Year of the Monkey: The changing face of Sydney's Chinatown

By Hannah Ryan
Updated February 8 2016 - 6:08am, first published February 7 2016 - 6:26pm
The increase in popularity of Chinese medicine has helped boost Chinatown's local economy, says Margaret Duong of Chinese Ginseng and Herbs Co in Ultimo Rd. Photo: Shu Yeung
The increase in popularity of Chinese medicine has helped boost Chinatown's local economy, says Margaret Duong of Chinese Ginseng and Herbs Co in Ultimo Rd. Photo: Shu Yeung
Despite Year of the Monkey celebrations it is stocktake business as usual at Leung Wai Kee Buddhist Craft and Joss Stick Trading Co, where Chinese calligraphy is just one of the gems being touted during festivities. Photo: Brook Mitchell
Despite Year of the Monkey celebrations it is stocktake business as usual at Leung Wai Kee Buddhist Craft and Joss Stick Trading Co, where Chinese calligraphy is just one of the gems being touted during festivities. Photo: Brook Mitchell
Elder Paik spins a hula hoop at the southern end of Dixon Street. He says the hoop represents the whole world united. Photo: Brook Mitchell
Elder Paik spins a hula hoop at the southern end of Dixon Street. He says the hoop represents the whole world united. Photo: Brook Mitchell
Time to feed the Yau Kung Mun martial arts club, which has operated in Sydney for 35 years. The club's lion dance troupe will perform at over 80 events during this Chinese New Year. Photo: Shu Yeung
Time to feed the Yau Kung Mun martial arts club, which has operated in Sydney for 35 years. The club's lion dance troupe will perform at over 80 events during this Chinese New Year. Photo: Shu Yeung
Jacky gets ready to tackle the New Year rush. He's run the Shun Fai Modern AV Co in Sussex Street for the past 25 years. Photo: Shu Yeung
Jacky gets ready to tackle the New Year rush. He's run the Shun Fai Modern AV Co in Sussex Street for the past 25 years. Photo: Shu Yeung

As Haymarket wakes up to the Year of the Monkey, the change that has crept over the inner-city suburb throughout the last few decades is developing into a brisk march.