Melbourne Story - 4. Chinese Residential Areas in Melbourne

Although this discussion briefly diverges into the topic of the Chinese community, it is widely recognized in Australia that the large inflow of migrants from diverse backgrounds has brought substantial benefits to the national economy.

At the time, the central commercial district of Box Hill featured approximately five or six Korean grocery stores, with a similar number of Korean-owned clothing and general goods shops. Many of these businesses were sustained largely due to Chinese customers who favored Korean products. However, more than 85 percent of the remaining shops in the area were operated by Chinese proprietors. Chinese-language signage was far more prevalent than English on shop fronts and windows, and large vegetable stores were often run by Chinese families. The influence of the Chinese community was further evident in the fact that the Lord Mayor of Melbourne at the time was also of Chinese background.

This made it clear that the influence of the Chinese diaspora was not limited to Box Hill alone, but reflected a broader global trend in which Chinese communities have continued to expand their economic and social presence.

There were also practical consequences of this demographic reality. After completing university entrance examinations, my eldest child once applied for a part-time job at a Korean-owned clothing store in Box Hill, only to be rejected on the grounds that she could not speak Mandarin.

A similar anecdote illustrates the linguistic dynamics of the area. At a Korean grocery store in Box Hill, while the owner was briefly absent, another Korean man was minding the shop. A Chinese customer entered and spoke in Mandarin. When the man responded with “Pardon?”—not understanding the language—the customer repeated the request in Mandarin. Only after a second “Pardon?” did the customer switch to English and remark, “This is an area where many Chinese people live. How can you run a shop without speaking Chinese?”

In an English-speaking country, there were moments when it felt as though the growing Chinese population was gradually displacing English as the default language in everyday transactions—at least within this particular suburb. Public libraries employed librarians dedicated to Chinese-language services, and banks and educational institutions also had Chinese-speaking staff, enabling Mandarin-speaking residents to conduct daily affairs with minimal difficulty. While this level of accommodation may be unique to Box Hill, the scale of influence was nonetheless striking.

Despite these observations, it is also true that the Korean community has benefited economically from the purchasing power of Chinese residents. Even today, more than 20 years after immigrating, currency exchange offices display exchange rates for many countries’ currencies, yet the Korean won is often absent—despite South Korea being considered one of the world’s major economies. This sometimes raises questions about whether Koreans have been sufficiently proactive in asserting their economic presence abroad.

During the first two months after arriving in Australia, I traveled extensively by train in search of employment, initially focusing on Korean-owned businesses. Australian train stations are underground only in limited inner-city areas; most are above ground and relatively small, resembling older rural stations in Korea. During the middle of the day, these stations are often unusually quiet.

This reflects Australia’s work culture, where many people begin work around 7 a.m. and finish by approximately 3 p.m. As a result, large open areas around train stations are crowded with cars only during morning and afternoon peak hours, remaining largely empty throughout the day. There is therefore little perceived need to expand station facilities.

Box Hill, however, is a clear exception. Its underground railway station connects directly to a bus terminal, with ground and upper levels densely filled with shops and commercial spaces. The scale and intensity of development make the presence of Chinese capital immediately visible.

For those considering migration abroad, this example suggests that learning even a basic level of Mandarin may be practically beneficial, given the strong purchasing power of Chinese communities in many countries. It has been reported that, due to negative perceptions of China in recent years, enrollment in Chinese language departments in South Korea has declined significantly. However, for young people facing difficulties in the job market, Mandarin could potentially serve as a niche skill whose value may become more apparent over time.

One final episode illustrates everyday assumptions shaped by these dynamics. Several years ago, when I ordered bread in English at a Chinese-owned bakery, the owner stared at me for a moment before silently wrapping the bread. Perhaps my age led him to assume that I was Chinese. His expression seemed to suggest a silent question: “Why speak English when you could speak Chinese?” Whether imagined or not, the moment reflected how deeply language and identity can shape daily interactions in areas like Box Hill.

4. 멜번의 중국인 거주지역

중국인 이야기가 나오다 잠시 샛길로 빠졌지만, 아무튼 많은 다국적 이민자들의 유입이 호주 경제에 적지 않은 혜택을 주고 있다는 사실은 호주인들 역시 인식하고 있는 듯하다.

당시 Box Hill 중심 상권에는 한국인 식품점이 대여섯 곳 정도 있었고, 의류나 잡화점도 그와 비슷한 숫자였다. 그나마 중국인들이 한국 상품을 선호하는 덕분에 유지되는 수준이었고, 나머지 상점의 85% 이상은 중국인이 운영하고 있었다.

간판과 유리창에는 영어보다 중국어가 훨씬 더 많이 보였고, 대형 채소 가게들 역시 가족 단위의 중국인들이 곳곳을 차지하고 있었다. 당시 멜번시의 시장 역시 중국인이었으니, 중국인 사회의 영향력이 얼마나 큰지 실감할 수 있었다.가히 중국인의 세력은 세계 어디에서나 갈수록 커져 가는 것처럼 보였다.

나의 큰아이는 대학 시험을 마친 뒤 아르바이트를 구하기 위해 박스힐의 한 한국인 운영 의류점에 이력서를 들고 갔다가, 중국어를 하지 못한다는 이유로 채용을 거절당한 적도 있다.

비슷한 일화도 있다. 박스힐의 한 한국인 식품점에서 주인이 잠시 자리를 비운 사이, 다른 한국 남성이 가게를 보고 있었는데 중국인 손님이 들어와 중국어로 무언가를 말했다. 알아듣지 못해 “Pardon?”이라고 했더니, 그 손님은 다시 중국어로 말을 했다. 다시 한 번 “Pardon?”이라고 하자, 그제야 영어로 이렇게 말했다고 한다.“여기는 중국인이 많이 사는 곳인데, 당신은 중국말도 못 하면서 가게를 운영하느냐?”

영어를 사용해야 할 호주에서, 중국인의 숫자가 점차 영어를 밀어내고(?) 있는 듯한 인상마저 들었다. 공공도서관에는 중국어 전담 사서가 배치되어 있었고, 은행이나 교육기관에도 중국인 직원이 있어 영어를 못하는 중국인들도 큰 불편 없이 업무를 볼 수 있었다. 물론 이런 모습은 박스힐이기에 가능한 일이겠지만, 그 영향력만큼은 실로 대단했다.그럼에도 불구하고, 사실 한국인들 역시 다수의 중국인들 덕분에 경제적 혜택을 보고 있는 것이 사실이다.

이민 온 지 20년이 지난 지금도 환전소에 가면 각국 화폐의 환율이 안내되어 있지만, 정작 한국 원화의 환율은 어디에서도 쉽게 찾아볼 수 없다. 10대 경제대국이라는 말이 무색할 정도다. 우리가 그만큼 적극적으로 대처하지 못한 탓일까 하는 생각도 든다. 

두 달 동안 일자리를 구하기 위해 기차(한국의 전철)를 타고 여기저기 다녔는데, 처음에는 한국인 상점을 찾아다니느라 발품을 많이 팔았다. 호주의 기차역은 시내 일부만 지하이고 대부분이 지상에 있는데, 한국의 옛 강촌역(경춘선)처럼 작고 아담한 곳이 많다.

한낮에는 유난히 한산하다.호주 사람들은 보통 아침 7시쯤 업무를 시작해 오후 3시경이면 일을 마치기 때문에, 기차역 주변 넓은 공터는 아침과 퇴근 시간에만 차량으로 가득 찼다가 낮에는 썰물처럼 비어 버린다. 그러니 역사를 크게 확장할 필요성도 느끼지 못하는 듯하다.

하지만 박스힐만은 예외였다. 지하는 기차역, 지상과 2층은 버스터미널과 상점들로 가득 차 있었으니, 중국 자본의 위용을 한눈에 느낄 수 있는 곳이었다.앞으로 외국으로 이민을 가려는 분들이라면, 중국인들의 구매력이 큰 만큼 중국어를 조금이라도 익혀 두는 것이 여러모로 도움이 될 것 같다.

요즘 한국에서는 중국에 대한 부정적 인식으로 중국어과 지원자가 크게 줄었다고 들었는데, 오히려 취업에 어려움을 겪는 젊은이들이 중국어를 틈새시장으로 삼는다면 그 희소성이 언젠가 가치를 발휘하지 않을까 싶다.

몇 년 전, 중국인이 운영하는 빵집에서 빵을 달라고 영어로 말했더니 주인이 한참 동안 나를 물끄러미 바라보다가 말없이 빵을 싸 주었다. 보기에도 늙은이인 내가 중국인으로 보였던 걸까. ‘중국어로 말하면 어디 덧나기라도 하나. 잘난 척하느라 영어로 말한다는 거지.’ 그의 표정이 그렇게 말하고 있는 듯했다.