CHINESE NEW YEAR

At the 2016 census, 356,324 (or 8.5%) of the inhabitants of Melbourne who nominated their ancestry, nominated Chinese ancestry solely or along with another ancestry.

Chinatown (Chinese: 墨爾本華埠) is an ethnic enclave in the Central Business District (CBD) of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Centred at the eastern end of Little Bourke Street, it extends between the corners of Swanston and Spring Streets, and consists of numerous laneways, alleys and arcades. Established in the 1850s during the Victorian gold rush, it is notable for being the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the Western World and the oldest Chinatown in the Southern Hemisphere.

Chinese New Year has a long tradition in Melbourne, and includes free cultural festivities across the city. Feasting and the awakening of the dragon are just some of the traditional festivities in Melbourne's Chinatown. Join in and explore Melbourne's rich Chinese heritage as Chinatown comes alive in stunning hues of red and gold. Chinese New Year also lights up our city streets from Queensbridge Square to Southgate, South Wharf and Docklands to Queen Victoria Market, with light installations, street performances, outdoor food stalls and acrobatic lion dances.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Ruby Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Travel Tuesday meme,

and also part of the Wordless Wednesday meme.

CHINATOWN NIGHT

Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne which dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s. Chinatown Melbourne is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown's essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street with alleys that link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.

Since its inception in 1854 and the arrival of Chinese immigrants to Melbourne, the city's Chinatown has played an important role in establishing the history and culture of the ethnic Chinese immigrants in Australia. An increasing interest in an ethnic variety of food and culture peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, Chinatown fuelled the growth of many restaurants, cafes, businesses and places of worship. Today, Melbourne's Chinatown is a major tourist attraction.

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,

and also part of the Scenic Weekends meme.

CHINATOWN NIGHT

Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne which dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s. Chinatown Melbourne is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown's essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street with alleys that link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.

Since its inception in 1854 and the arrival of Chinese immigrants to Melbourne, the city's Chinatown has played an important role in establishing the history and culture of the ethnic Chinese immigrants in Australia. An increasing interest in an ethnic variety of food and culture peaked in the 1970s and 1980s, Chinatown fuelled the growth of many restaurants, cafes, businesses and places of worship. Today, Melbourne's Chinatown is a major tourist attraction.

This post is part of the Monday Mellow Yellows meme,
and also part of the Mandarin Orange Monday meme,

and also part of the Nature Footsteps Inspiring Photography meme.

CHINATOWN, MELBOURNE

Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne, which dates back to the goldrush days of the 1850s. Importantly, Melbourne’s Chinatown is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown’s essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street from Swanston Street to Spring Street, including the laneways and alleys which link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.

The cabinet makers and lodging houses of the past may now be gone but eating houses and top class restaurants now take their place with the streetscape and its low-rise brick buildings, retaining its historic character. Throughout the year, there are many traditional festivals and activities, making Chinatown a popular destination in the city centre for local, interstate and international visitor.

The refurbishment of Chinatown’s 5 key arches was an important statement of the City of Melbourne’s commitment to Chinatown. The arches have been restored to their former glory with added modern touches including red neon lighting on the columns. The arches clearly announce the entrance to Chinatown.

This post is part of the Signs, Signs meme.

MELBOURNE'S CHINATOWN

Chinatown is a distinctive and well known area of Melbourne which dates back to the gold rush days of the 1850s. Chinatown Melbourne is the longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world. Chinatown's essential character and main focus is along Little Bourke Street with alleys that link the area to Bourke Street and Lonsdale Street.

Melbourne's Chinatown is notable as the oldest Chinatown in Australia, the oldest continuous Chinese settlement in Australia, and the second longest continuous Chinese settlement in the western world, only because San Francisco's Chinatown was nearly, but not completely destroyed by the 1906 earthquake. In 2010, the ground floor of the Chinese Museum was remodelled as a visitor centre for Melbourne's Chinatown.

Numerous Chinese restaurants and other business find a home here and it's always nice to walk along this little piece of China right in the middle of Melbourne's CBD.

This post is part of the Our World Tuesday meme.

CHINATOWN MURAL, CITY

Melbourne has a thriving Chinatown (more photos of this in a later post) along Little Bourke St. In a parking lot tucked away from the main strip is this unlikely, colourful and whimsical mural adorning the bare gray wall. There are some wonderful humorous details one may see on close up. However, the whole reminds me of an alien creature! Would have been wonderful to have a colourful sky decorating the expanse of gray wall around the creature, but it is a very large area...

This post is part of the Monday Murals meme.