Thai Town, Sydney facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thai Town Sydney, New South Wales
Thai Town street marker in 2015
LGA(s)	City of Sydney
State electorate(s)	Sydney
Federal Division(s)	Sydney
Localities around Thai Town: Ultimo Sydney CBD Sydney CBD Chinatown Thai Town Sydney CBD Haymarket Haymarket Haymarket

Thai Town (Thai: ไทยทาวน์ซิดนีย์) is a special area in Sydney CBD, Australia. It has many shops and businesses that celebrate Thai culture. You can find it in Haymarket on Campbell Street, near Central railway station.

This Thai Town is the second largest of its kind in the world. Only Thai Town, Los Angeles is bigger. Sydney has a large Thai community, with many people from Thailand living there. In fact, about 17.5% of people in Haymarket were born in Thailand, according to the 2021 census. Thai Town is full of Thai restaurants, grocery stores, and other businesses.

Thai Town started in the 1990s because rent was affordable. Many Thai businesses moved there to sell special Thai foods. In 2013, the City of Sydney officially recognized the area. They even put up signs on Campbell Street to show where it is. Nearby, you can also find Chinatown and Koreatown.

How Did Thai Town Start?

The Beginning of Thai Town

A woman named Pontip Walpole came to Australia from Thailand in 1974. After living in a few places, she moved to Sydney. She started supplying Thai ingredients to restaurants. In 1991, she opened her own Thai grocery store called 'Pontip' in what is now Thai Town.

Pontip's store became very important. Many people see it as the unofficial start of Sydney's Thai Town. Other Thai restaurants soon opened nearby, also because the rent was low. Pontip sold her store in 2012.

Official Recognition and Support

In 2013, the City of Sydney officially recognized Thai Town. They added signs to mark its location on Campbell Street. This helped people know where to find this vibrant cultural hub.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Sydney provided funding for the Haymarket area. Some of this money went to Thai Town. This funding helps local businesses celebrate their Thai heritage.

What Can You Find in Thai Town?

Thai Culture and Media

Many grocery stores in Thai Town sell Thai newspapers and magazines, like the Bangkok Post. There's also Natui TV, a Thai news website created in Thai Town by Amy Chanta. This website helps Thais who are moving to or living in Australia.

Music and Celebrations

The Thai Consulate in Sydney helps organize yearly concerts. These concerts feature popular Thai singers. Sometimes, bars and pubs in Thai Town also play Thai rock and pop music.

Thai Town is a place where many Thai festivals are celebrated. A big one is the Songkran Festival, which is the Thai New Year. It happens every April and is a fun time for everyone.

A charity event in Thai Town during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.