2. Arrival of the Chinese
Because there were so many Chinese immigrants coming to Australia, the
government changed the law so that the Chinese needed to pay a tax of
£10. By current benchmarks it would be like asking them to pay around
$10,000 nowadays. Because of this, numerous Chinese arrived outside
Victoria, in spots such as Robe in South Australia, and after that walked the
distance to the goldfields. (Kyi, 2009)
3. European Miners
Chinese diggers were hated on the gold fields by many other miners.
European miners were angry because of expanding amounts of Chinese
miners in the fields, and on a few events viciously lashed out at the
Chinese camps trying to push them away. Sometimes, Europeans would go
to the extent of assaulting the Chinese diggers because of their hatred
towards them. (Hoban, N.D)
4. Chinese Legacy: Ararat
Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre tells the story of the Chinese miners and
their arduous journey from Southern China to Australia, where they found
gold. The building is created in a traditional Chinese was to help continue
the legacy of the Chinese miners in Ararat. (Visit Victoria, N.D)
The Golden Dragon Museum is one of Victoria’s first historical centres that
displays items that date as far back as the Shang Dynasty 1600 - 1026BC.
You can experience the history of the Chinese people in Bendigo, from the
gold rush of the 1850's to the present day. (Visit Victoria, N.D)
5. References:
Council.robe.sa.gov.au. (2018). [online] Available at:
http://www.council.robe.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Establishing_Ararat_Town.pd
f [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].
Prov.vic.gov.au. (2018). ‘The most determined, sustained diggers’ resistance campaign’ |
PROV. [online] Available at: https://prov.vic.gov.au/index.php/explore-
collection/provenance-journal/provenance-2009/most-determined-sustained-diggers-
resistance [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].
Sbs.com.au. (2018). ~ GOLD ~. [online] Available at:
https://www.sbs.com.au/gold/story.php?topicid=2 [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].
Sovereign Hill Education Blog. (2018). Racism and taxes: life for the Chinese on the
Goldfields. [online] Available at: https://sovereignhilledblog.com/2012/01/16/racism-
and-taxes-life-for-the-chinese-on-the-goldfields/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].
Visit Victoria home. (2018). Melbourne, Victoria, Australia - visitvictoria.com The official
travel and accommodation site for Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. [online] Available at:
http://www.visitvictoria.com/ [Accessed 29 Mar. 2018].
