[taroom]

The Harvest Paifang (made of Wood) & Harmony Paifang (made of Stone) have now been completed and stand guard at either end of Young Street protecting Chinatown from evil spirits. Work today started on the main Paifang in Davenport Street called the Wealth Paifang (Gate) that will signify the main entrance to Gold Coast Chinatown.

 

[The Running Man]

Delighted to see you are still around in this neck of the woods taroom and also hope that your well. Was just here today in Davenport Street and noticed the barricades on both sides of the street and was wondering what was happening so your post have once again been very informative (the businesses that we frequent in the area have made no mention of the planned works on this 'Wealth Paifang').

Only noticed last Friday that the distinctive yellow adults only merchandise store had finally left the Chinatown precinct and is currently available to lease as well as having had a makeover; so the area is certainly achieving the desired results and will get better, just can't wait for the Cienna site to kick start! Density, area needs more density, the photo below was taken Friday avo and looks fairly empty. Density that's the ticket! (will I live to see it?)

2018-01-12 16.34.06 on Flickr

 

[taroom]

Hey Run thanks mate I hope your been well.
Council is also going to start work in 2 weeks fixing up the old lane near the former Adult Shop that has finally closed that you speak about. There is a huge million dollar Chinese karaoke club that has opened up in this lane so hence the work to revatilise this old lane and the lotus design out the front of the club.
Council and the CBD team have arranged a meeting that will inform us what is planned for the CBD in 2018 so will post what news I learn from that meeting here on this forum. If you know of anyone interested in attending all are welcome it’s at 8am this Friday in the old Council Chambers in Nerang Street Southport from 8am to 9am but you will need to rsvp councils cbd team. It’s great to see more and more people in the precinct but it is going to take time there is also a lot of interesting Asian businesses now open under Southport Central and some great cheap places to eat if anyone is interested you can now walk through Australia Fair Metro past the Asian fruit and grocery shop past the Asian butcher up the stairs through Australia Fair Metro car park and into Southport Central’s retail precinct most of which is Asian owned. So it’s now possible to walk from Chinatown to Southport Central all the way undercover. The WOK Temptation a Dim Sim Dumpling shop near the bakery in Southport Central is fantastic very fast and cheap and there is an Asian barber that cuts your hair for $10 and also now a 24 hour Asian gaming centre so it’s all slowly coming together. The Asian fruit and veggie shop in Australia Fair Metro (Chinatown) is fantastic so cheap and great quality they drive to the Rocklea Markets everyday and buy the fruit and veg fresh so it’s not like Coles and Woolies that have been sitting in a cold room for weeks so check it out. They sell stuff I have never seen before it’s all very interesting.

Here is the contact details of the CBD Team if anyone wants to attend the CBD meeting at 8am to 9am this Friday the 19th of Jan in the old Southport Council Chambers.
For more information please contact the Gold Coast CBD team on

P 1300 CBD Team (1300 223 832)

W [email protected]

Chinatown Laneway activation - Installation of Street Print – Early February
· Location: Davison Lane
· Part of the Davison Lane improvements that have been underway – Street print activities are detailed below and indicated by points 1, 4 and 5 in the Concept Drawing for Davison Lane:
- Duratherm pattern to match existing entry statements within Chinatown
- Street print to the laneway
- Streetbond design of a lotus*
- *The Lotus (he, lian) is the flower of the sixth month and summer. It is a symbol of purity because it rises out of the mud to bloom.


facebook image uploader

 

[jonwil]

The seafood place at Australia Fair Metro isn't bad either IMO although its not as good as Charis up the road in Labrador

 

[taroom]

Hey Jon Mate I agree it is great value also there is a new Vietnamese cafe open just last week near the Asian fruit and veg market in Australia Fair Metro and it’s so reasonable great meals for $9 and there fresh made rice paper rolls are just $2 each it is these type of cheap eat value for money business that will attract people and tourists to Chinatown this was my lunch from there today.

 

[taroom]

Gold Coast Chinatown

In 2009, a group of local Southport businesses and individuals developed a plan to create a Chinatown in Southport. In 2011 this group formed the Gold Coast Chinatown Association and successfully gained support for the concept with both State and local Governments committing funds and resources to develop the precinct in 2013.

The City of Gold Coast (City) allocated $2.4 million though the Centre Improvement Program to upgrade the street scaping in Young Street and another $1.1 million was committed to the Davenport Street section. The Centre Improvement Program is funded two-thirds by the City and one third by property owners. Property owners and business were given the opportunity to vote on the project, with the project receiving overwhelming support from the property owners.

The old make-up of Young and Davenport Streets was described as ‘lacking uniformity, tired, daggy and unattractive’ but today in contrast, the character of the street is consistent, clean, contemporary and with a modern palette with subtle reflections to an Asian design.

Gold Coast Chinatown is one of Australia’s first modern Chinatowns, and has been located in Southport, the city’s most culturally diverse centre. Chinatown continues to evolve, offering authentic Asian experiences through an exciting mix of restaurants, small bars, karaoke, boutique retail, cultural festivals and celebration, alongside the vibrant Asian inspired Street Events.

 

[taroom]

Some BEFORE and AFTER photos to remind us how far we have come and how Chinatown Gold Coast is evolving.

 

[taroom]

The foundations for the main entrance gate the Wealth Paifang to Chinatown were dug today this gate will stand a massive 14 meters wide by 9 meters tall.
Project Specific Information:

Wealth Paifang - Mid January : Location: Davenport Street

· Partial footpath and road closures
· Closure of some car parking bays. The numbers of impacted car parks will vary depending on works being undertaken
· Estimated 4-5 days full road closure of Davenport Street, from Regent Lane entrance to Young Street – specific dates for full road closures will be confirmed and are weather dependent
· Works include installing the paifang footings and paifang structure which will span across the street (excavating, concreting, tiling, electrical work, some noisy works, etc)
· Majority early morning and day work, some night works – to be confirmed and weather dependent
· As much as possible off-site work will be undertaken to minimise on-site disruption
· Pedestrian access will be maintained on both sides of Davenport Street at all times
· Access to Regent Lane and Davison Lane will be maintained
· Construction compound will be on the grass allotment on Young Street / corner of Regent Lane (ie the Cienna site)
The Wealth Paifang is a traditional Chinese style gate that will signify the main entrance to Gold Coast Chinatown. At almost 9 metres tall and 14 metres wide, the paifang will be an impressive structure that conveys a sense of arrival to visitors of Gold Coast Chinatown. Embellished in gold and red colours, it will symbolise wealth and good fortune.

Gold coloured shingles on the paifang legs draw inspiration from Chinese lucky coin strands used in feng shui to attract the energy of wealth and prosperity. They also represent Chinese dragon scales. The hibiscus flowers that can be seen on the underside of the paifang roof draw inspiration from our Friendship City Chengdu in West China, known as the ‘City of Hibiscus’. The hibiscus holds various meanings, including wealth and fame.

 

[taroom]

Some more old photos of mine taken showing what Davenport Street was like during the construction of Chinatown

 

[taroom]

Chinatown Today

 

[taroom]

Work on the city’s third and final Chinese gateway has officially begun dedicated on the back of a resurgence in retail leasing in the revitalised precinct at Southport.

Mayor Tate said the third, final and largest gateway planned for Gold Coast Chinatown will be a traditional Chinese style Wealth Paifang.



Designed in conjunction with our Chinese sister city it will stand 9 meters high and be over 14 meters wide and will be the main entrance and the third and final gateway as part of the Gold Coast Chinatown project focussed on Davenport and Young streets in the Gold Coast CBD.

Mayor Tate said he was delighted to see the transformation and growth in Gold Coast Chinatown.

“The area once had many empty shops. But Chinatown is evolving into a thriving destination for all things Asian and multicultural on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The city’s work with revitalising the area through streetscaping, public art, decorative Chinese lanterns, a retail investment strategy, and regular events culminating in the 15,000-strong crowds at Chinese New Year has attracted many new businesses and faces.

“There has been a strong take-up in retail tenancies with 12 new businesses opening their doors in the last 6 months and some long term vacancies being leased.

“The $25 million refurbishment of Australia Fair Metro includes seven new dining and retails options, including five new restaurants fronting Young Street.”

Mayor Tate said the growth in Chinatown was a reflection of the growth of Chinese investment in Gold Coast.

 

[matchu001]

Work on the city’s third and final Chinese gateway has officially begun dedicated on the back of a resurgence in retail leasing in the revitalised precinct at Southport.

Mayor Tate said the third, final and largest gateway planned for Gold Coast Chinatown will be a traditional Chinese style Wealth Paifang.



Designed in conjunction with our Chinese sister city it will stand 9 meters high and be over 14 meters wide and will be the main entrance and the third and final gateway as part of the Gold Coast Chinatown project focussed on Davenport and Young streets in the Gold Coast CBD.

Mayor Tate said he was delighted to see the transformation and growth in Gold Coast Chinatown.

“The area once had many empty shops. But Chinatown is evolving into a thriving destination for all things Asian and multicultural on the Gold Coast,” he said.

“The city’s work with revitalising the area through streetscaping, public art, decorative Chinese lanterns, a retail investment strategy, and regular events culminating in the 15,000-strong crowds at Chinese New Year has attracted many new businesses and faces.

“There has been a strong take-up in retail tenancies with 12 new businesses opening their doors in the last 6 months and some long term vacancies being leased.

“The $25 million refurbishment of Australia Fair Metro includes seven new dining and retails options, including five new restaurants fronting Young Street.”

Mayor Tate said the growth in Chinatown was a reflection of the growth of Chinese investment in Gold Coast.

Will this be the final Chinatown installment from the Council?

 

[taroom]

Hi Matchu yes mate you are correct I went to a Southport CBD meeting today with the CBD Council Team and this was confirmed.
Other beautification works will be done in the precinct such as Asian graffiti art and the revitalisation of the two old laneways in Chinatown Council is talking with building owners at present to allow them to choose the type of street art they want painted on the back of there buildings that jut onto the lane also a very small Asian garden is to be built at the Young Street entrance to Davison lane next to the vacant sex shop building that will be maintained by Councils parks and gardens dept but the Wealth Piafang will be the final instalment from Council from a construction point of view for Chinatown.
This gate Is going to be HUGE as high as the street lights in Davenport Street the CBD Team said it was made this high so veichles could travel under neath it without Council having to put a silly height sign dangling under the arch, the Chinese writing on the Paifang will be neon and light up. The base is made of teak the scales of the legs will be brass it will be spectacular should be finished in two weeks it was made in China and has been shipped here the roof will be tiled after the structure goes up. The two speed bumps were also installed today in chinatowns Young Street Council wants everything completed before Sat 17th of Feb as that is Chinese New Year and are expecting 12000 people to attend the celebration in Chinatown.

 

[TOCC]

Thanks for the photos Taroom....

What’s the feeling, has the ‘china town’ been a success in terms of serving as a focal point for the Chinese/Asian community on the Gold Coast?

Undoubtedly the street furniture and landscape upgrades have been a success, but could they achieved the same level of beautification without the Chinese influence and still had the same overall impact?

 

[Dimethyltryptamine]

Who knows whether it would've worked without Aus Fair Metro and the Chinatown label and beautifications. That area needed something to draw people to it, and imo, unless Cienna or something of significant size were built there, I don't know what else would. I think Chinatown serves that purpose quite well and opening that side of Metro through to Southport Central has created a new thoroughfare of sorts.

 

[taroom]

Hey Tocc and Dim thanks for your wonderful comments and posts. I agree there needs to be more inner city residential towers in the Southport CBD to get the precinct pumping but it is getting there. After the tram came through many CBD retail business closed and have not recovered these run down empty shops are finally being leased today to Asian businesses so I guess that is a good thing and Chinatown has had a positive impact in helping revitalise Southport after all the damage the light rail done. I can see in say 5 years Chinatown and Southport being a huge success story and believe it will over take Sunnybank as the main Asian business hub for South East Queensland if not for all of Queensland. The nine residential towers planned for the old hospital site will also have a positive impact on the precinct but in the short term it is going to take time to continue to grow and establish. Chinatown has really taken off in the last 6 months and so many new Asian shops have opened in the CBD if you get the chance one day have a look at some of the interesting Asian businesses that have opened up recently under the Southport Central Towers lots of great food places, internet game rooms ect. The new Paifang will create a great entrance statement and will attract tourists a lot of thought has gone into it. I have seen first hand the materials they used to build the Wealth Paifang it has lots of fire engine lipstick red and brass and gold it looks wonderful so will become a key tourist attraction in Southport.

I guess the same could have been achieved by Council with traditional Gold Coast style Aussie beautification work but not to the success that the Asian influence has done in that it has given Southport a point of difference to other precincts of our city, beautification works has helped revitalise Paradise Point, Main Beach, Nobby Beach, Burleigh Heads ect but with the Asian influence in Southport the beautification work has really impacted and changed the suburb. I was in the big TAB/UBET branch at Australia Fair Metro next to Chinatown the other day having a bet the place was packed with customers and I was the only non Asian guy in there (they and Suncorp even have Foo Foo dogs out the front protecting there businesses). The Chinatown precinct is having a huge impact on the CBD traditional old Aussie businesses such as the local butcher or baker or hardwear store has gone it’s almost impossible to buy a meat pie in Southport but the dumplings, spring rolls and sushi is amazing

I think if Southport went down the same track with traditional streetscapping and beautification the suburb would have just ended up like Coolangatta or Beenleigh a sleepy sort of place but with the Chinatown precinct and Asian beautification of Southport CBD Council has really changed the suburb for the better and attracted huge Asian investment into the CBD that will not only grow Southport but attract tourists and visitors and being our cities most multi cultural suburb that is a good thing.

 

[Locke]

I just wish Cienna could get up, it's so tall and purty and exactly the sort of centrepiece Southport needs, someone just has to finally 'do it' in Southport with one of the biggies cos that will be a catalyst for the area.

 

[taroom]

An interesting fact:

Being the main traditional Chinese Gate that will signify the key entrance to Gold Coast Chinatown all the CBD Business owners that council consulted myself included wanted the Wealth Paifang to be located at the top of Davenport Street near the main Southport CBD Tram Station on the cnr of Nerang and Davenport Street opp the old Council Chambers and Mayors Office. Our reasoning was simple it would be in a prominent position that could be viewed from the light rail and attract tourist and visitors into Southport and the Chinatown precinct.

City Council consultered a feng shui master and he was bought in and said the Wealth Paifang had to be built at the base of Davenport Street half way along the street as the three Paifangs in our Chinatown, Wealth, Harvest and Harmony are like three sisters all different but all from the same family so must compliment each other like sisters do and work into together and be connected. He explained by placing the main entrance Paifang at the base of Davenport Street half way down the street will help protect the street from evil spirits and bring good luck and fortune to Chinatown and all who visit and operate a business within the precinct so hence it is being built where it is. If it was built and located at the top of the street like myself and others wanted on a peak of a rise its feng shui would not work as the evil and negative spirits that the Paifang is designed to protect Chinatown from could go around the gate and enter the precinct by placing the structure halfway down the street the Chinatown will be protected.

So if your wondering why this fabulous iconic structure is located half way down Davenport Street this is why. The Fortitude Valley Chinatown was built by the Brisbane City Council many years ago but without Feng Shui consultation and hence why the Brissy Chinatown has not really taken off and has been over taken by Sunnybank as Sunnybank has good Feng Shui so the Gold Coast did not want to make the same mistake as Brisbane so a Feng Shui master was consulted about the locations of all three of our Paifangs the colours used and planning of our Chinatown so that it will bring Wealth, Fame and Good Fortune to Southport and our city.

It’s hard sometimes for me being a blonde hair blue eyed westerner to get my head around Feng Shui but Asian people and businesses place great importance on Feng Shui so we are treating Feng Shui very seriously when planning the Gold Coast Chinatown the little tables you see on the footpaths around Chinatown are made to resemble soya sauce dipping bowls to bring good fortune so a lot of background work, planning and research has gone into the precinct to ensure it will be a wonderful sucesss.

 

[Dimethyltryptamine]

An interesting fact:

Being the main traditional Chinese Gate that will signify the key entrance to Gold Coast Chinatown all the CBD Business owners that council consulted myself included wanted the Wealth Paifang to be located at the top of Davenport Street near the main Southport CBD Tram Station on the cnr of Nerang and Davenport Street opp the old Council Chambers and Mayors Office.

City Council consultered a feng shui master and he was bought in and said the Wealth Paifang had to be built at the base of Davenport Street half way along the street as the three Paifangs in our Chinatown, Wealth, Harvest and Harmony are like three sisters all different but all from the same family so must compliment each other like sisters do and work into together and be connected. He explained by placing the main entrance Paifang at the base of Davenport Street half way down the street will help protect the street from evil spirits and bring good luck and fortune to Chinatown and all who visit and operate a business within the precinct so hence it is being built where it is. If it was built and located at the top of the street like myself and others wanted on a peak of a rise its feng shui would not work.

So if your wondering why this fabulous iconic structure is located half way down Davenport Street this is why. The Fortitude Valley Chinatown was built without Feng Shi consultation and hence why the Brissy Chinatown has not really taken off and has been over taken by Sunnybank so the Gold Coast did not want to make the same mistake as Brisbane so a Feng Shui master was consulted about the locations of all three of our Paifangs so that they will bring Wealth, Fame and Good Fortune to Southport.

I was wondering why that was. I too would have much preferred it to be at the top of the street. Oh well, I'm just glad they're building an actual gate. I would've been lowkey disappointed if they built a 'gate' like the ones on Young Street.

 

[taroom]

I so agree with you Mate Council was even pushing for the main gate to be a modern Asian design like this photo but the Mayor stepped in and said NO!

The Mayor and Cr Chrichlow have been very supportive of the precinct they are to take a lot of credit for making Chinatown happen on the Gold Coast.

The traditional Wealth Paifang gate when completed in 10 days will be a magic draw card for Southport it will attract a lot of photos and interest. I am so pleased we didn’t end up with something like this that Council originally wanted.