Little Bourke Street, most famous for hosting Melbourne’s Chinatown, has a rich and vibrant history nearly as long as the city itself. One of Melbourne’s most well-known tourist attractions is Chinatown, holding the record for the oldest Chinatown in the western world, it continues to be a major hub for tourists originating from Asia.
Containing a near endless display of Asian food, groceries, and Bars, Little Bourke Street lives up to its reputation as being the multicultural hub of Melbourne. Founded in 1851 during the Gold Rush, Chinatown on the east end of Little Bourke was the place many Cantonese-Speaking prospectors chose to live, being near some of Melbourne’s earliest Stores and Hotels. By 1859, residents of Melbourne’s Chinatown made up around 10% of the then-colony’s population.
In 1985, the Chinese Museum was established on Little Bourke, hosting over 8,000 artifacts and the World’s Largest Chinese Dragon, as well as showcasing the history of many Chinese Australians, and their experiences and contributions in early Australia and the modern day. Surrounding the Museum is a myriad of different Asian Restaurants, giving diners near endless choice in food, from formal dining and Yum cha, to cheap dumplings and takeaway, Little Bourke Street has it all.
