🐉 11 Things You Didn’t Know About Broome’s Chinatown

Broome’s Chinatown is no ordinary precinct—it’s a living museum of multicultural history, salty legends, and unexpected tales. Here are eleven quirky and fascinating facts that’ll give you a new perspective on this iconic part of town.

1. It Wasn’t Always Called Chinatown

The area we now know as Chinatown once had a different name.  By around 1920 about 80% of Broome’s population was from Southeast Asia. The precinct derived its original name from that melting pot of cultures, languages, and traditions. Its current name “Chinatown” is the result of a major global impact on Broome and today it proudly hints at one thread of a much richer tapestry.

2. The Oldest Outdoor Cinema in the World Is Here

Sun Pictures began showing silent films in 1916 and still draws crowds today. Its early patrons often had to deal with flooding tides, fish swimming around their feet, passing planes, or screeching bats overhead—making every screening an adventure. It’s now heritage-listed and considered one of the quirkiest cinemas on Earth.

3. Illegal Gambling Left Its Mark—Literally

Chee Fah, a Chinese gambling game, was once so popular in Broome that it flourished despite being illegal. Today, riddles from the game are carved into the backs of public seats around Chinatown—part of an artistic nod to Broome’s wild and sometimes lawless past.

4. Pearls Funded the Architecture (or did they?)

Much of the historic architecture in Chinatown was built with money earned from the booming pearling industry. Wealthy Japanese and European pearlers funded grand offices and storehouses, leaving behind elegant iron-laced balconies and tropical timber shopfronts. Interestingly they weren’t really here for pearls, it was something else that made them rich.

5. There’s a Tramline Hidden in Plain Sight

A horse-drawn tram once ran from Streeter’s Jetty through the heart of Chinatown, carrying shell, goods, and passengers to Town Beach. Though the tracks are long gone, a red line on the heritage map and public art installations now trace the original route.

6. The Town’s First Playhouse Was Built by a Japanese Man

Yejiro Yamasaki opened a Japanese emporium in 1903.  He imported not just goods from Japan, but also theatre, puppetry, and performance—adding culture to commerce and laying the foundation for what may have been the only Japanese Play House in Australia.

7. Chinatown Has Survived Fires, Cyclones, and War

Chinatown has been razed and rebuilt more than once. Devastating fires swept through in the early 1900s, Japanese air raids hit during World War II, and cyclones regularly tested its resilience. Each rebuild brought new stories, new people, and sometimes, new names.

8. A Dragon Visits Here

Sammy the Dragon, the beloved mascot of the Shinju Matsuri Festival, visits Chinatown annually—dancing in the streets. He represents Broome’s multicultural pride and is awakened each year to mark the beginning of festival season—complete with drums, firecrackers, and fanfare.

9. There’s a Hidden Public Art Trail

From carved pearl divers to illuminated sculptures by local Indigenous artists, Chinatown is packed with art that tells stories. You’ll find plaques in footpaths, murals behind laneways, and seating etched with poetry and riddles—all waiting to be discovered by curious wanderers.

10. You Can Drink Where the Divers Drank

Modern bars now sit where pearl divers once staggered ashore after gruelling shifts underwater. The Roey (Roebuck Bay Hotel), for instance, has been serving drinks since 1890. Many of the venues you’ll visit on a Salty Plum Social tour still carry echoes of their storied pasts.

11. There’s a Sculpture Called Fusion — and It Says It All

In the middle of the roundabout entry to Chinatown sits Fusion, a striking sculpture that symbolises Broome’s cultural blending—Aboriginal, Asian, and European influences all woven together. It’s more than art; it’s a visual statement about identity, connection, and the spirit of Broome. Twice every year Fusion and the full moon interact to form something truly amazing that Broome has coined Fusion Moon.

Want to explore more secrets and surprises?

Join us for one of the following;

• A Small Bar Walking Tour of Chinatown.

• A Big Art Walking Tour of Chinatown.

• The Pearling Masters Trek.

• The Chinatown Discovery Quest.