Chinese settlement in Australia

Chinese migration to Australia has been shaped by restrictive laws and shifting social attitudes.

During the gold rush of the 19th century, many Chinese miners travelled to Australia to work on the goldfields. Their presence in large numbers led to tensions with European miners. While many returned to China after the gold rush, others stayed and took up occupations such as market gardening.

The Immigration Restriction Act 1901, a key part of the White Australia policy, severely limited Chinese migration for much of the 20th century. It wasn’t until after World War II that Chinese migration gradually increased—first through the repatriation of wartime refugees, then through sponsored workers and, by the 1960s, non-sponsored students. The sponsorship-based migration system made it difficult for family groups to settle together in Australia.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Chinese restaurants and food outlets became more common in both suburban and regional areas. During this period, Chinese Australians became increasingly integrated into Australian society—through residence, intermarriage, employment and social life.

Chinese-language newspapers in Australia 

Chinese communities in Australia have a long history of publishing newspapers in their own language. While some were produced as early as the 1850s and 1860s, Chinese-language newspapers became more prominent from the 1890s to the 1940s. 

These publications offer valuable insights into community life, identity and concerns. Through news articles, editorials, advertisements and shipping timetables, they provide a cultural snapshot of how Chinese Australians viewed their place in Australian society. The language used in these newspapers often reflects the Cantonese origins of many Chinese migrants during this period. 

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