Chinatown goes global

Chinatown could become less ‘Chinese’, and more generally ‘Asian’, as part of a Council makeover of the area.

“Chinatown brings vibrancy to the city. It’s a living statement of multiculturalism,” said Raymond Tai, member of The Chinese Youth League.

“Chinatown in a broader sense has many different pockets. There are Thai pockets, Korean pockets, it’s representative of the city,” said Tai.

But Council is aiming for more concrete recognition. Its recent Draft Chinatown Public Domain Study, has recommended several upgrades of the area’s physical and cultural landscape, including giving more attention  to other Asian cultures.

A spokesperson from The City of Sydney confirmed that Chinatown could soon be re-branded as something more like an ‘Asian Quarter.’

“Contemporary Chinatown reflects its historical and cultural Chinese origins with other Asian influences including, for example, Thai, Korean, Japanese and Indonesian,” said the Council Spokesperson.

The Public Domain Study focuses on the area traditionally understood as “Chinatown” between Liverpool Street George Street, Harbour Street and Quay street.

“Its traditional character is at the core of what makes Chinatown unique,” says the report, but it also wants to see “continued cultural development.”

“I don’t know if it would really work to artificially create an ‘Asia Town’, because as it is today, Chinatown is so tied up with its strong Chinese history,” said Professor Mayfair Yang, Chair and Program Director of Asian Studies at The University of Sydney.

“Areas with distinct ethnic characteristics are usually that way because of residence, where original migrants settled together with a common language and culture,” said Yang.

“I think Chinatown should be kept Chinese, because what happens if it becomes more Asian? Then to become more Australian?” said Chinatown resident Christina Huifu.

“We already feel like we are represented, because there are a lot of Thai shops and restaurants in Chinatown. But it would be nice to officially have a Thaitown too,” said Thai chef Yewi Niratpattanasai.

Council also wants to provide more opportunities to display Asian art, improve the streets for walking and cycling, and focus more energy on the promotion of festivals and parades in Chinatown.

Safety is another key concern. Improving the accessibility to the powerhouse and beyond is a priority, as the only access at the moment is through a footbridge which the study found to be unsafe. All developments are open to community consultation.