Residents furious over Epping apartment sign in Mandarin

Residents are furious after a Sydney apartment complex popped up with signs in Mandarin, not English, to make the real estate more attractive to Chinese buyers.

Mandarin characters were carved into a sandstone wall at the front of a new $35 million apartment complex on Cliff Road in Epping, Sydney’s north.

Cliff Road resident Kate Chivers said: ‘Every time we look up the street we are greeted with this glaring sign in Chinese. As far as I’m concerned the sign could say “stuff you Aussies”.

Mandarin characters were carved into a sandstone wall at the front of a new $35 million apartment complex on Cliff Road in Epping, Sydney’s north

Arise Constructions named its new development after ancient Chinese centre of educational excellence Han Ling Yuan. 

The sign loosely translates to ‘area of educational excellence’.

The development, which was finished two months ago, also features a large yin and yang sign in its courtyard and a traditional Chinese fish pond.

Arise Constructions spokesman John Zhang told The Daily Telegraph it was no secret the Mandarin sign was a direct pitch to Chinese buyers. 

Mr Zhang said there were many high-ranking schools in Epping, and the apartment complex marketed itself to Chinese people who wanted to give their family the best education possible.

Mrs Chivers said the sign made English speaking residents in the neighbourhood, like herself, feel ‘excluded’.

‘I’ve been to so many of these apartments looking for a place for my son, and they will tell you that it’s mainly for Chinese people,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. 

‘It’s a feeling of exclusion as far as we’re concerned.’  

The development, which was finished two months ago, also features a large yin and yang sign in its courtyard and a traditional Chinese fish pond

The development, which was finished two months ago, also features a large yin and yang sign in its courtyard and a traditional Chinese fish pond

Parramatta councillor Lorraine Wearne said the Mandarin sign was ‘offensive’.

‘This is using our schools to sell apartments to people who do not speak our language. It really bothers me and clearly bothers residents in Epping,’ she said. 

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Sunday, Ms Wearne said she spoke to a number of residents in the community who were equally offended.

‘People feel excluded from their own area,’ she said. 

‘We’re inclusive to these new residents, emigrants from China, and I believe new residents to this country need to be inclusive to us.’ 

Parramatta councillor Lorraine Wearne (pictured) said the Mandarin sign was 'offensive'

Parramatta councillor Lorraine Wearne (pictured) said the Mandarin sign was ‘offensive’

While she did not want the sign taken down, Ms Wearne called for developers to add an English version of the sign.

The Parramatta councillor told Daily Mail Australia the sign might be in violation of regulations.

The council said it approved an application for a Mandarin sign, but said it should not be visible from the street.

The Parramatta Council said it would continue to investigate the sign, which was clearly visible from the street.

The Epping apartment complex is in the federal seat of Bennelong, where 21 percent of the population had Chinese ancestry.  

The population of Chinese residents grew from 16 percent to 21 in the electorate in the past four years. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk