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Many Chinese migrated to Australia after the 1849 Californian gold rushed. Those who left China to discover gold in Australia, came with a great advantage in experience. |
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Many Chinese migrated to Australia after
the 1849 Californian gold rushed. Those who left China to
discover gold in Australia, came with a great advantage in
experience.
The Chinese were the biggest non-European
group at the goldfields. They were not very welcome as their dress
and habits were different from the other diggers. The average Chinese
miner could live on less, withstand worse conditions and remain
patient longer than diggers of other nationalities. They could work
all day waist deep in water. They were often extremely secretive
about their success.
European miners grew increasingly hostile towards the Chinese. They accused them of opium smoking and wasting water. The Chinese miners remained passive as hostility rose against them. This hostility exploded, and anti-Chinese riots developed. In Victoria, in 1857, 22 Chinese were killed as a result of these riots. In New South Wales, in 1861, two more Chinese were killed in further riots.
The government soon passed laws against the Chinese. The South Australian government issued bans and made the them pay taxes.
Chinese walking towards the goldfields
For more
information on the Chinese visit :
http://www.netc.net.au/edu/gold/Gold(5).html#The
Chinese
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