Croydon Chinatown

Just outside the modern Croydon settlement can be seen the main residential area of its earlier Chinese population which includes shops, a Joss House, pig oven and a caretakers hut.

Site of Croydon Chinese settlement

Image Courtesy of: CAHS

Most Chinatowns or Chinese camps have disappeared under modern developments so the site at Croydon while largely destroyed is nevertheless clearly marked out and has been developed as a tourist heritage site. It have also been excavated by archeologists. Most of the artifacts with the usual exception of some Chinese coins and opium tins were of standard European manufacture and show the extend of the integration of the Chinese community in Croydon.

"Two years after its discovery, two small Chinese camps had sprung up, one consisting of several bark huts and tents at the back of Nerstad’s Hotel and a second camp across the creek which also included Javanese and Malays.The larger one soon developed into a Chinatown taking in a whole surveyed section between Chester and Charles Streets, and bounded by Edward and Kelman Streets. A temple was built by the community in 1888, but was replaced just over 10 years later by a second temple in 1897, presumably due to the building being eaten by termites or having burnt down, was the case with most replacement temples. Chinatown extended out over a public purpose reserve on the other side of Charles Street, taking in a section of land of approximately 5 acres (2 hectares). A market garden cultural precinct developed, and this was watered by a small seasonal waterway which transacted the area bounded by Kelman Street. In addition to Chinatown, a small commercial cultural precinct formed along Sircom Street which was occupied by Chinese storekeepers Chun Tie and Yet Foy."

Robb, North Queensland's Chinese family landscape: 1860-1920. PhD Thesis, James Cook University, p.294-5.

Yet Hoy, Luk Yet Ho and Family image:

Sandi Robb, North Queensland's Chinese family landscape: 1860-1920. PhD Thesis, James Cook University, p.296.

Yet Hoy, Luk Yet Ho and Family image

Image Courtesy of: Estelle Kingsley, Cairns & Sandi Robb, North Queensland's Chinese family landscape: 1860-1920. PhD Thesis, James Cook University, p.296.

Archaeology finds from Croydon site

Image Courtesy of: CAHS

Display at Croydon Visitor Centre

Image Courtesy of: CAHS

Croydon Chinatown map

Image Courtesy of: Sandi Robb, North Queensland's Chinese family landscape: 1860-1920.