for many years. Might be worth a visit, though ... thank you.
Take care, Meow

Sandy Hatcher-Wallace said...

Hi Val...I've caught up reading your posts that I have missed. I've been to SF China Town, but the last time I was there was in the 1950's & 60's and I haven't been there since. I'm sure that it has become a thriving metropolis by now.

DellaB said...

I was surprised to learn, a few years ago now, just how much a part of the early Australian scene the chinese actually were. There was a lot of fuss, in the early settlement days, when the chinese were being brought in as 'cheap' labour, when hard times came, they were accused of taking Aussie jobs and the practice was stopped.

But a lot of the families had settled and their communities survive even today in many Australian cities, many little-known or advertised, but if you look, they are there.

Cris said...

Isn't it interesting how the China towns conquer us all everywhere? We have here a "Japanese" town in São Paulo that is sooo interesting.

Peter said...

Hi there, I’ve been relying on using Bloglines to do my daily rounds of the blogroll for a while now, it’s a very time saving method but it feels a bit impersonal at times, so it’s a hot Saturday, I’m gonna sit here and visit with everyone, It won’t feel any different to you but know that I chose to visit today instead of just answering an electronic reminder.
Have a good day.
Back again and no new post.. Shame.

Val said...

I was just about to make a new post (thanks to Peter's comment) but now Blogger seems to be INSISTING that I migrate, and NOW! I am not happy about this, especially as I haven't had a chance to download my blog to a CD. What if it disappears??? I will try to post from another browser session, if not, I don't know what I'll do. Huh!

Alice said...

I feel hungry just looking at that street. The best Chinese meal I ever had was in a very tacky looking restaurant in Lt. Bourke St. It had bare wooden floor and tables and rickety chairs but it was full of Chinese diners so we figured it was 'the place to eat', and so it proved to be. That was years ago and I'd never find it again, even if it's still there.