Our Different Cultures - Chinese
The Chinese have made a major contribution to the establishment, survival, development and prosperity of Australia's Northern Territory.
The first 186 Chinese arrived in the Port of Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory, in 1874 aboard the SS Vidar from Singapore.
With the discovery of gold in the Northern Territory, labour was needed and Chinese were recruited as European labour could not be attracted to the region. The first Chinese in the Northern Territory were contracted to the government for 2 years. They worked as cooks, gardeners and labourers in the gold fields and on the Overland Telegraph Line.
The Chinese were given opportunities as free agents on the gold fields. Soon word spread in China about the opportunities available, and more people began to arrive. By the 1930's Chinese businesses dominated the Darwin economy, but many were destroyed when Darwin was bombed in World War II.
The Chinese community grew steadily after the war, moving into all areas of commerce and agriculture. The Chinese community founded the Chung Wah Society in 1949. It was destroyed by Cyclone Tracey in 1974, but was rebuilt on the same site. Today it houses a museum and is home to many celebrations and meetings.
Members of the Chinese community have held many important positions in the Northern Territory. Australia's first Chinese mayor was Darwin mayor Harry Chan. Alec Fong Lim rose to become Australia's first Chinese Lord Mayor, while Michael Ting became Mayor of the Darwin's satellite city, Palmerston.
Today Chinese make up 2.2% of the Northern Territory's population and are integrated through all aspects of Territory life. Darwin has several extensive Chinese supermarkets and specialist Asian emporiums, many Chinese and Asian restaurants as well as excellent support services and Chinese clubs and associations. There is a Chinese school, a Chinese language and culture centre and a Chinese temple. The Festivals of Chinese New Year, the Moon Festival and others are celebrated.
New arrivals are welcomed by the Chinese community and are given every assistance to settle into the Northern Territory lifestyle.
Last updated on the Thursday 26 Mar 2009
