The Chinese Imperial Commissioner, Hwang How Cheng, visited Australia at the request of the Chinese Emperor for the purpose of establishing Chinese consulates in the Commonwealth. He visited Ballarat at the request of Ballarat’s Chinese community. The newspaper reported that it was hoped the Commissioner would visit the Ballarat School of Mines “where the knowledge he would get would probably be of the utmost usefulness in the development of the great resources of China.” The Commissioner was accompanied by interpreter Ah Ket (Melbourne barrister and solicitor), and met by members of Ballarat’s Chinese community, including Dr Wong Chock Son. Apparently the Chinese Commissioner wanted to visit SMB because of its international fame relating to education in mining. From the SMB Letter book (Cat. No. 436) comes the following which suggests the Commissioner was based in Adelaide) '17th November 1906 His Excellency, Hwang How Cheng Chinese Commission Adelaide May it please your Excellency By this post I have the pleasure in forwarding for your Excellency's kind acceptance (and one for Mr. When) copies of the photograph taken of your recent visit to the School of Mines. I trust they will serve a pleasing memento of what, I hope, was a pleasant visit to our Golden City. Yours Faithfully Fredk Martell Director' The visit was reported in the Ballarat Star in 14 November 1906:- The Chinese Imperial Commissioner, Hwang Hon Cheng, who recently arrived in Victoria on behalf of the Chinese Government, paid a visit to Ballarat last evening, and was entertained by his fellow countrymen at a dinner at the Bow Leong rooms, Main street. The commissioner, who came up by the express, was accompanied by his secretary and Mr Ah Ket, the well-known Chinese barrister, of Melbourne; but some disappointment was expressed by the fact that he did not wear his official robes, being attired in the more sombre European dress. Mr W. D. M’Kee presided at the dinner, on the invitation of the Bow Leong Society, and in addition to representative Chinese residents, three were also present the mayor of the city (Cr. J. J. Brokenshire), Crs. R. Pearse, G. Crocker (City), J. R. Elsworth, A. Mackenzie, J. A. M’Neil, A. Levy, G. Bunting, F. Penhalluriack (Town), Col. Williams, Mr. J. Gent, Messrs. F. J. Martell (director of the School of Mines), A. W. Hager (president of the Orphan Asylum), A. Kenny (superintendent), R. G. Fitzgerald (clerk of courts at Ballarat East), J. Trethowan, A. A. Buley, Serg Dalton, and others. Apologies were received from the mayor of the town Revs. J. West Lau, Dr Cairns, Hon. J. Y. M’Donald, L. Lederman, C. C. Shoppee and others. The gathering was a very cordial one, and the hospitality of the Chinese was greatly appreciated. After the loyal toasts, “The King” and “The Emperor of China,” had been honoured, the chairman extended a hearty welcome on behalf of the society and others to the commissioner. Mr M’Kee said he was privileged to speak in behalf of the Chinese. There was a warm feeling of friendship between them and himself, and his services were always at their command. If he were in China he would desire that a similar compliment would be extended to him. They were all pleased the Emperor of China had sent the commissioner to establish consulates in Australia with a view of the empire understanding the feelings of Australasia better than they did at present. He hoped the commissioner would have opportunity of visiting some of their industries, as they desired him to gain all the scientific and practical knowledge of those industries that he could. The toast of “The Commissioner” was proposed by Col. Williams who expressed pleasure at the visit of a gentleman of education and attainments to look into the condition of the scions of China in Australia. He hoped the commissioner would carry away a correct impression. In Australia they had nothing to conceal; they hoped to be understood. (Applause.) No intelligent man had the temerity to condescend to patronise China, one of the richest countries in the world, with a civilisation dating back thousands of years. In the matter of population alone it was equal to one-third of the world. They heard a lot about the “awakening of China.” They hoped it would be humane, just, and considerate if it had power. He hoped the commissioner would be satisfied with what he saw. The law of filial relation to the children was strictly observed in China, and he did not know whether it would not be a good thing if they had a little more of that religion here. It would be a fair thing to tell the commissioner that while he might inquire into the labour laws, the basis of these laws was not a desire to oppress but to enable every man to obtain the same conditions they expected from their own people. If he gained that impression he felt they would be fairly treated. (Applause.) Mayor Brokenshire supported the toast. They had, he said, in the Chinese a most law-abiding people. Their behaviour was an example to the British citizens. They were quiet, inoffensive men, and they toiled hard, even on Sundays. (Laughter.) Mr Ah Ket; That is what the government does with the railway employees. (Laughter.) The Commissioner replied through Mr Ah Ket, who in a graceful speech acknowledged the toast. The commissioner had, he said been delighted with what he had seen of the country – he believed it to be one of the finest in the world – and he greatly appreciated the hospitality extended to him. (Applause.) The Chairman proposed the toast of “The health of Mr Ah Ket,” and paid a tribute to his ability. It was satisfactory to see that he had risen to such a position, and it might be that in the future he would be asked to occupy a position on the bench. (Applause.) Mr Ah Ket, in response, said he had not come prepared to make a speech. He had come to Ballarat to have a quiet evening with his friends, and as soon as he arrived he had been whirled away in a motor car to a place where he found an aggregation of East and West. He was pleased to see them commingled at the festive board. That suggested the idea that East and West could meet together without friction. Misunderstandings arose only because men were superficial. If they threw off outer garments they would know each other better. He looked forward to the time when nations would understand each other. It was by an interchange of visits that such things could be accomplished, and nations would then live at peace with each other. (Applause.) Other toasts were also honored. Twelve men pose for a photograph on the stairs of a building at the Ballarat School of Mines. Back row left to right: A.D. Gilchrist (Prof. of Engineering), B. Whittington (Mathematics, Physics), Thomas S. Hart (Prof. of Geology and Mining), J.M. Sutherland (Electrical Engineering) Front row left to right: Dr Wong Chock Son (Ballarat), Fred. J. Martell, Alfred Mica Smith, Ah Ket esq (Melbourne Barrister), His Excellency Hwang How Cheng (Chinese Commissioner), Wen Esq (Secretary), Alderman Grase (mayor of Brisbane), Grase Esq (Ballarat).ballarat school of mines, alfred mica smith, fred martell, j m sutherland, a d gilchrist, b whittington, thomas hart, wong chock son, ah ket, hwang how cheng, chinese, chinese commissioner, international, new classrooms, administration building, a building

Ghost towns of the mountain goldfields in VictoriaPaperback. Cover has a drawing depicting horses, both ridden and pack, walking along a forest track on their way to a small town. There are heavily forested mountains in the distance. Overlaid onto the drawing is a modern photograph of an old stone building. In the foreground is a green timber building with a water tank and verandah. It is all set in the clearing in the middle of a forest.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779 Also the inscription: To Alma / Thanks for your help / Signature / LS / November 1999gold, gold mining, gold town, ghost town, victoria, australia, history

A history of the goldfields and mineral districts of VictoriaHardcover. Front cover has an illustration of a miner standing next to a hole in the ground which is surrounded by logs. He is standing on top of a platform made out of planks of wood and he is turning a handle on a hand winch to bring up a bucket.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold mining, gold mine, mineral resources, victoria, australia, history, robert brough smyth

Four page Ballarat newspaper written in English and Chinesechinese, ballarat, robert bell, ballarat hospital, c. morris, undertaker, samuel sloan, euang cgung and co., william henry foster, j. howell, t. dean, george gray, c.h. herrring, thomas slater, r. davidson, j.s. robertson, j.r. grundys, j.t. jackson, john t. shew, william t. jackson, w.f. heinecke & co, thomas lang, m. jordain, dentist, j.j. baird, chinese protector, bakery hill, american sgtove depot, a.a. surplice, tobacco, carpenters, john t. shaw, dead horse gully, boots and shoes

Recollections by Richard Mackay of the early history of the Gippsland goldfieldsPaperback. Cover is green. Front cover has a sepia photograph of a drawing with the caption 'Walhalla in its heyday. Back cover has a photograph of an old building with a sign on it that says 'Copper Mine Hotel'. There is a man standing in front of the building. In the foreground is a four wheel drive vehicle.Stamp of the Marysville & District Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779gold, gold fields, gold miner, gold mining, gold town, gippsland, victoria, australia, history, jamieson, sale, omeo, big river, wood's point, matlock, jericho, aberfeldy, donnelly's creek, walhalla

Black and white photo of Group at Indo-Chinese Elderly Association. Nguyen, Say, Mathews, Race, Arrowsmith, Valda, Nguyen , Lien Kim, Indo-Chinese Elderly Associationnguyen, say, mathews, race, arrowsmith, valda, lien kim, indo-chinese elderly association

Probably made by Keith Rash Paper rubbings taken from the Chinese Joss House at Ballarat.chinese, keith rash, joss house, frottage, rubbing

A Chinese man wears a yoke with a basket of vegetables at each end.chinese, vegetable seller, yoke

Information about Western Victorian goldfields towns, including Ballarat, with sketches.64 p., illus.ballarat, victorian goldfields

Family History Research in the Central Goldfields of Victoria was published by BHS Publishing and written by Dorothy Wickham. family history, dorothy wickham

This site was used as a burial ground from 1855 (about) to 1859. European and Chinese pioneers rest here. The Bendigo Chinese Society Honouring the memory of their Countrymen, fenced the site, 1928. Population of Vaughan 1859, 13000vaughan, vaughan springs, vaughan chinese cemetery, chinese

This site was used as a burial ground from 1855 (about) to 1859. European and Chinese pioneers rest here. The Bendigo Chinese Society Honouring the memory of their Countrymen, fenced the site, 1928 Population of Vaughan 1859, 13000vaughan, vaughan springs, vaughan chinese cemetery, chinese

This site was used as a burial ground from 1855 (about) to 1859. European and Chinese pioneers rest here. The Bendigo Chinese Society Honouring the memory of their Countrymen, fenced the site, 1928 Population of Vaughan 1859, 13000vaughan, vaughan springs, vaughan chinese cemetery, chinese

Donald Clark Collection. A monochrome photograph depicting miners on the Waanyarra Goldfields in 1902. Main trio: Standing right is Robert Scholes, seated is George Lockett. Other subjects names not known. Notice on tree is for Waanyarra Boxing Day Sports, 1902. Copy photograph. mining, gold

Small grey plate with two gold [Chinese?] dragons in a wooden frame with gold mount.plate, gold dragons, wooden frame, gold mount, square, gift

John Deason born 1829 on island of Tresco in the Scilly Isles. 1841 worked in Cornish tin mine. 1851 married Meg Davis, along with Richard Oates travelled to Bendigo Goldfields. By 1858 Meg and the four children were dead. John married Catherine McAndrew 28 October 1858. Left the Bendigo Goldfields for Bulldog Gully Moliagul. Discovered the Welcome Stranger nugget 5 February 1869. Newspaper article from The Bendigo Monthly October 2020 Page 25, Includes copies of photographs and other newspaper articles within the story. Story of John Deason, and the discovery of the Welcome Stranger Gold Nugget.

Digitised video (2.66GB) Duration: 51 minutes. Recorded August, 2022 (Video is available for viewing at Ringwood & District Historical Society Archives by appointment)Presenter: Louise Blake is a writer and historian with an interest in the stories of women, families, and communities on the nineteenth-century goldfields in Australia and New Zealand. Inspired by her family connection to the gold mining settlement of Woods Point, Louise completed a PhD on Women and Community on the Upper Goulburn Goldfields in north-east Victoria in 2019. In this talk Louise will share her research on Lawrence and Esther Chubb, who lived and worked at Gaffneys Creek on the Upper Goulburn Goldfields in the 1870s and 80s. In a series of letters Lawrence wrote to his family in England, and now held by the State Library of Victoria, Lawrence shared his early struggles as an independent miner on the central Victorian goldfields, his protracted courtship with Esther, the ordinary intimacies of their life at Gaffneys Creek, the work that Esther did to support the family in this remote mining region, as well as the material and emotional support provided by and to family, friends and neighbours. A rare and revealing source, these letters help to expand our understanding of the lived experience of mining families, particularly the work that women did to sustain families and communities, in this period of waged labour and tribute mining in Victoria.

29.7 cm, 68 pages, cemeteries, conservation, restoration

This banner was one of five banners gifted to the Beechworth Chinese community in recognition of their support of the Hospital and Benevolent Asylum in 1875, from the Carnival Committee. These banners had been purchased in China by a social envoy from Beechworth then presented to the Chinese community during the Beechworth Fine Arts Exhibition in May of that same year, by Donald Fiddes, President of the Ovens District Hospital. The Burke Museum's Chinese Collection presents the history of Chinese settlement in Beechworth from 1856 and its involvement in local community affairs in the second half of the 19th century. In settling in the area they formed their own community with distinctive Chinese cultural traditions, forming their own 'camps' with laid out streets, housing a Temple, Chinese Theatre and restaurants, hotels, stores, gambling houses and dwellings. Members of the Chinese community took an active interest in town affairs and were generous donors to the appeal to build the Ovens District Hospital in 1856/7. The vibrant colours and dynamic graphics of the silk embroidered Chinese banners were a highlight of Beechworth Charitable processions that took place in the main street. Two of the Chinese banners were conserved for the Burke Museum in 2006 by Carol Campbell of Phoenix Conservation Services with funding from Victoria’s Heritage Grants. In 2015, with the enormous support of the Copland Foundation and fundraising activities by the Friends of the Bur Museum Committee, conservation of the third banner was undertaken by Artlab Australia in Adelaide. The banners display traditional Chinese textile techniques and are visually beautiful and very rare and are considered of local and national significance, with the potential to be deemed internationally significant.Multi panelled banner with embroidery and applied design motifs on front. Back panel is painted design of two men. The front panels have been constructed using strips of various weaves and colours of silk that have been embroidered or had a design applied prior to the overall construction of the piece. The embroidery is predominantly gold work with both plyed and floss silk threads. Silk macrame fringe and tassels to central panel and padded lotus and bowl motif hanging tassel from side panels. Velvet lettering applied to front "CHINA" CHINA /beechworth, burke museum, chinese, benevolent asylum, ovens district hospital, beechworth carnival processions, carnival, processions, beechworth chinese community, beechworth fine arts exhibition, donald fiddes

Goldfields jewellery was made by mater jeweller Wayne Phillipson and was a range of jewellery such as the Eureka Flag, gold picks and shovels. It was made in 9 ct gold and sterling silver.

The Goldfields Print Award was conducted and sponsored by the Ballarat College of Advanced Education (later Federation University Australia) in conjunction with the Ballarat Fine Art Gallery. 1988 was the inaugural award.goldfields print award, ballarat college of advanced education, printmaking, ballarat fine art gallery, art gallery of ballarat, available

Laminated photograph of staff and students on stairs outside a building. The are probably University of Ballarat nursing students in Chinachina, nursing, alumni

Small gold glittered plate with gold [Chinese?] dragon in a wooden frame with brown mount with corner scrolls.Fuzhou Universityplate, gold dragons, wooden frame, brown mount, square, chinese dragon, souvenir