Chinatown, Adelaide

Chinatown in Adelaide, Australia, also called Adelaide Chinatown or Moonta Street Chinatown, is located on Moonta Street, within the large Adelaide Central Markets precinct between Grote and Gouger streets in the Adelaide city centre. Two large Paifang, which were erected by the city council, are guarded by the Chinese guardian lions.[1] They mark the entrances at either end. Adelaide Chinatown consists mainly of Chinese restaurants, grocery stores and markets but also consists of many non-Chinese Asian restaurants offering cuisines of Indian, Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, Nepali, Thai and Vietnamese origins.[2][3]

Grote Street entrance to Chinatown, with the original paifang visible.

History

The first dozen Chinese labourers arrived from Singapore in Adelaide in 1847 to work as indentured shepherds. Many Chinese people disembarked in the port towns of South Australia before travelling overland to the Victorian goldfields due to immigration restrictions in Victoria. Chinatown in Adelaide began to grow in the 1970s and 1980s with the influx of Asian migrants particularly from Vietnam. Produce was sold at the Central Market by market gardeners and this began the growth of the Asian food shops and cafés in the area. Pagoda style roofs, red lanterns, restaurants and grocery stores are found on Moonta Street, which is the centre of Chinatown. Paifang, which is a type of traditional Chinese archway, are at the opposite entrances of Moonta street and are guarded by Chinese lion statues which were donated by the Adelaide city council and by the Chinese government.[4]

Lunar New Year Celebrations

Chinatown Adelaide has hosted the official Lunar New Year Celebrations in Moonta Street since 2003. In 2013 the celebrations were expanded with the assistance of the Adelaide City Council and major sponsors to also include Gouger Street. Gouger street was closed to accommodate a street party with traditional performances, market stalls and a pop-up street restaurant.[5]

  • Another paifang at southern entrance
  • Main street view on Moonta Street
  • Grote Street entrance
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References
  1. "Good taste Advertising feature Enter the lion gate". Sunday Mail. Adelaide, Australia. 26 September 2004. p. 110.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20141023033356/http://chinatownadelaide.com/chinatown-adelaide-directory/
  3. http://chinatownadelaide.com/adelaide-chinatown-directory/categories/dining-out
  4. "Chinatowns across Australia". Australian Government. 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
  5. "Chinatown Adelaide 2013 Lunar New Year Street Party". Chinatown Adelaide. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.

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