Tin mining became a major source of income on the island of Phuket in the 16^th century. Chinese businessmen and workers, who were mainly from the Hakka sub group of Han Chinese, were employed by the mines and their influence on the island's culture and cuisine can still be felt today.

While tin mining is no longer of importance to the local economy, it is still possible to get a idea of the impact it had upon the island. Chinpracha House, located just a short stroll away from the center of Phuket Town, is an excellent place to start.

Boom time
Tan Oui Ghee, a native of China's Fujian province, headed for Southeast Asia in 1854 during the reign of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V). Accompanied by numerous workers seeking employment in the booming tin sector, Tan soon became active in trading the metal, which usually took place in Penang, Malaysia.

Tan's son - Tan Ma Siang – began to build a home for his bride along what is now known as Krabi Road in 1904. During this period of time it was fashionable among the wealthy to build Sino-Portuguese-style homes. Tan, who became better known as Phra Phitak Chinpracha, decorated the impressive property with imported floor tiles from Italy and ornate fencing from the Netherlands, which can still be seen today.

The area around the site of the house was largely undeveloped during that time and didn't have any major roads or public utilities. In the end, Phra Phitak's wife didn't move into the house so he used the property instead as a place to accommodate and entertain his guests.

The late Pracha Tantavanich, whose wife Charoonrat Tantavanich still resides at Chinpracha House, inherited the house from his father. Charoonrat told us that Chinpracha House was once quite a bit bigger. Unfortunately, the front section of the two-storey building had to be pulled down due to the high cost of maintaining the building, she said. The upper floor is still used as the family's residence, while the ground floor is open to the public.

Halcyon days
As I strolled through the historic building, I somehow felt transported back in time. The imported tiles from Italy remain in place, while there are some beautiful examples of pearl-inlaid tables and chairs for visitors to appreciate. The walls are adorned with portraits of the pioneers responsible for creating such wealth.

As I wandered through the house, I overheard a guide explaining that, “this is the Baba style of dress”. 'Baba' refers to the children of mixed race born when the Chinese and Indian migrant population married local women. This community developed its own unique style of dress, food, and culture in general. For example, the ladies would wear a Batik sarong together with a brocade-decorated blouse. Baba food is a mixture of local, spicy Thai food and Fujian (Hokkien) cuisine.

An airy courtyard in the middle of the building features a pool of fish, while the kitchen is packed with original utensils and crockery.

People in Phuket relied on wells for their water supplies during the early part of the 20^th century, and most homes had a well at the rear to make it easier to carry out washing activities. It's been said by some people that having a well at the back of a house brings bad luck, but personally I would think it was quite simply the most practical option.

One of the smaller bedrooms features a small bed adorned with tiny drawers on three sides, while in another room, a glass cabinet contains numerous household items, including Phra Phitak's topknots stored in a glass container.