Pearlers’ Games bring back an old favourite for inaugural Chinatown Discovery Festival

Inaugural Chinatown Discovery Festival from 24-26 May will feature the Pearlers’ Games along with a series of special arts and heritage events.
Pearlers’ Games to revive the Chinatown Games that last occurred in 2002.
Community members invited to enter as individuals, teams or corporate teams.
Chinatown Discovery Festival to celebrate completion of the Broome Chinatown Revitalisation Project.

The Pearlers’ Games is set to be one of the standout events and a community favourite at the inaugural Chinatown Discovery Festival happening from 24-26 May 2019.

The three-day arts and heritage festival will celebrate the completion of major construction works on Carnarvon Street and Dampier Terrace, as the Chinatown Revitalisation Project and Shire of Broome join with Chinatown’s traders to officially re-open the precinct.

The Pearlers’ Games will happen on Saturday 25 May from 2.30pm to 5.30pm on Dampier Terrace and are based on the ‘Chinatown Games’ that ran for four years from 1999 as part of Shinju Matsuri.

Broome Shire President, Harold Tracey, said that many Broome residents would have fond memories of the Chinatown Games from nearly 20 years ago.

“We hope to bring back that same community spirit with this year’s Chinatown Discovery Festival and mark a major milestone in Broome’s calendar with the completion of the Chinatown Revitalisation Project,” Cr Tracey said.

Chinatown Investment and Development Coordinator, Talei Howell-Price, said that in researching Broome’s heritage and history it was considered the Chinatown Games could be revived and become a major part of the celebration.

“The Pearlers’ Games features six events that offer challenges that are a throwback to many of the skills used in the old pearling days,” Ms Howell-Price said.

“It promises to be a really fun and exciting event for competitors and spectators and has received fantastic support from Chinatown businesses who have come on board as sponsors and supporters.”

In the main event, The Cygnet Bay Master’s Cup, teams of four will attempt pearling industry skill and strength challenges including rope coiling, knot tying, shell packing and rickshaw racing.

Individuals can tackle the Anastasia’s Shell Pack, Bill Reed Flipper Race and Knotsman Challenge; two-person teams can take on the Willie Creek Dive Collector; while teams of six to eight will vie for the crown in the Hutchinson Real Estate Tug-O-War.

“With so many fun and skilled challenges to experience, whether you’re participating or spectating you’re sure to have a blast,” Ms Howell-Price said.

Entry forms are available online at www.pressplayentertainment.com.au/pearler-games-2019 and for more information visit the Chinatown Broome Facebook event page or Chinatown Broome website. Places are limited so register early!

To keep up to date on construction and festival announcements, follow the Broome Chinatown Revitalisation Project on social media and join the eNewsletter mailing list via www.chinatownbroome.com.au.

Image Caption: The Chinatown Games of 20 years ago has inspired the Pearlers’ Games that will be a feature of the inaugural Chinatown Discovery Festival from 24-26 May 2019. Pics courtesy Elisabeth Lucke.

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About the Broome Chinatown Revitalisation Project

The $12.7 million Broome Chinatown Revitalisation Project is being delivered in partnership by the State Government and the Shire of Broome, with $10 million funding from Royalties for Regions, $2 million from the Shire of Broome, and $700,000 from Tourism WA.

The project includes 10 sub-projects all designed to reinforce Chinatown’s position as the ‘Heart and Soul’ of Broome – the historic, cultural and hospitality centre of our town.

These sub-projects include feasibility studies for larger, potentially transformational projects, as well as design and construction of significant street and landscape upgrades to Carnarvon Street and Dampier Terrace to make the precinct more attractive and encourage activity.

Implementation of the projects and oversight of the feasibility studies is being undertaken jointly by the Shire of Broome, Kimberley Development Commission and LandCorp. A Community and Stakeholder Reference Group has been established by the Shire and consultation with the wider community and key stakeholders will continue throughout the process.