Cairns Chinatown
| Cairns Chinatown Building | |
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Cairns Chinatown Building
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| Location | 99 Grafton Street, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Coordinates | 16°55′25″S 145°46′29″E / 16.9236°S 145.7748°ECoordinates: 16°55′25″S 145°46′29″E / 16.9236°S 145.7748°E |
| Design period | 1870s - 1890s (late 19th century) |
| Built | c. 1892 - c. 1902 |
| Official name: 99 Grafton St, Former Cairns Chinatown, Ruth Women's Bookshop, Andrew's Barber Shop, The Bookshelf, Fishtail Silks | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 27 May 2005 |
| Reference no. | 602511 |
| Significant period | 1890s, 1900s (fabric) c. 1892-ongoing (historical commercial use) |
 Location of Cairns Chinatown Building in Queensland
Location of Cairns Chinatown Building in Queensland
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The Cairns Chinatown Building is a heritage-listed commercial building at 99 Grafton Street, Cairns, Cairns Region, Queensland, Australia. It was built from c. 1892 to c. 1902 and is one of the last remaining buildings from the Cairns Chinatown. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 27 May 2005.
It is likely that the building at 99 Grafton Street, Cairns was constructed in the late nineteenth century or early twentieth century. The existing building was constructed of handmade bricks and divided into two shops with multiple gabled roof of differing heights. At the time of construction the building formed part of a much larger group of buildings which became known as Cairns Chinatown. At that time it was Lot 2, Allotment 18, Section 27, Sachs Street which has been changed to Grafton Street and in now situated on Lot 2 RP721943.
One of the first Chinese businesses in Cairns was established in Abbott Street by Mr Andrew Leon (Leong Chong) soon after his arrival in 1876. In 1881 Andrew Leon and 100 other Chinese businessmen formed a co-operative of shareholders to cultivate a selection known as Portion 52, owned by Leon. This was the first large scale sugar cultivation in far north Queensland. The mill, known as "Pioneer", was opened in August 1881 in a large event attracting many stakeholders and official guests. The mill and its assets were sold in 1886 and Andrew Leon concentrated his business interests in Sachs Street, Cairns (renamed Grafton Street in the 1930's). Andrew Leon was an innovative agriculturalist and businessman who represented the Cairns Chinese community on official occasions, presenting welcome addresses from the Chinese community, acted as an interpreter in court, and provided the means for preserving cultural linkages as one of the principle trustees for the Lit Sung Goong Temple.
The growing agricultural industry in the Cairns region supported a large number of Chinese in industries such as market gardening and shop keeping. In 1886 the Chinese population of Cairns accounted for 60% of all farmers and 90% of all market gardeners, and Sachs Street was recognized as a focus for Chinese activities. Chinese businesses in Sachs Street included boarding houses, gaming houses, opium dens and merchant stores.
Ten years after arriving in Cairns, Andrew Leon purchased allotment 18 Section 27 off Robert Philp in 1886. The allotment was subdivided into two allotments and the Lit Sung Goong Temple was constructed.
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