A Chinese presence in this country dates back to the earliest days of the gold discoveries. When the alluvial diggings on the Palmer were opened up in September 1873, Chinese diggers and merchants from Charters Towers and the Etheridge rushed the field. Stories of the fabulous fortunes to be won quickly reached China from where thousands of labourers and many astute businessmen emigrated. However, the winning of alluvial gold was short lived. In less than a decade the gold was gone. Some successful Chinese miners returned to their homeland but many more were forced to seek an existence on other mining fields or find alternative occupations.

The Chinese successfully formed a community in Cairns. Traditionally great traders in the Pacific, Chinese merchants established a Chinatown in Sachs Street (now Grafton Street), between Spence and Shields Streets. There importers, general merchants, herbalists, fruiterers, boarding houses, and gambling dens operated. Children from Chinatown attended the Cairns Central School.

Throughout the region Chinese worked as cooks, laundrymen, gardeners, bakers and butchers; while on the coast they were found developing the sugar lands and harvesting the cane. Atherton and Innisfail also had flourishing Chinatowns.

Artifacts on display are from the Cairns Chung Shan Mui Temple which was situated in Grafton Street, formerly Sachs Street. This Joss House fell into disuse in the 1950's and was dismantled in 1964 when the site was redeveloped.