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5th Australasian conference on Chinese diaspora history & heritage

Dragon Tails 2017 Hopes, Dreams and Realities

Conference program

Golden Dragon Museum Bendigo, Victoria, Australia 23-26 November 2017

Contents

Conference program 4

Program - Timetable at a glance 4

Program in detail 5

Abstracts and speaker profiles 8

List of participants 25

Event Partner

Conference Sponsors

La Trobe Asia La Trobe University

www.latrobe.edu.au/asia

The Asia Institute The University of Melbourne

arts.unimelb.edu.au/asiainstitute

Conference Contacts For questions or problems during the conference, please see the Registration desk.

You should also feel free to speak to the convenors. In case of emergencies, call Nadia Rhook 0409 807 516, Leigh McKinnon 0407 303 518, Paul Macgregor

0418 571 572

www.dragontails.org.au dragontailsconferences@gmail.com

Twitter: @dragontailsconf Hashtag #dtails17

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Dragon Tails 2017 Hopes, Dreams and Realities

5thAustralasianconferenceonChinesediasporahistory&heritage

GoldenDragonMuseum,Bendigo,Victoria,Australia23-26November2017

HopesanddreamshaveprofoundlyshapedthehistoriesofChinesepeopleandtheirdescendantsinAustralasiaandabroad.Thiscentralthemeof“DragonTails2017:Hopes,DreamsandRealities”highlightsnotonlytheroleofimaginationinshapingtheactionsofChinese-Australasians,butalsotherealitiesandchallengesthatChinese-Australasianshavehistoricallyencounteredinpursuingtheirhopesanddreams.

TheDragonTailsconferencespromoteresearchintothehistoriesandheritageofChinesepeople,theirdescendantsandtheirassociates,inAustralasia(AustraliaandNewZealand).TheconferencesalsoencourageawarenessoftheconnectionsofChineseinAustralasiawiththehistoriesofChinesepeople,theirdescendantsandtheirassociatesinothercountries.

DragonTailsconferencesencourageanapproachtohistorywhichcombinestheskillsandinterestsofacademic,community,local,family,professional,independentandamateurhistorians,archaeologistsandheritageworkers,aswellasotherprofessionals,academicsandwriterswithanexpressinterestinthisfieldofresearch.

Convenors DrGraceGassin'sdoctoralresearchcentredonyoungChineseAustralians'memoriesoftheirparticipationinChinesecommunitylifeinSydneyandMelbourne.In2014,sheproducedtheABCRadioNationalfeature'DancingwithDragons:ChineseDebutanteBalls',basedonanaspectofthisresearch.ShehasworkedattheUniversityofMelbourne'sAsiaInstituteandMonashAsiaInstituteonarangeofprojects,includingahistoryofChineseStudiesattheUniversityofMelbourne.GraceisacurrentmemberoftheAsianAustralianResearchStudiesNetwork,andservedasthePresidentoftheChineseAustralianFamilyHistoriansofVictoriaforthreeyearsuntilearlyNovember2017.

DrNadiaRhooklecturesandresearcheshistoryatLaTrobeUniversity,onWurundjeriland.HerresearchismuchinspiredbyherbackgroundinESLteaching,andin2016shecuratedtheCityofMelbourneheritageexhibition'MovingTongues:languageandmigrationin1890sMelbourne'.She’spublishedininternationalandlocaljournalsincludingPostcolonialStudiesandPerilMagazine.Currently,Nadia'swritingabookaboutthepoliticsoflanguageandChineseandSouthAsianmigrationincolonialMelbourne,forthcoming2018,andresearchingpoliticalhistoriesofChineseherbalistsontheGoldfields.

LeighMcKinnonhasbeentheResearchOfficeratBendigo’sGoldenDragonMuseumforthepastsevenyears.Inthispositionhedealswithfamilyhistoryenquiries,conductstours,and,whentimepermits,researchesandwritesontheChineseheritageofregionalVictoria.Afifth-generationBendigonian,healsohasageneralinterestinthehistoryandheritageoftheCentralVictorianGoldfields.

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Program – Timetable at a glance

Thursday 23 November

10.00-4.30 Pre-conferenceTour-BendigoandDistrictChineseHistoryTour

6.00-7.00 WelcomeReception

7.30 ConferenceDinner

Friday 24 November 8.30-9.00 Registration

9.00-9.30 ConferenceOpening

9.30-11.00 Panel1-Generationsandintergenerationaldreams11.00-11.30 Morningtea

11.30-1.00 Panel2-FamiliesandScreeningDreams1.00-2.00 Lunch

2.00-3.30 Panel3-MakingConnections,FindingArchives3.30-4.00 Afternoontea

4.00-5.30 Panel4-ThreeWindowsonChinain19thcenturyAustralia

5.45-6.45 Behind-the-scenesguidedtourofGoldenDragonMuseum

Saturday 25 November 8.30-9.15 Registration

9.15-10.30 KeynotePresentation-Prof.MadelineHsu,UniversityofTexas-Austin10.30-11.00 Morningtea

11.00-12.30 Panel5-CultureandFood12.30-1.30 Lunch(includingJamesLerk’sbooklaunch)

1.30-3.00 Panel6-ArtandMemory:TheYoungProject3.00-3.30 Afternoontea

3.30-5.00 Panel7-Place,Faith,andFamily

5.15-6.15 Behind-the-scenesguidedtourofGoldenDragonMuseum

Sunday 26 November 8.30-9.00 Registration

9.00-10.30 Panel8-FamilyandCommunityHistory10.30-11.00 Morningtea

11.00-12.30 Panel9-JossHouses,ArchaeologyandCharity12.30-1.30 Lunch

1.30-3.00 Panel10-MuseumsandExhibitions:PublicImaginations3.00-3.30 Afternoontea

3.30-4.30 Panel11-FutureImaginings

4.30-5.00 ConcludingRemarks

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Dragon Tails 2017 - Program - in detail

Thursday 23 November 9.30-9.45MeetatGoldenDragonMuseum(1-11BridgeSt,Bendigo)forBusTour

10.00-4.30Pre-conferenceTour-BendigoandDistrictChineseHistoryTour

ThisbustourwilltakeinhistoricsitesinandaroundBendigoandCastlemaine.WewillbevisitingtheBendigoJossHouseTemple(constructed1871),theextensiveChinesecemeteriesatWhiteHills,Bendigo,andCampbellsCreek,andhistoricgoldfieldsandmarketgardeninglandscapesatEmuPoint,WhiteHills,Guildford,andVaughan.Apackedlunchwillbeincluded.

6.00-7.00WelcomeReception-SunLoongGallery,GoldenDragonMuseum

7.30 ConferenceDinner-NewChinaRestaurant-1ViewPoint,Bendigo

Friday 24 November 8.30-9.00Registration9.00-9.30ConferenceOpening,incl.WelcometoCountrybyDjaDjaWurrungTraditionalOwner

9.30-11.00Panel1-Generationsandintergenerationaldreams

Chair:KeirReevesAlannaKamp(WesternSydneyUniversity)-EducationalopportunitiesandachievementsofChineseAustraliandaughters:dreamsversusrealitiesin1930s-1960sAustraliaHeleneChung-Ancestraldreams,mydreams:realitiesinplaceandcyberspaceElyFinch-Australia’sfirstChineseNovel:“ThePoisonofPolygamy”

11.00-11.30Morningtea11.30-1.00Panel2-FamiliesandScreeningDreams

Chair:DaphneLoweKelleyKaiLuey(ChinesePollTaxHeritageTrust,NewZealand)-ThePollTaxinNewZealandPeterChin(DunedinChineseGardensTrust)andWilliamMcKee-The“JourneyToLanYuan”documentary

1.00-2.00Lunch

2.00-3.30Panel3-MakingConnections,FindingArchives

Chair:YvonneHorsfieldBonnieWildie-Seeingconnections:usingnetworkdiagramstoexplorethehistoriesofChinesepeopleinlatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturyParramattaValerieLovejoy(LaTrobeUniversity)-Interrupteddreams:19thcenturyinquestsintoChinesedeathsinBendigoHildaMaclean(UniversityofQueensland)-Thegrimreality:deathontheQueenslandgoldfields

3.30-4.00Afternoontea

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Dragon Tails 2017 - Program - in detail

Friday 24 November (contd)

4.00-5.30Panel4-ThreeWindowsonChinain19thcenturyAustralia

Chair:LeighMcKinnonBenjaminMountford(LaTrobeUniversity)-“Bathinginfountainsoftea,frommorning‘tillnight”:AustraliaandChinabeforethegoldKeirReeves(FederationUniversity)-TheactualityoftheChineseexperienceontheVictorianGoldfieldsduringtherushesYvonneHorsfield(FederationUniversity)-ABallaratChinesefamilyhistory:theTongWayfamily

5.45-6.45Behind-the-scenesGuidedTourofGoldenDragonMuseum

Saturday 25 November 8.30-9.15Registration

9.15-10.30KeynotePresentation

Chair:GraceGassinProf.MadelineY.Hsu(UniversityofTexas-Austin)-MigrantImaginaries,ImaginingtheImmigrant:HangLiwuandthe(In)EligibilityofChineseforU.S.Citizenship

10.30-11.00Morningtea

11.00-12.30Panel5-CultureandFood

Chair:AlannaKampAnneTong(UniversityofSydney:honsstudent)-That’snot“real”Chinesefood:exploringthe(in)authenticitiesofChinese-AustralianrestaurantsAdilSohLim(ChineseMuseum,Melbourne)-MooncakerisingincontemporaryAustraliaMarcusBussey(UniversityoftheSunshineCoast)–HeritageFutures:Designingavirtualmuseum;thecaseoftheChineseMuseumofQueensland

12.30-1.30LunchincludingBookLaunch(starting12.40) JamesLerk’sOnTheTailEnd:ChineseWorkingMineTailingsontheBendigoGoldfield, tobelaunchedbyDennisO’HoyOAM

1.30-3.00Panel6-ArtandMemory:TheYoungProjectChair:KarenSchambergerTheYoungProject:LambingFlatriots1860-61-paneldiscussionwithMichaelDo(4ACentreforContemporaryAsianArt,Sydney),andartistsJasonPhuandJohnYoung

3.00-3.30Afternoontea

3.30-5.00Panel7-Place,Faith,andFamily

Chair:HeleneBartlesonLiuShuengWong-TheSSVentnorincident:ships,bones,andMaori-ChineseconnectionsMalcolmOakes-OttoKongSing:colonialsolicitorHowardLeCouteur-AnglicanministrytoChinesesettlersinBrisbaneDiocese:1870stotheGreatWar

5.15-6.15Behind-the-scenesGuidedTourofGoldenDragonMuseum

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Dragon Tails 2017 - Program - in detail

Sunday 26 November

8.30-9.00Registration

9.00-10.30Panel8-FamilyandCommunityHistory

Chair:NadiaRhookAndrewWong&PatricianMonaghan-Jamieson-WayLee:AustraliaandChinatrading:thenandnowBarryMcGowan(AustralianNationalUniversity)-Harddreaming:ThedreamsandrealitiesofChinesecommunitiesincentralwestNSWJennyCooper-AhChin:sojournerorsettler?Fleeingfromconflict,sailingtowardhope

10.30-11.00Morningtea

11.00-12.30Panel9-JossHouses,ArchaeologyandCharity

Chair:PhoebeLiPaulMacgregor(TheUncoveredPastInstitute)-TheliteralriseandfallofthejosshousesofnortheastVictoriaPaulMacgregor(TheUncoveredPastInstitute)-Diggingintothehopesanddreamsofthegoldminers:theexcavationoftheChineseMiningVillageinHarrietville,VictoriaTonyHongyueLiao(SwinburneUniversity)-Shang( )andShan( ):Charitablenetworksofthe“FourGreatDepartmentStores”andtheirassociatedChinese-Australianfamilies1900-1949

1.30-3.00Panel10-MuseumsandExhibitions:PublicImaginations

Chair:HeleneChungKarenSchamberger(NationalMuseumofAustralia)-Gold,marketgardensandrace:ChineseAustralianstoriesinmuseumsMichelleSmith(GoldMuseum,Ballarat)-Re-awakeningthedragonPhoebeLi(TsinghuaUniversity,Beijing)-Whosereminiscence?Andwhosevoices?ThemakingofaphotographichistoryoftheChineseinNewZealand

3.00-3.30Afternoontea

3.30-4.30Panel11-FutureImaginings

Chair:PaulMacgregorHeleneBartleson(ChineseCultureandHeritageMuseum,ChristmasIsland)-ThefutureofChristmasIsland’sChineseheritageKiraBrown-Trashortreasure:reconnectingourpast

4.30-5.00ConcludingRemarks

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Abstracts & Speaker profiles

Helene Bartleson ChineseCultureandHeritageMuseum,ChristmasIsland

ThefutureofChristmasIsland’sChineseheritageOfthenumerousplacesinAustraliawithasubstantialChinesehistory,oneofthemostsignificantyetleastwell-recognisedisChristmasIsland.Aftermorethanacentury,thesocial,culturalandreligiousfabricofthistinyplacecontinuestoreflectthehopes,dreamsandstrugglesofitsChineseresidentsalongsidethoseofitsMalayandAnglo-Europeancommunities.Ratherthandilutedovertime,thisuniqueheritagehasbeendistilledbyablendofstaunchbeliefsandgeographicalisolation.Consequently,ratherthanhistoricalremnants,manyoftheisland’ssymbolsofitsChineseheritageremainnotonlylargelyintact,butinactiveusetoday.Inanareaofonly134squarekilometres,63%ofitNationalPark,thesesymbolsincludetwentytemplesandshrines,twofully“feng-shuied”traditionalcemeteries,twodedicatedmonuments,aheritagemuseumandtwohistorically-significantcommunity-basedorganisations.Anextraordinarylivinglegacy,byanymeasure!However,havingrecognisedthatitspopulationisbothshrinkingandageing,oneofChristmasIsland’saspirationsandoneofitsgreatestchallengesinrecentyearshasbeenfindingwaystopreserveandprotecttheseuniqueheritageplacesforfuturegenerations.HélèneBartlesonhasbeenaHeritageConsultanttotheShireofChristmasIslandsince2009.SheistheauthorofGoldenLeaves–AnIntroductiontotheChineseCemeteriesofChristmasIslandandcuratoroftheisland’sChineseCultureandHeritageMuseum.Hélène’sprofessionalbackgroundisineducationandlanguages. Kira Brown NewSouthWales

TrashorTreasure:reconnectingourpastThereisagrowingrecognitionofthevalueoffamilyhistoryinfleshingoutourcollectivehistoricalmemory.ThecommemorationsofthecentenaryoftheFirstWorldWarhavegivenlifetomanycommunityhistoricalsocietiesacrossAustralia.Thesecommemorationshaveprovidedmanywiththeimpetustobringoutfromthecupboardsthemedals,photographs,anddiariesfromthewar—itisthiscontextthatprovidesthisephemerawithacurrencyandanidentityoftenlostforotherinheritedobjects.Forfamiliesgrapplingwithsuchhistoricalmaterialthedifficultiesinassessingtheirsignificancemeansthatmuchofthisephemeraendsupinthelandfillofthejunkshop,thesaleyards,orthelocaltip.Thisisparticularlysowhendealingwithdistantconnectionsseveredbythedeathofrelativeswhocanprovidethecontextofsuchmaterial,andespeciallysowheninheritingmaterialthatappearsatfirstforeign,andyetisintimatelyfamiliar.ThispaperconsiderstheroleofthisephemerainAustralianhistory.ItdoessothroughthelensofthecollectionofonefamilyinCentralWestNewSouthWaleswhosecollectionenrichesourunderstandingofthesignificantroleplayedbytheChineseintheregionsinwhichtheylived,inthisinstancetheTingharegioninnorthernNSW.Thispaperconcludesthatweareatriskoflosingimportanthistoricalmaterialduetothedifficultiesinassessingthevalueofinheritedobjects,especiallythosefromnon-Anglocommunitiesdisconnectedbylanguageandculture.Ithighlightstheneedtoestablishbroaderlinksbetweenacademichistoriansandthecommunitiesinwhichtheyresearch.

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KiraBrownisagraphicdesignerfromCentralWestNewSouthWalesandfifth-generationChinese-Australian.Shehasenjoyedalife-longinterestinfamilyhistoryandisthecustodianofmanyofherfamily’sobjects,documentsandephemera.Kira’sexplorationsintothesignificanceofherfamilycollectioninspiredhertolearnmoreabouthergreat-great-grandfatherQuinJack,andshehassincetrackeddownvariousextendedfamilyanddescendantsconnectedtohim.

Marcus Bussey UniversityoftheSunshineCoast,Queensland

HeritageFutures:DesigningaVirtualMuseum,thecaseoftheChineseMuseumofQueenslandThispaperwilloutlinetheconceptofHeritageFuturesanddrawontheongoingexperienceofdesigningavirtualmuseumdedicatedtothehistoryofChinesepeopleinQueensland.TheChineseForumofQueenslandapproachedtheUniversityoftheSunshineCoastin2016aboutthepossibilityofestablishinganonlinemuseumofChinese-Queenslandhistory.Discussionspickedupacross2016andledtoworkonaprototypeconstructedin2017bythreeUSCstudentsundertheguidanceofPamelaBlake.Thepaperwillcoverthedecision-makingprocessandexploretheroleofvirtualtechnologiesinthecommunicationofthepastandofheritageinpubliclyaccessibleways.Ofinterestistheplaceofaestheticsincommunicatingculturalcontent,theincreasingpowerofvisualandcommunicationtechnologiestofosterpublicengagementwiththepast,otherculturesandourglobalfutures.DrMarcusBusseyisafuturistandeducatorwithakeeninterestinregionalfutures.Heteachescoursesinworldhistory,sustainablefuturesandculturalchangetheoryattheUniversityoftheSunshineCoast,Queensland,AustraliawhereheisamemberoftheArtsResearchintheCreativeHumanities(ARCH)collective.Hisresearchinterestsfocusonculturaltransformationandthesocialinnovationsweneedtofostertoempowercommunitiesandorganisationsastheyseektoadapttothesocial,economicandenvironmentalchallengeswefacetoday.Busseypublisheswidelyandhasco-authoredFuturesThinkingforSocialForesightwithRichardSlaughter(2005)andco-editedNeohumanistEducationalFutures:LiberatingthePedagogicalIntellect(2006)andAlternativeEducationalFutures:PedagogiesforEmergentWorlds(2008)withSohailInayatullahandIvanaMilojevic.http://www.usc.edu.au/explore/structure/faculty-of-arts-business-and-law/staff/dr-marcus-bussey

Peter Chin & William McKee ChinesePollTaxHeritageTrust

JourneytoLanYuanThispaperisbasedontherecentdocumentaryJourneytoLanYuanmadebyToituOtagoSettlersMuseum.LanYuanisDunedin’sauthenticChineseScholar’sGarden,fundedandbuiltbytheDunedinChineseGardensTrustandgiftedtotheCity.Builtwiththeassistanceofoursistercity,Shanghai,LanYuanwasconstructedtocommemorateDunedin’sproudChineseheritageandoursharedjourneyintothefuture.ThedocumentaryexplainstheGarden’sraisone’tre.IttellsthestoryoftheChinesediasporafromtheearlygoldrushdaystorecenttimes.ItwasfilmedinCentralOtago,Bendigo,MelbourneaswellasinDunedinandthevillagesoftheCantonesefamiliesinGuangdong,China.Thefilmcrew,includingSeanBrosnahan(Curator,ToituuOtagoSettlersMuseum)andWilliamMcKee(ExhibitionsOfficeratToitu),visitedandfilmedinBendigo,speakingtoRussellJack.Itisawonderfulstorymadepersonalbyinterviewswithlocallong-standingChinesefamiliesandvisitstotheirhomevillages.

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PeterChinisaformerchairmanoftheTrustwhopresidedovertheconstructionoftheLanYuanGarden.HeisalsoaformermayorofDunedin,theimmediatepastchairoftheChinesePollTaxHeritageTrustandaproudmemberofalong-standingCantoneseDunedinfamily.WilliamMcKeeistheproducerofTheJourneytoLanYuan.

Helene Chung Melbourne

AncestralDreams,MyDreams:RealitiesinPlaceandCyberspaceIn1931,mymaternalgrandfather,accompaniedbyhisTasmanian-bornfamily,returnedtoTaishanforthefifthtimeandbuilthisdreamhomeinDragonFieldVillage.Mymother’schildhoodmemoriesofTaishanfromthattimefilledmy1950sHobartchildhood.Yearslaterin1984,IwasagainremindedofmyfamilyhistorywhenIwastakenbysomeTaishaneseonasurprise“roots”findingexpeditionwhileworkingasaChinacorrespondentfortheAustralianBroadcastingCorporation.Whilethattripprovedfruitless,itmademedeterminedtofindmyancestralplace.Inthispaper,Iwillsharemyjourneyofdiscovery,whichinvolvedintroductionsviaWeChattonon-English-speakingstrangers,GPS,computerisedrecords,translationapps,aswellasgoodwilltoanon-Chinese-speakingantipodean,andavaluablereturntoDragonFieldVillage.FormerBeijingcorrespondentHeleneChung(He-LANEChungasinHUNG)isafourth-generationChineseTasmanian.Thefirstnon-whitereporteronAustraliantelevisionandthefirstfemalepostedabroadbytheAustralianBroadcastingCorporation,shehasreportedfromAustralia,HongKong,Britain,EgyptandChina.AhistoryhonoursgraduateandmasterofartsoftheUniversityofTasmania,sheisauthorofChingChongChinaGirlandLazyManinChina,publishedwhileaMonashAsiaInstituteAdjunctResearchFellow;GentleJohnMyLoveMyLoss;andShoutingfromChina,writtenasDeakinUniversity’sEdwardWilsonFellowinJournalism.www.helenechung.com

Jenny Cooper Queensland

AhChin–sojournerorsettler?Fleeingfromconflict,sailingtowardhopeIn1862,amanfromChinamarriedawomannamedSarahGaleinSofala,NewSouthWales.Hewasaminer,storekeeper,publican,cookandbaker—descendantsrecallthathegrewvegetablestoo.ThemanarrivedonashipinSydneyorMelbourneandendedupinnorthQueenslandinthelate1870s.Whathappenedtohimafterthat,however,remainsamystery—hemayhavediedandbeenburiedintheCooktownCemeteryorstayedinRavenswoodasapublican.PerhapshereturnedtoChina.ThispaperexploresthelifeandmysteryofAhChin(WilliamAhChin),mygreatgreat-grandfather.Untilthisyear,Itendedtothinkofhimas“theChineseguy’.WhenItravelledtoChinawithotherChinesedescendants–ontheinauguralChineseAustralianHometownHeritageTour(2017)withKateBagnallandSophieCouchmanasguides–myattitudechanged.Suddenly,hewasarealperson,myancestor,mygreat-greatgrandfather,andlovinghusbandtoSarahandfathertosixchildren.ThispaperwillrevealwhatIknowandhavefoundoutaboutAhChinthroughsearchingthesparseformalhistoricalrecordandthinkingaboutmybroaderfamilystory,testingfamilytheoriesandrejectingwhatdoesnotfit.JennyCooperissemi-retiredfromherroleasarehabilitationconsultant/casemanagerwithlocalgovernment.Since2010shehasbeenpursuingalifelonginterestinwritingandislearningaboutthecraftthroughherlocalwriter’scentre.Jennyiscurrentlyworkingonanarrativenon-fictionbookbasedonthefamilyhistoryofhergreatgrandmotherSarahAhChin.

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Michael Do 4ACentreforContemporaryAsianArt

TheYoungArtists:Paperno.1TheLambingFlatRiotswereaseriesofanti-ChinesedemonstrationswhichtookplaceduringNovember1860-September1861throughoutgoldfieldsacrossYoung,NewSouthWales.Theracialunrestculminatedinthe30June1861riot,where1500to2000ChineseminersweredrivenofftheLambingFlatgoldfield,ofwhich150to200Chineseminerswerebeatenandsustainedinjuries.Aspartof4A’sprogramofcuratedexhibitions,wehaveinvitedartists,JasonPhuandJohnYoungtorespondtothishistory.Throughanexhibitionofnewly-commissionedartworks,4Awillpresentthismiredhistoryasameanstolinkintobroader,productivediscussionsaroundthecontributionsmadeandchallengesfacedbytheChinesecommunityoverthepast150yearsinAustralia.Thispaper,whichformsonethirdofthepanel“TheYoungArtists’,willintroduce4A’shistoricalresearchabouttheriotsandtheirsignificancetoAustraliangoldmininghistory,researchedandledbyKarenSchamberger.Itwillalsoprovideabriefintroductiontotheproject’saimsandgoals,apresentationoftheexhibitionvenues,andourlocalonthegroundpartners,includingourprocessesforengaginglocalaudiencesandsensitivelyinvestigatingandutilisinghistoricalarchivesinourartisticresearch.Additionally,thispanelwillrecountsomeof4A’srich21-yearhistoryinresearchinganddevelopingartist-ledprojectsthatexplorethecomplexhistoriesofandfallaciesconcerningAsiancommunitiesinAustraliaandglobally.MichaelDoisacuratorandculturalproducerbasedinSydney,NewSouthWales.Hiscuratorialfocusliesindevelopingthematicandimmersiveexhibitionsthatextrapolateresearchandartisticpracticesintocontemporarycontexts.Michaeliscurrentlydeveloping5X5,asurveyof5artist/collectorrelationshipsforPenrithRegionalGalleryandTheLewersBequest,Sydney.HisexhibitionSoftCore,exploringsoftandinflatablesculpturesdevelopedforCasulaPowerhouseArtsCentre,Sydney,iscurrentlytouringeightregionalandruralgalleriesthroughoutNewSouthWalesandVictoria.HeisAssistantCurator,4ACentreforContemporaryAsianArt.

Ely Finch Melbourne

Australia’sFirstChineseNovel:ThePoisonofPolygamyThispaperconcernsaprojectthathaditsgenesisatDragonTails2015—thetranslationofaChinesenovelthatwaspublishedinearlyFederationMelbournejustbeforethefallofChina’sQingdynastyandtheestablishmentoftheRepublicofChina.ThenovelinquestionisbelievedtobeAustralia’s

earliestChinese-languagenovelandwasentitled ThePoisonofPolygamy.Asemi-historicaltaleof

lifeinChina’sdiasporadistrictsandoftheAustralianChinesediasporafromroughlythe1850stothe1870s,itservedasavehiclefortheauthor’spro-revolutionarymessageandtookasitsthemewhatheviewedtobethesocialevilofpolygamy.Itiswrittenpredominantlyinthedistinctwrittenlanguageofliterary

Chinese( ),whichmanyChinesereaderstodayfindchallenging,andthisisfurthercomplicated

throughtheoccasionalappearancewithinitofwordsandphrasesintheSzeYupvernacular.Thispaperintroducesthenovel,itshistory,anditscontent,andgoesontodiscussthemethodologyandthinkingthatinformstheEnglishtranslationwhichthespeakeriswriting,withaviewtomakingthenovelaccessibletoamuchwiderreadership.ThepaperconcludesthatthenovelisavaluableresourceforChinese-diasporastudies,andoffersarangeofobservationspertinenttothetranslationofChinese-

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languagematerialofthenovel’stype,whichmaygivenewinsightsintotheissuesfacedbythetranslatorsofsuchmaterialandtheapproachesthatcanbetakentoovercomethem.ElyFinchisaMelbourne-basedindependenttranslatorofCantoneseandliteraryChinese,whohasalong-heldpassionforChineselanguagesandtraditionalChineseliterature.Hisrecentfocushasbeenthetranslationofhistoricaldocumentsandinscriptions,particularlyonespertainingtothenineteenth-centuryChinesediaspora,foruniversities,museums,historians,archaeologistsandothers.HeisnowengagedinthetranslationofahithertountranslatedworkofAustralianliterature:Australia’sfirstChinesenovel,ThePoisonofPolygamy,aprojectwhichisbeingsupportedbyaVictorianGovernmentLocalHistoryGrant.HespokeaboutChinesedigitsatthe2015DragonTailsconferenceinCairns.

Yvonne Horsfield FederationUniversity,Ballarat

ABallaratChinesefamilyhistory:theTongWayfamilyThispaperwilldiscusstheeffectsofracismandunjustpolicieswhichtargetedtheChineseimmigrantpopulation,fromthesojournertosettlergenerations,duringthe1880speriodandleadinguptotheWhiteAustraliaPolicyin1901.ThecasestudyoftheTongWayfamilywillbeusedtoexaminethecontinuedpressuresinthetwentiethcenturyuponChineseAustralianstoassimilateandgainacceptance,anddevelopasenseofculturalbelongingagainstcontinuingpoliciesofdiscriminationwhichaffectedtheirlives.YvonneHorsfieldisamatureagestudentpresentlycompletingherPhDatFederationUniversityinBallarat.Sheisateacherbyprofessionandhasspentthemajorityofhercareerworkinginout-of-schoolsituations,includingasEducationOfficeratSovereignHillOutdoorMuseuminBallaratspecialisinginHistoryprograms,andattheArtGalleryofBallarat,whichhasamagnificentcollectionbasedonthegoldfieldsera.Sheisapublishedauthorofchildren’sbooksbasedonAustralianwildlifeandisinterestedinpublishingherresearchonaBallaratChineseFamilybiographywhencompleted.

Madeline Hsu UniversityofTexas,Austin,USA

MigrantImaginaries,ImaginingtheImmigrant:HangLiwuandthe(In)EligibilityofChineseforU.S.CitizenshipDominantnarrativesaboutmigrantscelebratetheirimmigrationandassimilation,ofteninwaysthatemphasizetheopportunityandacceptanceprovidedbyeconomically-developeddemocracies.ThelifeofHangLiwu,however,providesacompellingcounternarrativeofamigrantwhorefusedchancestoimmigratetotheUnitedStates.Hang’scareerandchoicesillustratevarietiesofmigrationflows,thepurposestheyserve,andthecomplexwaysinwhichtheybuildinternationalrelationsandinfluencetheemergenceofpostcolonialstates.ProfessorHsuservedasDirectoroftheCenterforAsianAmericanStudies2006-2014andiscurrentlyaProfessorofHistoryattheUniversityofTexasatAustin.ShereceivedherundergraduatedegreesinHistoryfromPomonaCollegeandPhDfromYaleUniversity,andiscurrentlypresident-electoftheImmigrationandEthnicHistorySocietyandvice-presidentoftheInternationalSocietyfortheStudyofChineseOverseas.ProfessorHsu’sextensivelistofpublicationsincludeTheGoodImmigrants:HowtheYellowPerilBecametheModelMinority(PrincetonUniversityPress,2015)andDreamingofGold,DreamingofHome:TransnationalismandMigrationBetweentheUnitedStatesandSouthChina,1882-1943(StanfordUniversityPress,2000),whichreceivedthe2002AssociationforAsianAmericanStudiesHistoryBookAward.

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Alanna Kamp WesternSydneyUniversityEducationalopportunitiesandachievementsofChineseAustraliandaughters:dreamsversusrealitiesin1930s-1960sAustraliaBydrawinguponinterviewswithwomenfromlong-establishedChineseAustralianfamilies,inthispaperIhighlighttheimpactsofwomen’sculturalandgenderedidentitiesontheirexperiencesofgrowingupin1930s-1960sAustralia.Somewomenexplainedthattheirupbringingwasmarkedbygenderdifferencesinthetreatmentandopportunitiesmadeavailabletosonsanddaughters.Intheseinstances,interviewparticipantsrecalledbeing“groomed”fortheirlaterroleasdutifulwives:theyweretaskedwithhelpingtheirmotherinthedomesticdutiesandcaringforsiblings,theyweregivenlimitededucationalopportunitiescomparedtotheirbrothers,andweremadeawarethatitwastheirroleasdaughterstobe“marriedoff”inlateryears.Therefore,despiteadesiretoattendschoolandachieveeducationalsuccess,genderedexpectationswithinfamiliesoftenrestricteddaughters’prospects.Otherparticipants(themajority)recalledthattheyandtheirsiblings—bothbrothersandsisters—weretreatedequallyandencouragedintheireducationandemployment.Thisencouragementwasoftenlinkedtoparents’ownlifecircumstancesanddreamsfortheirchildren(includingdaughters)tohaveabetterlife.Whilemanyoftheinterviewparticipantswentontosuccessfullygraduatefromschool/college/university,barrierswerealsometwithintheeducationsystemasgenderedandracialdiscriminationoftenrestrictedtheopportunitiesmadeavailabletothem.DrAlannaKamp(BABSc(UNSW);PhD(UWS))isaPostdoctoralResearchFellowintheUrbanResearchProgram,SchoolofSocialSciencesandPsychology,WesternSydneyUniversity.Asanhistoricalandculturalgeographer,AlannaisinterestedinfeministandpostcolonialunderstandingsofthemigrantexperienceandattitudestoimmigrationinSydney.Sheisparticularlyinterestedinthewaysinwhichhistoricalgeographiesofmigrantexperiencehavecontemporaryrelevanceandshapecurrentcommunityexperiencesandidentities. Howard Le Couteur Sydney

AnglicanMinistrytoChineseSettlersinBrisbaneDiocese;1870stotheGreatWarTheearlyhistoriographyofChristianityamongstChinesecolonialsettlerswasfairlyscepticalinitsassessment.Forexample,KathrynCroninconcludedthatthechurches’missioneffortstoChinesesettlerswerenotsuccessful,thoughconcedingthat“theywonafewconverts”.KeithColeexplicitlyrefutedtheseconclusionsonthebasisofhisresearchintoAnglicanMissionaryeffortsamongstChineseimmigrantsonthecentralVictoriangoldfields,andbasedon(relativelyobscure)AnglicansourcesofwhichCroninwasnotaware.Colepointsoutthatin1891,16.2%ofVictoria’sChinesewereChristianandthatby1901,thefigurehadrisento28.5%.HealsonotestheimportanceofChristianconvertsreturningfromAustraliatoChinatoevangelisetheircountrymen.AnotherviewofChineseconversionswasthattheyweresomehowanaccommodationtotheprevailingBritishculture,andthatsuchconversionsmaynothavebeensincere,thesuggestionbeingthatChineseimmigrants“acceptedChristianityasaformofaccommodationtomakethemmoreacceptableinthewiderAustraliancommunity”.Itiseasytoseethepragmaticbasisforsuchaclaim,andDeniseAustin,whilenotrejectingtheaccommodationthesisaltogethermakesamorenuancedargumentbasedonmuchevidenceforsincereconversion.ThispaperiswrittenwiththisbackgroundinmindinordertoexploresomeofthesethemesofevangelisationofChinesecolonialsettlersinsouthernQueenslandbyAnglicansintheDioceseofBrisbane.

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AttimestherecordisfragmentarybuttherearesufficientsourcestoprovideafairlycoherentviewofanAnglicanmissiontotheChinese.HowardLeCouteurisanover-educatedfarmboywhohadbriefcareersasahigh-schoolteacherandgeologistbeforejoiningtheAnglicanFranciscans.Hewasprofessedin1981.HeisafoundingmemberoftheLittleBrothersofFrancis.HecompletedaPhDinAustralianhistoryatMacquarieUniversityin2006,andhassincepublishedarticles,bookchaptersandbookreviewsinAustralian,AmericanandBritishpublications.HisareasofstudyincludeAnglicanism,Freemasonry,andcolonialsocialhistory. Phoebe H. Li TsinghuaUniversity,Beijing

WhoseReminiscence?AndWhoseVoices?–TheMakingofaPhotographicHistoryoftheChineseinNewZealandThehistoryoftheNewZealandChinesebeganwithaCantonesecabinsteward'sarrivalinNelsonin1842.TodayChinesecompriseabout3.7%ofNewZealandpopulation:over170,000people.TheseincludedescendantsofearlyCantonesesettlersandrecentimmigrantsfrommainlandChinaandmanyotherpartsoftheworld.Usingmorethan100compellingphotographssoughtfrom16publicinstitutionsandanumberofprivatecollectionsthroughoutNewZealand,arecentexhibition,heldinbothBeijingandAuckland,presentedavisualintroductiontothepast175yearsofChineselifeinNewZealandfromanarrayofangles.Inthefirstpartofthispapertheauthordiscussesherowncuratorialexperiencesindevelopingtheexhibitionconcepts,sourcingandselectingphotographs,andinterpretingandnarratingthefinally-chosenones.Next,sheconductsadiscourseanalysisoninstitutionalandpublicresponsestothisexhibition;thelattercoversreceptionofaudienceandrelevantmediareportsbothinChinaandNewZealand.Thepaperrevealsaninsider’sobservationofandcontemplationonhowNewZealandChinesehistorymaybeinterrogatedandexhibitedinprominentpublicarenasinthetwocountries.ItarguesthattheexhibitionmayalsoshedanewlightonhowoverseasChinesehistoryingeneralcanbetoldandre-toldinanewera,inwhicholdtiesarebeingrevivedandtransformedandnewlinkagesareburgeoningbetweenChinaandothercountries.PhoebeH.LireceivedherPhDfromtheUniversityofAucklandin2010,andiscurrentlyaResearchFellowatTsinghuaUniversityinBeijing.HerresearchinterestsincludesocialhistoryofChinesemigrationinAustralasia,lateQingpolitics,photographichistory,andmasscommunication.ShehaspublishedresearcharticlesinbothEnglishandChineseandtwobooks,VirtualChinatown:theDiasporicMediasphereoftheChineseMigrantsinNewZealand(Brill:2013)andRecollectionsofaDistantShore:NewZealandChineseinHistoricalImages(co-authoredwithJohnB.Turner,SocialSciencesAcademicPress:2017).

Tony Hongyue Liao SwinburneUniversityofTechnology

ShangandShan:CharitableNetworksofthe“FourGreatDepartmentStores”andTheirAssociatedChinese-AustralianFamilies1900-1949Thispaperexploreshowshang( commerce)interactedwithshan( charity)intheevolutionofChinese

charityandbusinessinthemodernera,payingparticularattentiontotheroleoftransnationalhuaqiao(

OverseasChinese)networksinthedevelopmentofChineseindigenouscharity.DrawingonatroveofarchivesfromAustralia,HongKong,andChinainadditiontoawiderangeofsecondaryliterature,thispaperprovidesadetailedhistoricalaccountofthecharitableandphilanthropicworksupportedbytheFourGreatDepartmentStores(Sincere,WingOn,SunSun,andTheSun)andtheirassociatedChinese-

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Australianfamilies.Intermsofspaceandtime,itfocusesonthefounders’hometownZhongshaninGuangdongProvince,andontheirmajorbusinesshomebasesofSydney,HongKong,Canton,andShanghaioverfivedecadesfrom1900to1949.ItarguesthatmerchantsandalsotheirbusinessfirmsmadesignificantcontributionstothedevelopmentofindigenousChinesecharityinthemodernera.Theirengagementincharitableworkhelpedmerchantstogainsocialcapital,extendtheirbusinessandsocialnetworks,promoteapositiveandtrustworthyimageofthemselvesandtheirfirms,andsecureasociallicensetooperate,allingredientsessentialfortheirbusinesssuccess.MyresearchalsohighlightstheimpactofhuaqiaoonmodernChinesecharityinadditiontotheirwell-documentedcontributionstoChinesepoliticsandeconomicdevelopment.InanageofgrowingphilanthrocapitalismwithinandbeyondChina,thisempiricalhistoricalresearchintotheoverlappinghistoriesofmodernChinesecharity,business,andOverseasChinesebearsbothacademicandpracticalsignificance.TonyHongyueLiaoisaPhDcandidateattheCentreforSocialImpactinSwinburneUniversityofTechnology.HeiscurrentlyresearchingonthehistoryofChinesediasporaphilanthropyunderthesupervisionofProfessorJohnFitzgerald,withafocusonthecharitablecontributionsofChinese-AustraliansbothinAustraliaandChinainthemodernera.

Valerie Lovejoy LaTrobeUniversity

Interrupteddreams:NineteenthcenturyinquestsintoChinesedeathsinBendigoThispaperdrawsonastudyofinquestsintoChinesedeathsinBendigoconductedoverfiftyyearsfrom1854toprovideaglimpseoftheaspirationsofnineteenthcenturyChineseimmigrantstoBendigo.SuchastudychallengesperceptionsinothernineteenthcenturysourcesofChineseAustralians’health,family,communityandworkinglives.ThepersonalstoriesIwillsharearenecessarilyblurredbydistancesoftranslationandtime.Nevertheless,aswitnessesrecallthemomentofdeathandthecircumstancessurroundingit,theyprovideauniquecontexttoalifeanddeaththatallowsarealpersontoemergefromtheshadowsofthepast,enablingustounderstandsomethingoftheirhopesanddreams.ValerieLovejoyisaResearchOfficerintheSchoolofEducationatLaTrobeUniversityBendigo.AsagreatgreatgranddaughterofimmigrantstotheBendigoareashehasalong-standinginterestinlocalandregionalhistory.In2009,ValeriecompletedaPhDtitled“TheFortuneSeekersofDaiGumSan:FirstGenerationChineseontheBendigoGoldfield1854-1882”.Thisthesismadeuseoflocalarchivalmaterialinadditiontobroadersourcestoarguethattheperiodfrom1861-1881wasatimeofopportunityforChineseVictoriansbecausefewerrestrictionswereplacedontheirlives.SeveralarticlesandbookchaptershavesincebeenpublishedfromValerie’sstudy.

Kai Luey Auckland

ThePollTaxinNewZealandThispaperwilloutlinethehistoryofthePollTaxinNewZealand,whichwasintroducedin1881at£10pernewcomerandraisedin1896to£100.ItappliedonlytoChineseandwasnotofficiallyabolisheduntil1944.TherewereothermeasuresagainstChineseimmigration,butthepolltaxsurpassedthemallinitsanti-Chinesebiasandseverity.AttheParliamentaryChineseNewYearFunctionon12February2002,LabourPrimeMinisterHelenClarkgaveanapologyforthepolltaxleviedonourCantoneseforbearsupontheirfirstentryintoNewZealand.TheapologyisverysignificantinthatthegovernmentchosetorecogniseandvaluestheimportanceoftheChinesecommunityinNewZealand.Followingtheapology,theChinesePollTaxHeritageFundof$5

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millionwassetup.ThisFundisentrustedtoeightChineseTrusteeswhohadtobePollTaxdescendantsandbecameoperativeforgrantsin2005.TheobjectivesoftheTrustaretopromotethepreservationofChineseNewZealandhistoryandawarenessofthecontributionsofearlyChinesesettlers,andtoprovidetangiblesupportforChineseNewZealandhistory,languageandculture,particularlythatoftheearlysettlerChinesecommunity.ExampleswillbegivenofprojectswhichhavebeensupportedorfullyfundedbytheTrust.KaiLueyQSMisaretiredElectricalEngineerwhohasbeenveryactiveintheChinesecommunityfornearlytwentyyears.HeiscurrentlyChairoftheChinesePollTaxHeritageTrust,ChairofAucklandChineseCommunityCentreInc,Co-ChairoftheAucklandChineseGardenSteeringCommitteeandaCharterMemberoftheRotaryClubofAucklandHarbourside(auniquemulticulturalclub).Earlier,Kaiserved11yearsasChairofNewZealandChineseAssociationAucklandIncandthreeyearsasNationalPresidentofNZCA.HisothersignificantachievementsincludeleadingtheorganisationoffiveGoingBananasConferences,initiatingtheLeadershipandDevelopmentConferencesin2007andorganisingelevenChineseNewYearFestivalandMarketDayevents. Paul Macgregor TheUncoveredPastInstitute

EmbodimentofDreams,RealityofDestruction:TheLiteralRiseandFalloftheJossHousesofNortheastVictoriaBy1868,therewere7,000ChineseinNortheastVictoria,amuchgreaternumberthanBendigo(4,500)orBallarat(3,100).YetthisscaleofChineseminingendeavorisnowbarelyrecognisedinthecommunityhistoriesoftheNortheast.Thispaperconsiderstherolesthatjosshousesplayedinthosecommunities.Theearliestjosshouseswerecanvasontimberframes,buttheyprogressed(asminingcampsbecamevillagesthentowns),throughweatherboardstructures,tobrickedificeswithcolourfulceramicdecoration.Theprogressionofstructuralstability,adreamofpermanencemadereal,wasmatchedbyanincreasingquality,intricacyandwealthoftheirfit-out.Thecontentsincludedstatues,shrines,incenseburners,votiveofferings,plaquesandtablets,eachdecoratedwithintricatesymbolismandcalligraphy.Hopesanddreamswerethestockintradeofsuchsymbolismandtext,invokingwealth,longevity,wisdom,progenyandmore.Thedeitieswereenlistedtohelprealisethesedreams,and,whenwealthflowedfromtheminingfields,thankswereinscribedonnewplaques,statueswereupgraded,buildingsrebuilt.Yettheseinstitutionsweremorethanjustreligiousbuildings;theyoftenhadsocialandpoliticalroles,andwerelocationsaroundwhichcommunitywasenacted,politicalhopeswerefostered,andchallengesaddressed.ForsomethirtyyearsChineseminersprospered,butfromthe1890sthesettlementswentintodecline.Theusualexplanationisthatasthegoldpeteredout,theChineseleftthedistrict.YettherearemanyaccountsofChineseturningtoagriculture-hops,tobacco,vegetables,vines.Nevertheless,theChinesesettlementsdiminished,thejosshousesoftenbeingthelaststructuresstanding,eventuallyallbeingdestroyedbytheearly20thcentury.Thispaperwillconsidertherealitiesthatdestroyedthedreamsinherentinthosejosshouses:on-the-groundracism,Christianevangelism,Europeanacculturation,discriminatorylegislation,andintheend,willfulneglectandactiveforgetting.PaulMacgregor,historianandheritageconsultant,isSecretaryofTheUncoveredPastInstitute,whichundertakesarchaeologicalexcavationswithpublicparticipation.HeisalsoSecretaryoftheDragonTailsAssociation.CuratorofMelbourne’sChineseMuseumfrom1990to2005,hehaspublishedwidely,organisedmanyconferencesandexhibitions,andworkedonseveralmajorresearchprojects,allonChineseAustralianhistory.HeiscurrentlyresearchingChineseeconomicactivityinAustralia,andthematerialcultureheritageofChineseAustralians,aspartofawiderinvestigationofthenineteenthand

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earlytwentiethcenturyco-evolutionofEuropeanandAsiansocietiesinAustralasia,China,SoutheastAsia,NorthAmericaandthePacific/IndianOceanworlds.www.paulmacgregor.info. Paul Macgregor TheUncoveredPastInstitute

Diggingintothehopesanddreamsofthegoldminers-theexcavationoftheChineseMiningVillageinHarrietville,VictoriaForaroundthirtyyearsfromthelate1850sHarrietville,inNortheastVictoria,inthefoothillsoftheAustralianAlps,washometomanyofthethousandsofVictoria’shopefulChinesegoldminers.TheChineseMiningVillageontheEastBranchoftheOvensRiverwasdiscoveredbyAndrewSwiftafterabushfirein2000,andplacedontheVictorianHeritageInventory.In2016,aneworganisation,TheUncoveredPastInstitute,wasfoundedbyGordonGrimwade,PaulMacgregor,DiannTalbot,AndrewSwiftandMelissaDunk,inordertoconductarchaeologicalexcavationsonhistoricsiteswithpublicparticipation.TheHarrietvilleChineseMiningVillagewaschosenasthefirstmajorprojectoftheInstitute.Thesitewassurveyedandsomeexcavationsundertaken,inOctober2017,andthispaperwillpresentareportonhowtheprojectwasundertaken.Thelargelyundisturbedsiteincludesmineworkings,waterraces,buildingfoundations,andgardens:itmaybeararesurvivingexampleofthekongsi,theuniquelarge-teammethodofChineselabourorganisationandlarge-scalealluvialmining,oftendocumentedinhistoricalrecordsbutrarelysurvivingthelaterhydraulicanddredgeminingphases.ItisthefirstChineseminingsettlementtobeexcavatedinVictoria,andwillallowustoassesswhetherthedreamsofwealthofthoseminersareindicatedbythelifestylecluesthatcanbefoundonthesite.Traderecordsindicatethathugequantitiesoffood,liquor,medicines,utensils,ceramicsandevencoinswereimportedfromChina,mostlyfromthePearlRiverdelta,forVictorianChineseminers.Dothesurvivingshardsofthesegoods,foundintheexcavation,indicatethewealthoftheminers,ordothesefragmentstelladifferentreality,ofhardship,subsistenceandlivingonhope?PaulMacgregor,historianandheritageconsultant,isSecretaryofTheUncoveredPastInstitute,whichundertakesarchaeologicalexcavationswithpublicparticipation.HeisalsoSecretaryoftheDragonTailsAssociation.HewasProjectCuratorduringtheexcavationoftheHarrietvilleChineseMiningVillageinOctober2017.CuratorofMelbourne’sChineseMuseumfrom1990to2005,hehaspublishedwidely,organisedmanyconferencesandexhibitions,andworkedonseveralmajorresearchprojects,allonChineseAustralianhistory.HeiscurrentlyresearchingChineseeconomicactivityinAustralia,andthematerialcultureheritageofChineseAustralians,aspartofawiderinvestigationofthenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturyco-evolutionofEuropeanandAsiansocietiesinAustralasia,China,SoutheastAsia,NorthAmericaandthePacific/IndianOceanworlds.www.paulmacgregor.info

Hilda Maclean SchoolofSocialScience,UniversityofQueensland

TheGrimReality:deathontheQueenslandgoldfieldsWhilecompilingtheQueenslandChineseDeathIndex(QCDI),theauthornotedclustersofconsecutivedeathregistrationswhichcoincidedwiththeQueenslandgoldrushes.Byobtainingasampleofthesedeathcertificates,theauthorwasabletocompilestatisticsonlongevityontheQueenslandgoldfieldsfromarrivalinthecolonyuntiltheprospector’shopesanddreamswereshatteredthroughprematuredeath.Causeandageatdeathwerecollated,providingcomparabledatawithLovejoy’s2007studyofChinesedeathsontheBendigofieldsfrom1854to1865.AstheVictorianandNewSouthWalesrushes

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peteredout,manyminersmovedtotheQueenslandrushes,whichprovedtobeafataldecision.Forexample,preliminaryfindingsfromdeathcertificatesfromthe1871rushatGilbertonontheEtheridgefield,foundthatminerswhohadsurvivedupwardofadecadeinthesoutherncolonies,weredeadwithinsixmonthsofarrivalinQueensland.Mostdiedoffeversandtropicaldiseasesandwithoutrecoursetomedicalassistance.Althoughmanyofthesegoldfielddeathswerereportedinthecontemporarynewspapers,thedeceasedwereanonymous.TheabilitytosorttheQCDIbydatehasprovidedtheopportunitytorestoretheidentitiestothosewhocameseekingabetterlife,butwhoweredestinednevertoseetheshoresofChinaagain.HildaMacleanPhD,isaprofessionalhistorian,genealogist,andarchivalresearcherwithovertwentyyears’experienceresearchingnorthandcentralQueenslandfamilyandpastoralhistories.Since2012,HildahasbeencasuallyengagedbytheUniversityofQueenslandCultureandHeritageUnittoconductgenealogicalandhistoricalresearchincludingIndigenous/ChinesefamiliesoftheGulfofCarpentariawhilecompletingherPhDincolonialeraburialpractices.Hildaregularlypresentsworkshopsongenealogicalandarchivalresearchmethodologyandhaspresentedatinternationalconferencesonalliedtopics.HercurrentprojectiscompilingtheQueenslandChineseDeathIndex. Barry McGowan AustralianNationalUniversity

Harddreaming:thedreamsandrealitiesofChinesecommunitiesincentralwestNSWThispaperexplorestheexperiencesofseveralChinesefamiliesintheOrangeandWellingtondistrictsofcentralwestNSW.TheyincludetheSoofamily,restaurateursinBlayney,theCoon,SingLee,LouSickandMarChewfamilies,marketgardenersinWellington,theMowFunnandLingfamilies,merchantsandmarketgardenersinWellington,theWong,WongChewandHangSingfamilies,restaurateursinOrange,andtheAhSeefamily,whostraddledseveralcommunities.Manyofthesefamiliesexperiencedamixtureoftrauma,tragedyandfortuneinChinaandAustralia.SomehadperilousescapesfromChinapost1930;somecopedwithimpoverishment,familydeaths,physicaldiscomfortsandhazardssuchasfloods,andothertraumas.Forthesepeopletheirliveswerecharacterisedbyasteelydeterminationtosucceed,sometimesagainstalmostoverwhelmingodds,andtheirdreamswerefocusedheavilyonsurvival.OtherChinesefamilieshadsomewhathappierlivesanddreams,andwereinapositiontohelpmanyoftheotherfamilies,andotherChinesepeople.TheChinesefamiliesbecameimportantmembersoftheirlocalcommunities,andsomeoftheirdescendantsstillliveinthetownstoday.Somefamilieswereextraordinarilysuccessfulandverysignificantbenefactors.Threeunusualfeaturesinthismatrix,andperhapspeculiartotheregion,weretherelationshipandinterdependencebetweentheChineseandAboriginalcommunities,theextentofintermarriage,andthedegreetowhichwomenandchildrencontributedtothefamilybyworkinginthefieldsandotherbusinesses.DrBarryMcGowanisaCanberra-basedheritageconsultantandhistorianandanHonorarySeniorLecturerattheCollegeofAsiaandthePacificattheAustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra.HehaswrittenextensivelyonthehistoryandheritageofAustralianminingcommunities,andonthehistoryandheritageoftheChinesepeopleinruralandregionalAustralia.Hismostrecentpublication,TrackingtheDragon:ThematicHistoryoftheChinesepeopleintheRutherglen/WahgunyahregionoftheIndigoShire,Victoria,wascommendedinthe2015VictorianCommunityHistoryAwardsandinthe2016IndigoShireHeritageAwards.

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InJune2015,togetherwithMsGenevieveMott,hewascommissionedtowriteathematicstudyoftheChinesepeopleintheOrange,BlayneyandCabonneShiresincentralwestNSW.ThestudywassubmittedinJune2016,andanexhibitoftheworkwaslaunchedattheOrangeMuseuminMay2017.BarryiscurrentlyupdatingthestudytoincorporatenewmaterialontheOrange-Wellingtonconnection.HewillbepresentingpapersattheISSCOconferenceinNagasaki,Japan,andatXianUniversityinChina,inNovemberthisyear.

Benjamin Mountford LaTrobeUniversity

“Bathinginfountainsoftea,frommorning‘tillnight”:AustraliaandChinabeforethegoldIntheeighteenthcentury,proponentsofanewBritishsettlementatNewSouthWalesregularlyemphasizedthebenefitsthatmightaccruetotheBritishpositioninAsiaandtotheEmpire’stradewithChina.By1800thetinyBritishbeachheadsatSydneyandCantonwerelittlemorethantenuoustoeholds,perchedattheedgeoftwoenormousandofteninhospitablelandmasses.Yettheywerealreadyconnected,partofthesamemaritimeworld.ThispaperexploressomeofthecommercialandhumanconnectionsthatdevelopedbetweenAustraliaandChinaintheyearsbeforethegoldrushes.ItplaysparticularattentiontothedreamsandambitionsofPacificpropagandistsandearlycolonialtradersregardingthepotentialfortheAustralia-Chinatradeandtothecommercialrealitiesthatemergedintheyearsbeforegold.DrBenjaminMountfordisaDavidMyersResearchFellowinHistoryatLaTrobeUniversity,Australia.BenjoinedLaTrobeinJanuary2017.HisresearchfocusesonGlobalandImperialHistory,ModernBritishHistory,andAustralianHistory.Hisfirstbook,Britain,China,&ColonialAustralia-onthecomingtogetheroftheBritishandChineseEmpiresincolonialAustralia-waspublishedbyOxfordUniversityPressin2016.From2008-15BenwasatOxford,wherehewasaRaeandEdithBennettTravellingScholar,aBeitScholarinCommonwealthandImperialHistory,aResearchAssociateattheOxfordCentreforGlobalHistory,andthefirstMichaelBrockJuniorResearchFellowinModernBritishHistory.Heisaco-founderandconveneroftheOxfordTransnationalandGlobalHistoryResearchSeminarandalifememberoftheSeniorCommonRoomatCorpusChristiCollege,Oxford.BenjaminhasheldlectureshipsinModernHistoryattheUniversityofBuckinghamandFederationUniversityAustralia.HeisnowbasedinBendigoandBallarat,twooftheregionalcentresattheheartofAustralia'sgoldrushhistory-whichisthefocusofhisnextmajorresearchproject.

Malcolm Oakes NewSouthWales

OttoKongSing:colonialsolicitorOttoKongSing(1871-1917)wasaEurasianofChinesebackgroundwhowasadmittedasasolicitorinNewSouthWaleson9March1895.HequalifiedbydoingtheAdmissionBoardexaminationsandthusfulfilledadreamofqualifyingintoaprofession.Todate,noearlierpersonofChinesedescenthasbeenidentifiedashavingbeenadmittedasasolicitororbarristerinNewSouthWales.WhileOtto’ssportingprowessasaschoolboyisrelativelywell-knownandhisprofessionisoftenidentifiedintheliterature,exactlywhereOttofittedintothesocialandprofessionalmilieuofthistimeislesswell-known.Thispaperthusseekstodetailaspectsofhisprofessionalcareer,particularlywhyandhowhe

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endedupgoingthroughacomplextwo-stepprocessofgettingadmittedtothebarinHongKongbyfirstgettinghimselfadmittedinEnglandin1902-washerespondingtotheeconomicrealityofadecliningChinesepopulationinAustraliaandtheincreasingflightofChinesecapitalandexpertisebacktoChinaandHongKongfollowingFederation?MalcolmOakesisaseniorcounselpractisingattheNewSouthWalesBarwhohasalayinterestinChinese-Australianhistory.HehaspreviouslypublishedapaperonWilliamLee,whoin1938wasthefirstbarristerofChinesedescentadmittedtotheNewSouthWalesBar-seeBarNews73,Winter2015:http://www.nswbar.asn.au/docs/webdocs/BN_022015_lee.pdf

Jason Phu Sydney

TheYoungArtists:Paperno.2JasonPhuhasbeencriticallyengagedwiththehistoriesoftheChinesediasporasincethebeginningofhisart-making.Inthispaper,whichformsonethirdofthepanel,“TheYoungArtists’,JasonPhuwilldiscusshismostrecentprojectengagingwithregionalChinesehistories,FromOldGround.Tomarkthe2015bicentenaryofBathurst,JasonPhuworkedwithresearcherMegFosterandcuratorJoannaBandriantodevelopa10-metrehand-paintedscrollwhichchronicledthelifeofSanPoo(theonlyChineseAustralianBushranger).ItsvariouslifesceneswereinspiredbyrecordskeptaboutSanPoo’slife,includingrobberiesandattacks(whichhavesincebeendeemedfictitious).Withinthispaper,JasonPhuwillalsoexploreandunpacktheappealofthisprojectandhisambitionsforthenewYoungProjectcommission–discussinghisapproachestoworkingwithregionalcommunities,miredhistoriesandencouragingproductivequestion-makingwithinandoutsidetheartgallery.JasonPhu(b.1989,Sydney)isacontemporaryartistworkingandlivinginSydney,NSW.Hisart-makingdrawsuponhisownpersonalculturalidentityasaChinese-Australianartisttocreateworksthathumorously,andoftenflippantly,tellthestoriesofdislocatedanddisassociatedChinesecommunities.GraduatingfromtheUniversityofNewSouthWales,hehashadasignificantexhibitionhistoryacrossregionalNSW,includingatTweedRiverArtGallery(2012),SwanHillRegionalGallery(2013)andBathurstRegionalGallery(2015).In2015,hewontheArtGalleryofNSW’sSirJohnSulmanPrize. Keir Reeves FederationUniversity

TheactualityoftheChineseexperienceontheVictorianGoldfieldsduringtherushesMindfulofthe2017VictoriangovernmentapologytotheChinesecommunityfortheracismandunjustpoliciestheirancestorsenduredduringAustralia'sgoldrushera,thispaperdiscussestheChineseexperienceonthecentralVictoriangoldfieldsdoingthegoldrushesspanningfromlate1851untilthe1860s.Brieflydrawingonlocalisedcasestudies,biographiesandacriticalengagementwithhistoriographicaldebatesaboutthegoldrushera,thispaperwillarguethattheactualityofeverydayculturallifeandpracticerevealsamorehistoricallycomplexandambiguousgold-seekingexperience.ProfessorKeirReevesholdsachairinAustralianHistoryatFederationUniversityAustraliawhereheisthefoundationdirectorfortheCollaborativeResearchCentreinAustralianHistory(CRCAH).PriortothatheworkedasaSeniorMonashFellowattheNationalCentreforAustralianStudiesandalsoattheUniversityofMelbournewherehewasbasedintheCulturalHeritageUnitintheformerDepartmentofHistoryasalecturerandthenasanAustralianResearchCouncilIndustryPost-DoctoralResearchFellow.Keir’scurrent

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interestsincludememorystudies,publichistory,culturalhistoryaswellasheritage(includingdifficultheritage)inAustralia,AsiaandthePacific.KeirhasbeenaSeniorVisitingFellowatKing’sCollegeLondon,ClareHall,CambridgeandtheMcDonaldInstituteforArchaeologicalResearchintheDepartmentofArchaeologyandAnthropology.HecurrentlyteacheslocalhistoryandAustralianhistoryatFederationUniversityAustraliaandwasaconvenorofthefirstDragonTailsconference,atBallaratin2009.

Karen Schamberger NationalMuseumofAustralia,Canberra

Gold,marketgardensandrace:ChineseAustralianstoriesinmuseums“Chinesecommunitydoesnotlikebeingregardedasahomogenousgroup.”Acuratorwrotethesewordsinaresearchfiletitled“ChineseCommunity”attheMuseumoftheAppliedArtsandSciences.Inthelead-uptothebicentenaryof1988,theMuseumwaspreparingtheopeningexhibitionsofitsnewvenue,thePowerhouseMuseum,andwantedtofeatureadisplayabout“TheChineseinHaymarket’.However,asthehandwrittennotesuggests,theMuseumencounteredresistancefromthepeopleitconsultedandthisdisplaydidnotgoaheadinitsintendedform.ThispaperwillexaminethewaysthatmuseumsinAustraliahaveconsciouslyworkedwithChineseAustralianstoriesintheircollectionsandexhibitssincethe1980s.WhileAustralianmuseumshavelongcollectedanddisplayedobjectsrelatingtoChineseAustralianpeople,itisonlysincethe1980swiththeintroductionofmulticulturalpoliciesthatmuseumshavesoughttoconsciouslyincludestoriesofculturallydiverseAustraliansintheirexhibitionsandcollections.ChineseAustralianswereoneofthefirstnon-BritishAustraliangroupsthatcuratorstriedtorepresent.Usingarchivalresearchconductedacrosslocal,stateandnationalinstitutionsinthesouth-eastofAustralia,Iintendtoexplorethefollowingquestions:Whosehopes,dreamsandrealitieshavebeencollectedanddisplayed?HowhaveChineseAustralianssoughttoshapetheexhibitsandcollectionsthatrepresentthem?HowhavecuratorsworkedwiththeirownhopesanddreamsforexhibitionsandcollectionsrelatingtoChineseAustralianstories?KarenSchambergerresearchesandwritesaboutAustralianmuseumsandculturaldiversity.HerPhDthesis“Identity,belongingandculturaldiversityinAustralianmuseums”examinedthewaythatobjectsmediaterelationsbetweenpeopleofculturallydiversebackgroundsinAustralianhistoryandthewaythatmuseumshaveusedtheseobjectsinprocessesofinclusionandexclusioninAustraliansociety.ShehaspreviouslyworkedincuratorialpositionsattheImmigrationMuseum,MelbourneandtheNationalMuseumofAustralia,Canberra.ShehasaparticularinterestinChineseAustralian,migrationandtransnationalhistoriesaswellasmaterialcultureandheritage. Michelle Smith GoldMuseum,SovereignHillMuseumsAssociation,Ballarat

Re-AwakeningtheDragonInthepast12monthsanextraordinaryassemblageofChineseculturalheritagehasre-emergedfromthedepthsofthecollectionstoreattheGoldMuseum,Ballarat.Inthe1960sthiscollectionwasdonatedtotheBallaratHistoricalSociety;itincludedaprocessionalassemblageandanimportantcollectionofpanelsandaltarpiecesfromtheJossHouse.ThiscollectionrepresentstheimportanceoftheChinesecommunityinBallarataswellasalatter-daywaningofculturalconnectivitytothematerial.Since1978thebulkoftheBallaratHistoricalSocietycollectionhasbeenhousedandmanagedbytheGoldMuseumatSovereignHill.On29April2017theGoldMuseumwashonouredtohaveBillMoyandCharlesZhangfromtheChineseAustralianCulturalSocietyBallaratInc'awaken'theChineseprocessionaldragonandtwolions.Theceremonywasheldtomarkthemovementofthedragonfromitscrate,wherehehadlanguishedforsome

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years,intoourspecialistcollectionstore.ThesesignificantobjectsareamongsttheoldestChineseprocessionalartefactsintheworld,datingtothelast19thcentury.Sothosearethefacts.Hereistheheart.Ourdragonhasastrongspirit—weknowthatbecausewefeltthedragon’sspiritinhabitthespacewhileBill’sdrummingsoundedandCharles’offeringswereaccepted.Itisanimportantreminderthatforsomeculturesobjectshavesoulsandthecareofthosesoulsisasimportantasthecareoftheirphysicalbeing.ThoseofuswhoworkintheGoldMuseumhavebecomeveryfondofthedragon,heis“our”dragon;butwealsoknowthatwearemerelycustodians.Inre-awakeningthedragon,theGoldMuseumiscommittedtoworkingwiththeBallaratChinesecommunityinre-connectingwiththeseimportantprocessionalandceremonialobjects.MichelleSmithisManager/SeniorCuratoroftheGoldMuseum,SovereignHillMuseumsAssociation,Ballarat.ShehasworkedinarangeofcuratorialandmanagementrolesinmuseumsacrossAustraliaforovertwentyyears,includingorganisationsinSouthAustralia,NewSouthWales,Queensland,Victoria,theNorthernTerritoryandtheAustralianCapitalTerritory. Adil Soh-Lim ChineseMuseum,Melbourne

MooncakerisingincontemporaryAustraliaTheMid-AutumnFestivalfallsonthe15thdayofthe8thlunarmonth.Duringthis,ethnicChineseandVietnamesepeoplegivethanksfortheharvest,reunitethefamily,paradelanterns,and,notably,eatmooncakes.Themooncakeitselfhassymbolicandhistoricsignificance,featuringinfolkloreandlegendsoftheTang,Song,andYuanDynasties.Traditionallyfilledwithlotusseedorredbeanpasteandexchangedbetweenfriendsandfamily,mooncakesarenowavailablewithchocolateandicecreamfillingsandelaboratepackaging.Thus,whileAustraliahasbeenimportingmooncakesasfarbackas1885(fiveboxesfromHongKongandFuzhou,listedintheBrisbaneCourier),themooncakehasgrowninprestigeandpopularitywithinthebroaderAustraliancommunityfromthe1980sthroughtothepresent.ThiscaninpartbeattributedtoAustralia’schangingdemographicsandtheeffectsofglobalisation.However,theconsumptionanddistributionpatternsofthisfoodalsoillustratetheeconomicandculturalriseofChina,anditseffectsontheChinesediasporainAustralia.Throughpublicly-availableimportdocuments,archivalmaterial,andcollectionitemsfromtheChineseMuseum,thispaperexploresthemooncake’strajectorythroughtheAustralianculturallandscape,fromafoodthatconnectsthediasporatohomelandandeachother,toawidelysought-afterdelicacyandcorporategift.AdilSoh-Limisanearly-careermuseumprofessionalwithabackgroundinpoliticalscienceandculturalmaterialconservation.HerworkwithinaChinese-Australianculturalinstitutionisinformedbyexperiencesgrowingupasafirst-generationAustralianwithChinese-SingaporeanandChinese-MalaysianfamilyactiveintheSouthAustralianChinesecommunity,aswellasbyhercurrentengagementwiththecommunityofyoungChineseAustralians,whoarebuildingtheirownlivesandcarvingplacesforthemselvesinsociety.Sheenjoysdiscoveringnewstoriesthroughmaterialculture,engagingwithandlearningfromresearchersofallbackgrounds,andeatingmooncakeinsmallquantities.

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Anne Tong UniversityofSydney

That’snot“real”Chinesefood:Exploringthe(in)authenticitiesofChinese-AustralianrestaurantsDoreenYenHungFengpointsoutinherbookTheJoyofChineseCooking,whereverthereismorethanoneChinesefamilyinacityortownabroad,therewillalmostinevitablybeaChineserestaurantinthevicinity.TheubiquitousnatureofChineseeateriesmaybevisibleintheirsprawlingpresence;markedlyentangledinbothcasualandfinediningparadigmsacrossAustralia.Whatfactorsframeourtemporalunderstandingof“authenticity”inChinesefood?Wheredowesternisedadaptationsandhybridisedfusioncookingsitontheschemataofculinaryauthenticity?Finally,doesauthenticitycomedowntotherecipe,thechef’sbackground,orthefeddemographic?Inunpackingthesequestions,IaimtohighlighttheamorphousnatureofChinesecuisines.ThisdefiningcharacteristicisexemplaryofinnovativeandadaptivestrategiesemployedbymembersoftheChinese-Australiandiasporiccommunity;itisbothcircumstantialandsymptomatic.Assuch,IargueagainstpopulardiscoursesthatrelegateWesternisedChinesemenuitemstothe(non)categoryofinauthenticity.Rather,IsuggestwheninthehandsofChineseproprietors,theseculinaryadaptationsandcuratedaestheticsaredrivenfromaspaceofagency.Iwilldrawonpersonalexperiences—fromworkingalongsidemyownmotherinarestaurantontheNSWCentralCoast—andpullfromstoriessharedbyotherChinese-Australiandiasporicmembers.Throughsharingtheseinsights,Iintendtotrackadiasporicgenealogyoffood,eatingandrestaurantphilosophies.Connectingthesenarratologiestoviewsfromthebroaderculinaryworld,Iwilldigestcommentaryfromcontemporaryfoodwritersandcritics.Ultimately,IhopetoimbricatevoicesfromtheChinese-Australiandiasporainmystudytogenerateandfosternewunderstandingsofthecoexistenceoffoodasidentity,andfoodascommodity.AnneTongisawriterandradioproducer.Sheisasecond-generationChinese-Australianwomanwhogrewupontheperi-urbancoastsofNSWonDarkinjungland.Growingupinaculturallyhomogenoustown,muchofthoseexperienceshaveshapedherlaterwork.ShenowlivesandworksintheculturallydiversecityofSydney,onCadigal/Wangallands.Drawinguponherworking-classrootsanddiasporicexperiences,herwritingishighlypersonalandcentresonsocialjusticeissues.Shegrappleswithconceptsofbelonging,assimilation,feminism,andintra-culturalcommunication.Hercurrentresearchinvolvesexploringandquestioningthe"authenticity"ofChinese-Australianfood.

Bonnie Wildie NewSouthWales

Seeingconnections:usingnetworkdiagramstoexplorethehistoriesofChinesepeopleinlatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturyParramattaThispaperpresentsanoverviewoftheuseofanetworkdiagramtovisualiseconnectionsbetweenChinesepeopleandthebroaderParramattacommunityinthelatenineteenthandearlytwentiethcenturyperiod.Theuseofanetworkdiagramallowsforthevisualisationofrelationships,and,asappliedtothiscase,revealsthesocialandpowerrelationsthatexistedwithintheParramattacommunityduringtheperiod.Trackingtheserelationshipsovertimerevealshowpowerstructuresandrelationshipsshiftandbend,andilluminatestheamorphousnatureofcommunity.ByfocusingonSingChoy,marketgardener,greengrocerandinterpreter,thenetworkdiagramprovidesavisualisationofthelinkagesbetweenChoyandthegreatercommunity,revealingindividualstoriesofhopeandambition,ofritualandceremony,ofhostility,violenceandloss,andofsurveillancebygovernmentundertheWhiteAustraliaPolicy.ByvisualisingtheParramattacommunityasanetworkmadeupofindividualsandtheinteractionsandrelationshipsbetweenthem,acommonalityofexperienceamongtheindividualstoriesisrevealed.

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BonnieWildieisanhistorian,librarianandarchivistwhoispassionateaboutcommunicatinghistoryandheritagetothebroadercommunity.Shealsodabblesinthedigitalhumanities,andsearchesfornewandinnovativemethodsthatmightchallengetraditionalnotionsofhistoricalresearchandinformationaccess.BonniehasworkedatseveralofNewSouthWales’premierculturalheritageinstitutions.HerresearchinterestsincludetherolesofwomeninAustralianhistory,andlocalhistorieswithafocusonuncoveringthevoicesofminorities.

Andrew Wong (with Patricia Monaghan Jamieson) Melbourne

WayLee(1852-1909):AustraliaandChinatrading—thenandnowWayLeewasawell-knownChineseAustralianinSouthAustralia.HehadanofficialtitlefromtheQinggovernmentasatradeambassadorandremarriedandsettledinthecolonyofSouthAustraliain1880s.WayLeewaswelleducatedandcamefromamerchantclassinDongguancounty.HisfamilylineagedatesbackathousandyearsandincludedsomemajorhistoricalfiguresintheChinesehistory.WayLeehadavisionfortheChinesepeopleinthecolonyandinthenewFederation.HesawtheChinesehavingamajorroleinthedevelopmentofagriculture,commerceandtradeandactivelylobbiedfortheinterestsofChinesemigrants,expandedtraderelationshipsaswellascommercialinvestmentsinagriculturalbusinesses.ThiswasbeforetheWhiteAustraliapolicy,theriseandfallofdynasties,thePacific,KoreanandVietnamwars,thecloseddoorinternationalpolicyoftheearlyyearsoftheChinagovernment,andthegrowthofeconomicpoweroftheAsiacountries,especiallyChina.Acenturyon,Australiaisaverydifferentplace.ThispresentationwillcontrasttheworldthatWayLeesawin1900swithAustraliatoday.Itwilldrawuponresearchconductedbyhisgreatgrand-daughter,PatriciaMonaghan-Jamieson,aswellastheauthor’sfieldresearchinDongguancounty–WayLee’shomevillage.PatriciaMonaghan-Jamiesonwillprovideanopeningintroductionviarecordedvideo.AndrewWongisanamateurfamilyhistorian,withdigitalandbilingualskills.Hisworkfocusesonlanguagetranslation,namematching,fieldresearch,oralhistory,andtabletandheadstonesresearch.Andrewisadigitalmarketerbyprofessionandpublisheshisfamilytreeresearchinablog:chineseancestor.org

Liu Shueng Wong TheVentnorProject,Wellington,NewZealand

TheSSVentnorincident:ships,bones,andMaori-ChineseconnectionsInthelate1800s,Chinesewhodiedinacountryotherthantheirhomevillagehadtheirbonessenthomeastheirfinalrestingplace.ThispracticeoccurredintheUSA,Canada,AustraliaandNewZealand.InNewZealand,however,tragedystruckwhentheSSVentnorsunkoffthecoastofNewZealandalongwithitscargoof500bonecoffins.ThesinkingoftheSSVentnorisawell-knownmarinedisasterinwhich13liveswerelost.However,whathappenedafterthesinkingandoncesomeofthecoffinsandmanyoftheboneswerewashedashoreisalsosignificant.Someofthecoffinsfloatedtothesurfaceandboneswereleftonthebeach—thesewerecollectedbyMaoriwhounderstoodtheimportanceofhonouringthedead.Thispaperexplorestheaftermathoftheevent,acknowledgingthepartMaorihaveplayedinthisstory.ItalsodiscussesprojectsconnectedtotheVentnorProject,includingthedevelopmentofasix-sitetouristtrail,“WanderingwithAncestors’.

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WongLiuShuengistheProjectManagerfortheSSVentnorproject,ledbytheNewZealandChineseAssociationwithassistancefromtheTungJungAssociationandthePoonFahAssociation.SheisaproudChinese-NewZealander—hergreat-grandfatherarrivedinNewZealandinthe1870sandhergrandfatherin1896,whilesheandbothofherparentswereborninNewZealand.LiuShuengcurrentlylivesinAucklandandalsohasahouseinRawenewithcloseaccesstothe“WanderingwithAncestors”trail.

John Young TheYoungProject,Melbourne

TheYoungArtists:Paperno.3Inthe1990s,JohnYoungbeganartisticallyengagingwithhisownChineseculturalperspectives,creatingartworksthatinterrogatethestructuresofWesternhistory,identity,representationandmeaning.HavingleftMaoistChinain1967tostudyinAustralia,Young’sworkisimbuedwithasenseofurgency–communicatingknowledgeandexchangethroughhispatchworkofco-optedimages.Itwasthroughthisexperimentation(whichcontinuestoday)thathebecameoneofthemostprominentandcriticallyengagedartistsdialingintothePaulineHansondrivendiscussionofAustralian-Chineseculturalpoliticsofthe1990sandagainmorerecently.Inthispaper,whichformsonethirdof“TheYoungArtists”panel,JohnYoungwillexploreandunpackhisworkinre-interpretingandretellingChineseculturalperspectives.Hewillthenexploreandunpacktheappealofthishistoricalprojectandhisambitionsforthenew“YoungProject”commission–discussinghisapproachestoworkingwithregionalcommunities,miredhistoriesandencouragingproductivequestionmakingwithinandoutsidetheartgallery.JohnYoung(b.1956,HongKong)isanAustralian-HongKongartistlivingandworkinginMelbourne.Young’sartmakingspansover4decades,creatingsignificantbodiesofworkwhichhavebeenshownacrossAsia,EuropeandAustralia.HisexhibitionsinAustraliainclude:ArtGalleryofWesternAustralia(1993),TarraWarraMuseumofArt(2005-06)andDrillHallGallery,Canberra(2013).