Year 9 Urban Systems Project – by Mei Ting Rao
CHINESE IMMIGRATION
HOW DID THE CHINESE IMMIGRANTS
CHANGE SOCIETY IN MELBOURNE AND
RICHMOND?
Sets up business and trade
 Introduces cultural traditions and customs
 Establishes Chinatown
 Sets up language schools, speciality stores,
restaurants, organisations
 Richmond – late twentieth century became
central shopping/grocery district

WHY DID THEY ARRIVE?

Along with thousands other immigrants, the Chinese
flocked to Australia after the discovery of gold in
Australia in 1851. By 1858, the Chinese in Australia
had peaked at 42,000, which quadrupled over the
next four decades.
WHAT DID THEY BRING WITH THEM?

The Chinese brought their customs and traditional
cuisine to Australia. Many restaurants were opened in
Melbourne which pushed the popularity for Asian food.
The Chinese continued to celebrate traditional festivals
and adapted festival customs to suit their living
conditions in Australia.
WHAT SETBACKS DID THEY
FACE?

Some of the Chinese became
extremely rich due to their
success with the gold rush,
which attracted jealousy and
discrimination from other
nationalities living in
Australia. The Chinese kept
arriving in Australia in search
of a new life from oppressive
imperial rule back in China
from the Qing dynasty.
Chinese immigrants being
questioned by customs
IMMIGRATION RESTRICTION
ACT

In 1901, the Australian
Federation occurred to break
from British Rule. The ‘White
Australia Policy’ became
enforced to reduce the flow of
non-European immigrants that
arrived in Australia by the
means of language testing.
The number of Chinese
dwindled and their social
network became greatly
reduced.
REMOVAL OF IMMIGRATION ACTS

The Chinese people already
settled in Australia formed
protests against prejudice. A
number of wealthy merchants
and a Chinese missionary joined
together to publish a document
called The Chinese question in
Australia, which called for
people to recognise the
Chinese’s contribution to the
development of Melbourne’s
society. Immigrants once again
became encouraged after the
catastrophes of the two world
wars.
The Chinese Question in Australia displayed in
Melbourne Immigration Centre
CHINATOWN

The first boarding houses in
Little Bourke Street were
recorded in 1855, but the
street gradually became a
regular stop for miners
stopping to replenish their
supplies before heading off
to work. Many stores
became opened to cater for
these miners and more
Chinese began to gather in
this district
Children in the house doorway
CHINATOWN
1960’s Little Bourke Street
2000’s Little Bourke Street
CHINATOWN – 4 ERA COMPARISON
CHINATOWN (CONTINUED)

Chinese organisations
placed their headquarters in
Chinatown and the place
thrived with storekeepers,
importers, furniture makers,
herbalists, fruit and
vegetable wholesalers and
restaurant keepers.
Chinatown became an
important residential area
for the settlers as well as a
key economic and social hub
in Melbourne.
Chinese Gospel Hall
THE CHINESE IN RICHMOND (EARLY 1900’S)

In Richmond, the Chinese were most noted for their supply of
fresh food and groceries. Many Chinese people owned the
surrounding market gardens. Flowers, vegetables and fruits
were produced on small squares of land that were directly sold
to customers. Market gardens gradually closed as the land
required for infrastructure and road constructions.
THE CHINESE IN RICHMOND ( LATE 1900’S)

After the removal of the Immigration Restriction
Policies in 1972, business returned to all
suburbs and Richmond became a concentrated
area for Asian groceries. Many Chinese
immigrants were employed as workers in the
factories along the Yarra River. Richmond
remained a widely popular shopping district
until it was overtaken by other suburbs such as
Preston and Boxhill.
CHINESE IN MODERN-DAY MELBOURNE

Today, the number of people with Chinese
backgrounds in Melbourne sits at around
200,000 and continues to grow rapidly. Many
Chinese people arrive in Australia arrive as
students or skilled immigrants, meaning they
have received high level of tertiary education or
possess some form of professional skills.
CHINESE CUISINE

Chinese food is one of the most popular cuisines across the
world. The most well-known form of traditional Chinese
cuisine in Western countries is Canton Yum Cha. Chinese
food is popular for its exotic taste and diverse range.
Countless Chinese restaurants and fast food franchise are
opened across Melbourne.
CHINATOWN MODERN DAY

Chinatown is a popular tourist
resort in Melbourne. The ‘Facing
Heaven’ archway in the
entrances of Chinatown are
replicas of the same gate in
Nanjing Province back in China.
The traditional styled
architecture in Chinatown have
been well preserved today. Many
well-known restaurants are
situated in Melbourne, such as
Shark Fin and Dragon Boat. The
Museum of Chinese Australian
History was opened in 1905 and
still remains standing in Cohen
Place.
CHINATOWN RESTAURANTS
AUSTRALIAN-BORN-CHINESE

Many children descended from first and second
generation attend Chinese language schools to study
Chinese as their second language for VCE. Cultural fairs
are often held in the districts of Preston, Boxhill and the
Melbourne CBD to celebrate traditional festivals such as
the Chinese New Year, the Lantern Festival and the Moon
Festival.
CONCLUSION

The presence of the Chinese people have greatly
contributed to Melbourne’s society. They have
enhanced Australia’s multicultural diversity and
united with all the other nationalities.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Websites:
• http://www.chia.chinesemuseum.com.au/biogs/CH00015b.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_immigration_to_Australia
• www.chaf.lib.latrobe.edu.au/education/history.htm
Books:
American Geographical Society: China – Around the World Program by
Theodore Herman, published by Nelson Doubleday, Inc 1966,
printed in the United States of America
Visits/ interview:
Immigration Museum, Melbourne
The Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne