By the early 1850s, news of a gold rush in Australia had reached southern China, sparking an influx in Chinese migration to Australia. It is thought that approximately 7000 Chinese people came to work at the Araluen
Gold rush, the 1850s–1860s
The period of the 1850s to 1860s witnessed the largest pre-federation Chinese migration to Australia. Since gold was discovered in Australia in 1851, the news was quick to spread internationally and reached southern China.
During the nineteenth century an increasing number of Chinese came to Australia fleeing civil disorder, famine and floods and as labour following the cessation of convict transportation. Settlers were also attracted by the discovery of gold in Australia, especially in the state of Victoria.
The 1850s gold rush attracted many Chinese people to Australia in search of fortune. In this scene, diggers methodically search for gold using various devices and techniques.
In the 1850s, Chinese workers migrated to the United States, first to work in the gold mines, but also to take agricultural jobs, and factory work, especially in the garment industry.
The Chinese immigrants were mainly peasant farmers who left home because of economic and political troubles in China. Most intended to work hard, make a lot of money, and then return to their families and villages as wealthy men.
At that time, war, famine, and a poor economy in southeastern China caused many Chinese men to come to America. Most of them hoped to find great wealth and return to China.
The Chinese name for Australia has four characters (澳大利亚) and is written in Pinyin and pronounced using Mandarin (or “Putonghua”) as Aodaliya (Ao-da-li-ya).
In a book titled 1421: The Year China Discovered the World Gavin Menzies claims that in the 1420's several fleets of Chinese ships sailed around the world, making contact with many countries before Europeans explored them, including Australia.
Since 2009 the lowest increase in Chinese net migration occurred in 2012 with an increase of just over 15 thousand new migrants. By comparison, in 2017, Chinese net migration reached 50 thousand.
As a result, Indians now account for 2.8% of the population, compared with China's 2.3%, while Britons lead with 3.8%. Yet reflecting the distortions of the pandemic, the proportion of Australia's population who are overseas-born actually edged down to 29.1% in 2021 from 29.8% a year earlier.
Like the fireworks on Sydney Harbour every 31 December, Chinese New Year is one of the most colourful events on the global calendar. The ABS's most recent Estimated Resident Population figures show that there are 526,040 Australian residents born in China, up from 387,420 over the previous five years.
Both Aboriginal oral histories and the archaeological record shows the Chinese drove Australia's first global trade in the Asia-Pacific well before the first fleet's arrival. Oral histories tell of direct contact between Chinese and Yolngu people.
The Chinese were not always welcome in Australia and were constantly reminded of their allegedly inferior status. The most commonly cited acts of discrimination and prejudice against the Chinese in Australia were the Lambing Flat riots of 1860 and 1861.
There are now some 1.4 million people with Chinese ancestry living in Australia, comprising 5.5% of the population. 1 According to the 2021 census, of Australia's top five ancestries, the only group to have grown since the last census in 2016 was Australians with Chinese ancestry.
The earliest Chinese contact with Australia appears to have come from fishermen searching the north-western coastline of Australia for sandalwood, bêche-de-mer (trepang) and sea cucumbers. Chinese sources refer to a 1477 map that shows the outline of the Australian continent.
Makasar traded with Aboriginal people for trepang (sea cucumber), which they boiled down, dried on their boats and traded with China where it is still used for food and medicine. The Makasar did not settle in Arnhem Land but they did have an influence on the Yolŋu people's society and ritual.
China is Australia's greatest two-way trading partner in products and services, making up close to one-third of the nation's international trade, as per the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Commerce. Australia, on the other hand, is China's fifth biggest source of imports and 10th largest export market.
Today, the term "Asian Australian" is widely accepted and used to refer to people of Asian descent who are citizens or residents of Australia, though its usage and meaning may vary within the Asian Australian community.
After Dutch navigators charted the northern, western and southern coasts of Australia during the 17th Century this newly found continent became known as 'New Holland'. It was the English explorer Matthew Flinders who suggested the name we use today.
At the 2021 census, the most commonly nominated ancestries were: English (21.8%) Australian (20.4%) Chinese (11.6%)
It was the first significant law restricting immigration into the United States. In the spring of 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Chester A. Arthur. This act provided an absolute 10-year ban on Chinese laborers immigrating to the United States.
Thailand has the largest overseas Chinese community and is also the most successful case of assimilation, with many claiming Thai identity. For over 400 years, Thai Chinese have largely intermarried and/or assimilated with their compatriots.
Between the period of 1927–1949, some Republic of China citizens were forced to emigrate because of insecurity, lack of food and lack of business opportunity due to Chinese Civil War and Second Sino-Japanese War.